Start with this. I am no longer conflicted about Acadia University’s decision to fire psychology professor Rick Mehta. The university had plenty of good reasons to dismiss him. On the other hand, I am still troubled by Acadia’s willingness to stir its own self-interest — “damaging the reputation of the institution” and the implicit notion...
Animals are dominating Halifax’s news cycle
Morning File, Thursday, September 13, 2018
News 1. The Whalley trial and Cecil Clarke I’m still wading through Parts 4 through 8 of Mary Campbell’s Whalley trial series, but I skipped ahead to Part 9 (the most recent) to read this: I told you that I was interested in the Whalley trial because I was hoping to get answers to a […]
The convention centre is running a $4 million operating deficit this year… and that’s just the beginning of the costs
Morning File, Monday, September 10, 2018
News 1. Mehta Stephen Kimber writes: Last winter, Acadia University said it was investigating [Rick] Mehta “for the manner in which you are expressing views that you are alleged to be advancing or supporting and, in some instances, time that you are spending on these issues in the classroom.” We need to parse that sentence. […]
Rick Mehta: a firing offence or just offensive?
Last winter, Acadia University said it was investigating Mehta “for the manner in which you are expressing views that you are alleged to be advancing or supporting and, in some instances, time that you are spending on these issues in the classroom.” We need to parse that sentence. It appears the university says it was investigating Mehta, both for his personal views (freedom of speech) and also for what he was saying in his classroom. Did that violate his academic freedom?
I will confess I’m conflicted about the news Acadia University has fired Rick Mehta. On Friday, the university confirmed it had terminated the controversial psychology professor, effective August 31, but then refused to say why or “provide any elaboration” about what it called “a personnel matter.” Acadia also wouldn’t release the results of an investigation...
How to make money “helping” poor people (hint: don’t be poor). Morning File, Monday, March 5, 2018
1. The Horne case Writes Stephen Kimber: Neither Capital Health nor the Nova Scotia Health Authority has ever publicly apologized to [Gabrielle] Horne for years of bullying and harassment, while successive provincial governments chose to look the other way, giving carte blanche to the health authority to hire hugely expensive, by-the-hour outside lawyers to bully […]
Matt Whitman’s idiocy and free speech: Morning File, Tuesday, February 27, 2018
News 1. Windsor & Hantsport Railway “A Virginia businessman wants a piece of the action before the city can turn the old Windsor & Hantsport Railway into a trail,” writes Rick Grant: Robert T. Schmidt’s claim to all of the rail line is contested, and the province has gone to court to force him to maintain […]