How university campuses respond to concerns about student safety can set the stage for learning or encourage its opposite: divisiveness and censorship.
Almost 56 years to the day after the anti-war protests in 1968, New York City police evicted Columbia University students from an on-campus occupation.
Even if you disagree with their concerns or their tactics, students should not be penalized for thinking critically about world events and trying to bring about positive social change.
Australian universities have long been a site of protest. Today’s students join this legacy of activists who helped shape higher education and the Australian cultural landscape.
Ontario’s Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act threatens to undermine university autonomy, and could serve to censor critical thinking and dissent on campuses.
In 2015, I saw Jewish and Muslim students forge a set of group agreements so they could dialogue on the Middle East conflict. Initiatives like this or a ‘Semester in Dialogue’ program are promising.
Tom Baker, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
The former finance minister starts as vice-chancellor of Otago University in July. But such appointments call for more robust debate about the perceived independence of our tertiary institutions.
Universities must not only invest in dedicated senior equity leader roles with specialized knowledge and expertise. They must also ensure these roles are resourced and empowered with authority.
Canada’s international student cap threatens inclusion in higher education, but social financing — a way for private capital to address social issues — can address this issue.
Canada’s cap on international students should prompt universities and communities to identify better ways of engaging with international students on campuses and in broader community life.
Diplomacy and national security rely on expertise in foreign languages and cultures. Australia and New Zealand need to address the looming deficit in university foreign language courses.