UBC clarifies on cancellation of Farm Laws talk, unsatisfied Dosanjh asks for ‘wholesome answer’
New Delhi, April 11, 2021: After Canadian politician, Ujjal Dosanjh threw his law degree in the garbage bag in protest of the cancellation of the talk of prominent Indian journalist Hartosh Singh Bal on Farm Laws at the University of British Columbia, the University has come forward to clarify the whole controversy
In a communique to Ujjal Dosanjh, Gage Averill, Dean, Faculty of Arts, UBC claimed that the decision of canceling the event taken by the event organizers does not reflect any interest in censoring the event by the University of British Columbia.
"It’s important for you to know that UBC is, and always will be, committed to academic freedom and it is enshrined in University Senate policy. All decisions related to the event series you reference – including the decision to postpone it – seem to have been made by the event organizers, and did not reflect any interest in censoring the event by UBC," wrote Dean Gage Averill.
He further said that a surge in COVID-19 cases might also be considered one of the reasons for canceling the event.
"As I understand it, one of the central challenges to proceeding with this series during the current pandemic related to challenges around student engagement. This event has historically involved many in-person, student-centered components that could not be achieved virtually," he added.
Averill further assured Dosanjh that in the coming weeks, his faculty members will meet the event organizers to learn about various barriers which eventually led to the cancellation of the event.
Regarding Dosanjh as the 'Illustrious Alum to the University', he thanked the Canadian minister for not torching his degree.
On April 10, Ujjal Dosanjh has written an open letter to the President of UBC Santa J. Ono where he has criticized the University for canceling the event where senior journalist Hartosh Singh Bal was scheduled to speak on the topic of farm laws allegedly under the pressure of some of the radical groups.
"I had threatened to publicly torch my UBC law degree if the university canceled the aforementioned event due to pressure from anyone. A friend had reminded me the City of Vancouver doesn’t allow the burning of waste within the City limits. To conform to the City rules and to avoid causing pollution, I have consigned the degree to the yellow recycle bag picked up by the City," Dosanjh told in the letter.
Click below to read the full Open Letter:
Ujjal Dosanjh throws his UBC Degree in Garbage Bag, writes to UBC President
Prior to this, Dosanjh had also burned to threatened to burn his law degree from UBC if the annual Harjit Kaur Sidhu Memorial Program on April 7 where Bal was to speak gets canceled.
Also Read: Canadian leader Ujjal Dosanjh threatens to publicly torch his UBC LLB degree. Know why
The clarification however did not satisfy Dosanjh who replied to Dean UBC ," Your response says nothing; non sequitur as we say in Latin. Looking forward to a more wholesome answer."
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