Alberta campus bans academic Frances Widdowson
Academic Dr. Frances Widdowson, known for her work exposing myths around the Kamloops Residential School, has been pre-emptively banned from a University of Lethbridge campus.
Author: Clayton DeMaine
The University of Lethbridge Faculty Association says Dr. Frances Widdowson, an academic and outspoken critic of the narrative that 215 children’s bodies were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, has been pre-emptively banned over an alleged “health and safety risk” her presence poses to students and staff.
Widdowson shared the university notice, which was titled “Individual on Campus Alert,” wording that her supporters say suggests a legitimate threat to campus security.
“Whoa Daddy!” Widdowson said on X. “The lunatics are running the asylum at the University of Lethbridge.”
The notice states that Widdowson is an individual with a “past history of causing disruptions on campus,” and was set to attend their university.
“Based upon reasonable expectations from experience and member safety concerns, ULFA considers the presence of this individual to be a clear health and safety risk to this workplace and an inappropriate disruption to our academic work,” the university’s faculty association said in the notice. “Information we have received from the Employer is that Francis Widdowson will be issued a trespass notice if she enters the campus.”
Widdowson has been deemed “disruptive” for sharing opinions and her own research about “Indian residential schools” that some students and activists find intolerable.
In a post on X, Widdowson claimed she would still attend, and she intends to ask attendees at the event their thoughts on the claim that bodies were found at the Kamloops school, and to argue that the residential schools were not genocidal.
Despite the censorship, the University’s faculty association claimed it “affirms the importance of academic freedom and open inquiry.”
“At the same time, Members also have rights under the Collective Agreement and applicable legislation, including the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, to work in an environment free from harassment, discrimination, and other threats to health and safety,” she said.
The faculty then “encouraged” members to file a “health and safety report” or to contact the Dean if anyone “finds her presence to be harmful or disruptive,” offering individuals assistance in “this process.”
“Please note that Francis Widdowson has and may file a freedom of information request and could publish any emails naming her between senior administration and any member of the community,” the notice reads.
Josh Dehaas, the interim Litigation Director of the Canadian Constitution Foundation blasted the decision from the university on X.
“To suggest that a former professor expressing views you don’t share is a health and safety risk is absurd,” he said. “Faculty associations are supposed to defend academic freedom, not encourage censorship.”
During a live post on X on Friday, Widdowson claimed she would still attend, and she intends to ask attendees at the event their thoughts on the claim that bodies were found at the Kamloops school, and to argue that the residential schools were not genocidal.
“It seems to be a bit absurd, and again, is indicative of how the University of Lethbridge is really not an academic institution. It actually seems to be somewhat of an insane asylum anyway,” she said.
Mocking the notice, she stated, “Alert! Facts are going to be discussed at the University of Lethbridge. We can’t have that happen because that would mean that the neo-tribal elites are going ot be very upset!”