Freedom of Expression
Introduction
As a public institution of higher learning whose mandate includes the pursuit of truth, the dissemination of knowledge, and the fostering of democratic discourse, Lakeland College is proud of its long-standing and continuing commitment to protecting freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, and the related freedoms of conscience, religion, association, and peaceful assembly, as enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Lakeland’s mission is to inspire lifelong learning and leadership through experience, excellence, and innovation. Lakeland College is a place of free and open inquiry in all matters. All members of the Lakeland College community are guaranteed the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn. Debate and deliberation must not be suppressed simply because the ideas put forward are thought by some, or even most, to be unwelcome, uncomfortable, unwise, wrong-headed, disagreeable, deeply offensive, immoral or false.
The fact that an individual or group is permitted or invited to carry on an expressive activity on campus does not mean that the view of that individual or group are representative of Lakeland College’s views as an institution or the views of its leadership.
Furthermore, Lakeland’s values of learner success, integrity, respect, community, excellence and innovation guide the way we conduct business, and treat our students, colleagues and clients.
Principles
- We believe in free and open inquiry in all matters.
- We believe individuals should have the broadest latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge ideas and learn.
- We believe individuals should have the right to challenge, debate and criticize the views of others but not obstruct the right of others to freely express their views.
- We believe the offensiveness of ideas should not be a barrier to individuals having the freedom to express their ideas or points of view.
- We believe it is up to individuals not the institution to make judgments about the ideas put forward.
Guidelines
- Activities must ensure compliance with Canadian and Alberta law.
- Institutions need to restrict activities that seek to falsely defame any individual, constitute a genuine threat or harassment or unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests.
- The institution will reasonably regulate time, place and manner of expression to ensure events do not disrupt the ordinary activities of the institution.
- It is not Lakeland College’s role to shield individuals from such ideas. It is for individuals to judge the nature of ideas and opinions for themselves, and to act on those judgments not by seeking to suppress expression but by openly and vigorously contesting the ideas that they oppose. As a corollary, freedom of expression requires the college to not only promote a lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation, but also to protect the freedom when others attempt to restrict.
Lakeland College may reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that the expression does not disrupt the ordinary activities of the college.
October 2019