Censorious Comments From Fifteen University of Lethbridge Professors

1. Jason Laurendeau, a Sociology professor at the University of Lethbridge, stated in an email to Dean Matthew Letts, that he “learned with mortification” about the talk by Frances Widdowson. Laurendeau claims that Widdowson is a “residential school denialist” and implies that she wants to “debate the humanity of marginalized peoples”. Allowing Widdowson to speak, according to Laurendeau would show that “the university is a place of white supremacist violence”. Dean Matthew Letts responds by commending him for his “thoughtful and heartfelt email of allyship”.

2. Kristine Alexander, a professor of History at the University of Lethbridge, calls Widdowson “a well-known residential school denalist”, and helps to organize a talk by Dr. Sean Carleton at the exact same time as Widdowson’s public lecture.

3. Dena McMartin, a geography professor, responds to Alexander by saying that she is “pleased to see that there’s a counter presentation [at the same time] to directly refute [Widdowson’s talk]”.

4. Amanda Fox, an instructor in the Faculty of Education, sends an email to Dean Robin Bright on January 26, 2023, about how a student is concerned about Frances Widdowson’s talk. Dean Bright then likes and reposts an Education Undergraduate Society (EUS) post denouncing Widdowson on January 28, 2023.

5. Paul McKenzie-Jones, a professor of indigenous studies, writes Dean Matthew Letts to “express [his] outrage” about Frances Widdowson’s talk. He states that Widdowson is a “well-known residential school denialist” whose views are “violent”. He states that the University of Lethbridge “cannot be a haven for [Widdowson’s] views”, as they are rooted in “white supremacy”. McKenzie-Jones was also the initiator of a statement distributed by the entire Department of Indigenous Studies. Dean Letts responds by stating that his email will be “seriously considered”.

6. Patrick Wilson, an anthropology professor, argues that the university “has a responsibility to not allow” Frances Widdowson’s talk to proceed. This is because Widdowson’s talk “will retraumatize vulnerable members of our community”. Widdowson, according to Wilson, is “not capable of intellectual engagement” because she does “not work in an evidence-based world”. Dean Matthew Letts responds to Wilson by thanking him for his “thoughtful suggestions”.

7. Tiffany Prete, sociology professor, asked if there is “anything that can be done” about Frances Widdowson being invited to speak because of the “damage” that the talk will do. “Vice-Provost – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” replies by stating that administration is “reviewing this very difficult situation”.

8. Caroline Hodes, a women and gender studies professor, sends an email to President Mike Mahon and Dean Matthew Letts (copied to Glenda Bonifacio, Kathleen Massey, Mike Head, Leroy LIttle Bear, Victor Rodych, Paul McKenzie-Jones, and Mary Runte) alleging that Frances Widdowson was “fired from academic institutions due to her racism, transphobia and bigotry”. Hodes demands that the philosophy department be “held accountable” for Widdowson being invited to speak, asserting that this must be “accompanied by appropriate disciplinary action”. Widdowson’s exchange with Hodes is available here – https://wokeacademy.info/email-exchange-with-dr-caroline-hodes-women-and-gender-studies-university-of-lethbridge-ccd-to-president-mahon-dean-letts-and-the-philosophy-department/.

9. Athena Elafros, a sociology professor, commends the Department of Indigenous Studies for its “excellent letter”. and states that “allowing [Widdowson’s] talk to take place…is betraying [the university’s] commitments to Indigenous peoples….”. Elafros implies that Widdowson is engaged in “residential school denialism” and that this is “hate speech”.

10. Suzanne Lenon, a sociology professor, argues that “Dr. Widdowson’s work is not evidence based, rather it is based on ideologies that erase, dismiss and diminish Indigenous peoples” and she calls for the lecture to be cancelled on this basis.

Comments by Vice-Provost and Dean Kerry Godfrey were responded to by two professors – 11. Don McIntye and 12. Andrea Amelinckx. Amelinckx is notable as she was the President of the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association from 2016-2018 when the Anthony Hall case unfolded. Both McIntyre and Amelinckx agreed with Godfrey when he implied that Widdowson’s “lecture” (ironic quotes by him) was engaged in “ignorant and ‘narcissistic dehumanization'”. Godfrey also irresponsibly maintained that Widdowson timed her lecture to coincide with Black History Month, when she chose the date so it would be compatible with her schedule (and the schedule of Paul Viminitz). Widdowson wasn’t even aware of Black History Month when she chose the date.

13. Glenda Bonifacio, a women and gender studies professor and member of SNAC+ (Support Network for Academic of Colour Plus [sic]), states that “residential school denialism is a form of hate speech”. The “SNAC+ Statement” that she attaches to her message “opposes in the strongest possible terms the proposed talk by Frances Widdowson….”. This statement asserts that “denying the evidence of institutional harm caused by residential schooling is tantamount to racial discrimination”. Widdowson’s talk is “hate speech that is not protected by freedom of expression”, according to this statement.

14. Inge Genee, a linguistics professor, thanks President Mahon for cancelling the talk. The “harm done [to indigenous students]”, according to Genee, “outweigh[ed] freedom of speech and academic freedom rights”.

15. Michelle Hogue, a professor in the Faculty of Arts and Science, thanked President Mahon for “making the decision to cancel the Frances Widdowson Lecture…”. The cancellation enabled the University of Lethbridge to ensure the “integrity of our relationships” with indigenous peoples that would have been “damaged” if the talk had been allowed to proceed.

16. Jay Gamble, an instructor in the Department of English, congratulates stdents who “Drummed the fuck [Widdowson] out on her ear”.

17. Brendan Cummins, an instructor in the School of Liberal Education, expresses the fact that he is “proud of the students for standing up” to Widdowson’s talk and shutting it down.

18. Trushar Patel, Canada Research Chair at the University of Lethbridge, asserts that he is “incredibly proud” of those who shut down Widdowson’s talk.

19. Yale Belanger, a professor in the Department of Political Science, asserts that “no one should be harmed in the name of academic freedom” in response to a comment that Widdowson was a “denier of Resiential schools”. He then invited Danielle Smith, the Premier of Alberta, to discuss her “ideas about the residential schools” after she had stated that discussions about discoveries of unmarked graves was “fake news”.

One University of Lethbridge professor emailed Frances Widdowson on February 1, 2023 stating that many University of Lethbridge faculty were “concerned about making their interest [in attending Widdowson’s February 1, 2023 on Zoom] known publicly”.