Say what you have to say. Create a petition for free.

145,378 petitions, 8,941,383 signatures and counting!


184 Supporters

Created by Ottawa F-E-C on May 22, 2007, 7:42 pm

PETITION STATEMENT:

In removing Professor Denis Rancourt from all three first-year courses that he has developed, the President, VP-Academic, and Dean of the Faculty of Science of the University of Ottawa have violated freedom of expression. We ask that they be resigned from their positions and that Prof. Rancourt’s courses be reinstated.

[Please use your full name and add your position in the comment box (e.g., student, Ottawa; or Community member, Ottawa; or occupation, name-of-employer)]

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Come next semester, University of Ottawa physics professor Denis Rancourt will not be teaching any of three courses that he developed. The decision to remove him from the courses follows 20 months of controversy in which students and Dr. Rancourt successfully pressed the faculty of science to offer a course on social issues in science. The course, which Dr. Rancourt taught last fall, proved to be very popular and was held in the largest auditorium on campus.

However, the course's emphasis on activism led to conflict with university administrators, who wanted a more technical focus. Professor Rancourt believes that activism is the missing ingredient for solving problems of science and society, and his guest speakers were activists and researchers on such issues as missile defence, use of animals in research, democratic control of research, and science education.

The university has reassigned Dr. Rancourt to teach specialized senior and graduate level courses whose enrolments are typically fewer than 15 students. University president Gilles Patry, who has been the target of student and community pressure in support of Dr. Rancourt, defended his decision to reassign the professor, telling a student, "Dr. Rancourt has been hired to teach physics, and I have a university to run.... I will not change my position on this issue for as long as I am rector of the University of Ottawa."

The President of the university, in collaboration with the VP-Academic, Mr. Robert Major, and the dean of the Faculty of Science, Mr. André Lalonde, has removed Prof. Rancourt from all freshman courses without investigation, without discussion, following dozens of letters of protest, a rally, and a student petition for a second-year course.

When asked about Prof. Rancourt’s course, the President has stated in writing to community members that “universities have a long tradition of working in a collegial and democratic environment” and that “It would … be inappropriate for the President to decide who should or should not be teaching a given course.”

In discussion with several students about Prof. Rancourt’s course, the President and VP-Academic repeatedly stated (according to transcripts made public) that Dr. Rancourt would not be allowed to teach the Science in Society SCI 1101 course. They stated two unsubstantiated reasons: That SCI 1101 speakers did not cover science in society topics and that the “course curriculum was not followed.”

Reprisals for course content and methods violate academic freedom. In contrast, the University of Ottawa Vision 2010 mission statement states “We do our utmost to help our students … enhance their ability to question and ****yze … to become well-rounded, responsible citizens … We … perform our social, political and community-outreach roles … We encourage freedom of expression in an atmosphere of open dialogue, enabling critical thought, supported by intellectual integrity and ethical judgment. Collegiality, transparency and accountability are the principles that guide our university governance … We support and recognize initiatives designed to implement a range of new and diversified strategies for learning and evaluation … We ensure that community members take a more active part in the decision making process and are promptly informed of decisions …”

According to university rules, faculty members are supposed to be consulted before they are assigned to teach courses, and the university president is not supposed to be involved. In its drive to remove Dr. Rancourt from student contact, the university violated both of these rules.

The signers of this petition and the Freedom of Expression Committee (FEC) ask that the implicated university executives resign for malfeasance and that the University hire new executive officers who encourage and recognize innovative initiatives in line with the Vision 2010 mission statement goals, such as the Science and Society course known as the activism course and the Cinema Politica documentary film and discussion series.

If the executive officers involved do not resign voluntarily, the FEC, supported by this petition, will ask that the Board of Governors of the University of Ottawa, in consultation with student and community member representatives, remove the officers from their positions.
      


Discuss in Forums
Report Petition
View Statistics

Sign the Petition by signing the application below:

By filling out this form, you are agreeing to all the terms listed under this petition, and that you have read and agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Petition Signatures


184 13 Apr 2008 - 15:13    james douglas :
183 7 Apr 2008 - 3:36    Ilaria : The respect and the protection of the fundamental rights is the bases for a healthy civilized country. Without all of it, there is the tyranny. So it became inevitable and necessary the fight for their protection every day and by everyone who has a conscience. Because the worst thing is having known, but having done nothing, letting the situation be worst and then regretting:
182 6 Apr 2008 - 23:26    Tanya Rodrigues : I condemn the actions taken by the Dean of the Faculty of Science as well as Mr.Patry against Professor Denis Rancourt as these are undemocratic and moreover unlawful. In fact, Professor Rancourt, has been exemplary in his commitment to teaching and to students. He should be acknowledged for his dedication and for his contributions to the University rather than threatened.
181 6 Apr 2008 - 16:00    Joe Hickey :
180 10 Mar 2008 - 0:49    Jessica Carpinone :
179 10 Mar 2008 - 0:47    Matthew Buechler : www.marchonottawa2008.com
178 13 Feb 2008 - 0:44    philip fleischer :
177 7 Feb 2008 - 4:46    Michal Major :
176 27 Jan 2008 - 22:54    Madalena Santos :
175 11 Jan 2008 - 4:28    Rebecca Boyce : Student
174 5 Jan 2008 - 0:53    Earl Heneke : High School Teacher Professor Rancourt is providing a valuable service to the community, which celebrates diversity of expression.
173 3 Jan 2008 - 23:09    Ronda J. Brook, LL.B. : As a University of Ottawa graduate I would like to say that it is not sufficient to teach students only about the core knowledge of one field of study. In order to train students as responsible professionals and full members of our society, students must also be informed about related social justice issues, ethics, and their roles in our society. A University cannot be deemed successful when its graduates do not comprehend our society's power structure and do not know how to participate in shaping our society. I support the work which Professor Rancourt has been doing to really educate science students and others about key issues and to develop their independent thinking skills. The University of Ottawa administration must stop punishing and silencing Professor Rancourt. Instead, they should heed the students' calls for more courses which really inform and empower our students and future leaders.
172 31 Dec 2007 - 19:33    julia jack : support change if you prefer not to be paralized, support discussion if you prefer not to be ignorant
171 30 Dec 2007 - 18:14    maksym kovalenkov, alumni : This is unacceptable. I will not let the issue out of my sight, and am really looking forward for the President, VP-Academic, and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa to be disciplined and for the course to be reinstated.
170 29 Dec 2007 - 19:25    Cecile : I am so ashamed of Ottawa U. I will continue my studies at Carleton if Denis Rancourt is not allowed to teach his first-year courses.
169 29 Dec 2007 - 19:06    Luke Gerald :
168 29 Dec 2007 - 0:46    James Douglas : Resignation seems like a lot to ask, but this is getting pretty ridiculous. If this particular professor did not have such staying power he would have been trampled a long time ago. The university should consider itself lucky to have a professor so dedicated to freedom of expression, and not try to punish that!
167 21 Dec 2007 - 16:21    james :
166 21 Dec 2007 - 16:19    David Sylvestre : What reason could there be for this action but to appease financial contributors who don't like what Prof Rancourt is teaching. This is why free speech is law and why institutions need to uphold these laws rather than breach them like U of Ottawa administration has done.
165 29 Nov 2007 - 21:50    Adam Goodwin : Because everything is politics. Adam GoodwinPhD studentPolitical Studies DepartmentUniv. of Ottawa
164 19 Nov 2007 - 2:08    Ryan Hayes :
163 22 Sep 2007 - 22:13    steve watson :
162 19 Sep 2007 - 18:45    Dr Justin Filiberto :
161 3 Sep 2007 - 11:30    Patricia Reynolds : I strongly support Prof. Rancourt's right to teach the first year courses. At both and most universities he students quickly become sedated and incapable of identifying ethical issused in all of the disciplines.
160 28 Aug 2007 - 15:14    Kyle Wark :
159 18 Aug 2007 - 6:08    Peter Totten : University lecturer. We need more diversity of views in our unversities, not less! Reinstate Prof. Rancourt immediately!
158 18 Aug 2007 - 1:11    craig gibson :
157 17 Aug 2007 - 20:39    Dr. RIchard B. Wilcox : U of O is a typical university: a ***** beholden to corporate and Zionist interests. Dr. Rancourt is one of the few intelligent and brave voices in this period of capitalist hegemony to stand up for common sense, and the common people.
156 13 Aug 2007 - 12:20    Jean-Sbastien Boutet : There seems to be a growing trend toward witch hunting of left-leaning intelectuals on North American campuses, as the recent cases of Ward Churchill, Normam Finkelstein and Denis Rancourt demonstrate. I find this extremely worrisome in an era where new creative institutional ****yses and techniques for challenging the world order are much needed. Theses professors' work, and others', is crucial and enlightening, and must be allowed to exist.
155 10 Aug 2007 - 11:59    Ashley :
154 5 Aug 2007 - 17:30    nelson ross laguna :
153 3 Aug 2007 - 17:25    Jean-Pierre Maheu :
152 3 Aug 2007 - 13:46    Eric Fisk : Student, Ottawa.
151 2 Aug 2007 - 3:12    Jamie Brownlee : PhD StudentSociologyCarleton University
150 1 Aug 2007 - 9:02    Chris B : Finally someone a bit high up responsible to
149 31 Jul 2007 - 15:21    Francois DeLean : Shame on Ottawa U.
148 27 Jul 2007 - 18:22    Jason Pinkney : One of the reasons that I chose the University of Ottawa for my upcoming (Sept 2007) Bachelor of Education was because of the community involvement of professors like Denis Rancourt. Civic engagement is an important part of the university's mandate. It's a tragedy and a crime when one of the few professors that takes this mandate seriously is reprimanded, harassed and prevented from setting a positive example for other professors. Either the university should allow Denis Rancourt to continue his exemplary teaching of the courses he's developed or change its mandate to make sure students are aware that the administration is only genuinely interested in being a credentials factory.
147 26 Jul 2007 - 14:41    Dennis Eberl :
146 26 Jul 2007 - 14:15    Anne-Sophie Dumetz :
145 26 Jul 2007 - 13:38    Andrew :
144 25 Jul 2007 - 21:11    Adam Goodwin : Why is it that some individuals involved in the sciences unflinchingly take a stand on an important political issue; yet, individuals involved in political science fail to act on the very field they study?! Everything is politics!
143 25 Jul 2007 - 17:14    Elizabeth MacKay :
142 25 Jul 2007 - 13:01    Brad Kynoch : I find the UofO's actions deplorable. The university is ignoring modern students' desire to learn about the more controversial aspects of society, if they wish.
141 24 Jul 2007 - 17:25    Cameron Johnstone : Mr. Major and Mr. LalondeAs past President of CUPE local5500 and a current delegate to the ODLC and member of the International Solidarity Committee of the Labour Council I am requesting that you enable D. Rancourt to facilitate his activism course as he has in the past. This course is one of the last vestiges of freedom of expression left and Universities are the guardians of free speech and thought in our communities.With the convergence of the media and the repression of unions and activists by the corporate forces Dr. Rancourt is a shinning light which you have unjustly attempted to extinguish. Please retract your actions and let freedom shine.
140 24 Jul 2007 - 16:56    Prabhu Singh Khalsa : My friend from Ottawa asked me to sign this. I don't know enough about the issue, but it seems like the professor could be reinstated without the harsh penalty of others resigning. Maybe the others could sign something saying that they will honor the vision statement now and henceforth and make a public appology.
139 24 Jul 2007 - 16:01    David Buelow :
138 24 Jul 2007 - 15:14    Laura Walker-Ng : Student
137 23 Jul 2007 - 23:27    krishna e bera :
136 23 Jul 2007 - 20:59    Stephanie Springolo :
135 23 Jul 2007 - 14:04    Renee Theoret : This world needs more Prof. Rancourts!
view more