An ideal university is not merely an institution turning out human product after four years of indoctrination. It is a place of open learning where students are exposed to new ideas, absent any bias due to economic, political or religious restraint.
This ideal university promotes open exploration and dissemination of new ideas. It is not afraid of science. It spreads the results of its research without any hesitation due to preconceived notions or biases.
The University of Northern British Columbia, which brags of its Maclean's standing as number one in Canada, should be in the forefront of defending these ideals.
If this were so, how could the institution now appoint a chancellor, albeit an alumnus, who is unrepentant after serving many years as cabinet ministers in a federal government that was secretive, biased, anti-intellectual and an enemy of scientific fact?
The only saving grace in the appointment of the new chancellor of UNBC is the fact that he will be living in Vancouver while working there full time.
Shades of Dick Harris!
James Loughery
Prince George
