Free speech?

[bbi5291]

Is it generally against the rules to harshly criticize university policies while enrolled as a student at the university? In particular, I suppose I'm interested in Waterloo, but I was curious about other universities as well.

[syntax_error]

If you have a valid point, then no.

The validity of your point is whole different topic.

[bbi5291]

So if you criticize them for denying TimeCube, then you get in trouble?

[apomb]

You have every right to suggest alternatives to policies when you are a student at any institution. It is their job to satisfy you as a student. If you WORK for the University, I'd say criticizing policies would be a no-no. But as a student you should have the right to criticize things you think should change at the institution that is serving you. If not, then you should re-evaluate attending an institution that doesn't cater to it's client's needs. Students are the clients, Universities are the supplier.

EDIT: what the hell is that timecube website anyway and why are you concerned with your school "denying" it?

[Tony]

apomb @ Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:50 pm wrote:

Students are the clients, Universities are the supplier.

Except that, at least in UW's case, Employers are also "clients". And Employers are more equal clients than Students.

Despite the heavy criticism from the students in matters of PD courses and CECS policies, it is very much not Waterloo's job to "satisfy" the students.

[apomb]

Well then I'm glad I dont go there, because the institution that I go to is here for me, the student and thats what I believe should be the case in all post-secondary institutions.

[bbi5291]

apomb @ Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:50 pm wrote:

You have every right to suggest alternatives to policies when you are a student at any institution.

Well, not, I would think, at a public high school. But yes, I would certainly expect universities to be more liberal in this aspect.

Quote:

EDIT: what the hell is that timecube website anyway and why are you concerned with your school "denying" it?

It's hard to say what it is. It'd be best characterized as the ramblings of a madman, although I suspect that the person behind it, Gene Ray, is just trying to evoke angry reactions (therefore classing him more as a "troll" than a "madman"). In any case even though nobody in his right mind would believe anything on that site, or argue that it deserves serious scientific consideration, I mention it because I believe that free speech should be absolute - that one should have the right to say something even when it is manifestly incorrect.

[Dan]

I can't talk for Waterloo but at Lakehead it is encorage or at least there is no negtive/punishment to the induvual student for speaking out.

We have had protests prity much inside the university president's office and played a big role in causing the Univeristy to lose a magor landswap deal by protesting at city hall mettings. The worst that hapened was the president was a bit mad at the student union for a few weeks.

I personaly have also spoken out about the Wifi policy here at Lakehead and was on the bord of directors for the student union for serveral conterversal dessions/motinions and have never had any negtivity from the univesity for it. I was also in a class that went to the dean about an assingment being unfairly marked witch resulted in everyones marks being reevulated.

Lakehead does have a very strong student union protecting the students so that could play a large factor in it being more acpetable here. But i would be rather suprsied if you got in any trouble for speaking out in a resonable manner (not harsing any one and respecting private property).

The issue does get more gray when you are both a student and an empolye of the university like graudate assiants however graudate assitants belong both to the student union and a CUPE local here, both of witch would fight for you.

[[Gandalf]]

If you keep your criticism civilized, then I'm pretty sure there is nothing you can't say, as long as it has no human rights violations and the like. After all, what is a university if not an institution where people can speak their minds?

[Tony]

And yet there are a bunch of odd anecdotes where students are suspended from Universities for posting something online. Now, they probably were not a critical view of University policies, and more of "I think my prof and fellow students are idiots" type of opinionated rants... At least that's one incident I remember reading about (don't remember what University).