It was not until I established Generation Screwed Guelph that I realized how ludicrous political correctness had become. In fact, I had no idea the extent to which its toxicity permeated the governing structures at the University of Guelph. The source of politically correct resistance toward GS Guelph has not been other student groups or activists, but the institution governing all clubs on campus, the Central Student Association (CSA).

It began when I first sought to establish a GS presence on campus in the winter of 2016. Upon following the necessary procedures to receive accreditation I was informed my application might be delayed because Generation Screwed (i.e. the organization’s name) may not align with the CSA’s “anti-oppression” mandate in promoting an open and welcome environment on campus. At this point, I explained that GS was a non-partisan group looking to inform young people about the harms of government misspending and reckless fiscal policy. A month later, I was informed that the club would, in fact, be accredited without requiring a name change. By this time the semester was nearly over, costing me valuable opportunity to build any presence on campus.

The following semester I had to re-accredit my club. This meant filling out all the paperwork again, and perhaps the most ridiculous part, participating in mandatory “anti-oppression training”. Training to ensure that no group on campus engages in any sort of ‘isms’, including racism, ableism, colonialism, and cultural appropriation. By forcing all clubs to attend, they not only assume we are likely to adopt these behaviours, but force us to subscribe to their hypersensitive left-wing activism. To not attend this training means forfeiture of club status on campus.

My first event of the 2016-2017 school year was hosting the CTF’s travelling debt clock as part of its 13-campus tour through Quebec and Ontario. Within minutes of being set up, an employee of the CSA was questioning our presence, and it was not until he saw all our approved paperwork that he left, saying he was satisfied. However, this was not the case. Hours later an employee of the University of Guelph came out and informed me she had received repeated complaints about our display and where it was located. Apparently, we were in violation of some obscure “policy” and would have to leave promptly. Throughout the entirety of this event we had scores of students stop and talk to us, curious about our display. Dozens signed our petition directed at Prime Minister Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau, calling on them to rein in spending and protect the financial integrity of future generations. It was a shame we were not allowed to stay longer.

Despite being non-partisan, and having the best interests of young people as our mission, the CSA at the University of Guelph has all but explicitly stated it does not support our cause and our right to free expression on campus. Whether it’s our affiliation with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation or our commitment to reduced government spending, they have made clear they have a political ax to grind. As a result, we have now added freedom of expression as one of our core values and will continue to fight to ensure that meaningful political discourse will not be threatened; especially on university campuses. After all, it is universities more than anywhere else where the free flow of ideas is central to the development of a well-informed society.

For more information:

 

 

Dave Paquette – Campus Coordinator, University of Guelph

email: dpaquette@generationscrewed.ca