"We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."

One of many things the Chancellor of Memorial University, Newfoundland, has said. Now, from a web mouthpiece (details here) of the University of Guelph's Central Student Association:

Editorial: U of G to Honour War Criminal [see Upperdate]

The close of the piece:

What's next - an award to Paul Bernardo for his exceptional work with youth?

Reaction invited. Amazingly, there is hope:

Survey Results

Do you think Rick Hillier deserves an award from U of G?

Answer

Number who chose this

Yes

50%

No

35%

Undecided

14%

One can vote here.

The voting figures above are from early evening, Jan. 9. The Torch may have had some impact in producing the voting figures as of 1330, Jan. 10:

Do you think Rick Hillier deserves an award from U of G?

Answer

Number who chose this

Yes

85%

No

13%

Undecided

1%

David Akin, of Canwest News, who was heavily involved in student media at Guelph in the 1980s, has taken action; good on him (via Damian Brooks):

...let me now say how saddened and ashamed I was this morning to see, thanks to a pointer at The Torch, a hateful and vicious smear at the online newsletter of the Central Student Association. I have never, in more than 25 years as a professional journalist ever written a letter to the editor complaining about somone's coverage or asking for someone to censor themselves but I did so today. I believe that speech must be free and should have as few limits as possible, even if that speech is occasionally hurtful. But this morning's piece, its placement, and its prominence was beyond the pale so here's what I wrote:

Hello --

As an otherwise proud University of Guelph alumni, a former Ontarion Editor-in-Chief, and a former Central Students Association board member, I ask you to consider removing the piece found here:

http://www.thecannon.ca/viewpoint_details.php?id=7723

This is a piece the editors of the Cannon.ca now have at the top of its main index page with the absolutely shameful headline "U of G to honour war criminal".

As a journalist, I encourage and defend robust discussions of Canada's foreign policy and recognize that participants on all sides will have opinions and views which others in the debate may find objectionable. I'm personally and professionally committed to fair and accurate presentations of this discussion.

But labelling any individual "a war criminal" is a tremendously serious charge. Not only that, I suspect your lawyers would advise you that you have just committed monstrous libel. I know the lawyers who work for our chain would provide that advice.

More seriously, though, your vicious attack on Canada's former chief of defence staff does little to advance any debate on an important public policy issue. And to allow such a smear to be published in a forum which claims to speak for "the undergraduate students at the University of Guelph" brings dishonour to the University, the CSA and the those undergrads.

Mark C.

Update: A brief news clip from CTV Southwestern Ontario, featuring the author of the editorial, Scott Gilbert. Mr Gilbert ran for the Communist Party of Canada in the 2006 federal election:

Scott Gilbert

Party: Communist Party of Canada

Education: Studying environmental engineering at the University of Guelph

Community activities: Executive member of the Central (undergraduate) Student Association, and founder and president of the Guelph chapter of Science for Peace

There's now a Facebook group supporting the award to General Hillier.

Upperdate: A significant change has been made in the editorial's title--see:

The courage (hah!) of their convictions

Uppestdate: From leroi at Army.ca:

...sometime late last night [Jan. 10] the reference to Paul Bernardo underwent a sleight-of-hand and was mysteriously removed.

And this morning (between nine and ten) [Jan. 11] the libelous piece is gone altogether: http://www.thecannon.ca/viewpoint_details.php?id=7725

Editorial: Rick Hillier Editorial
by The Cannon Operating Committee

Jan 11, 2009 - The editorial written by Scott Gilbert and posted on The Cannon Friday, January 9 has been removed while The Cannon operating committee investigates its appropriateness. As with other writing that appears on this website, this editorial does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Central Student Association and the Guelph Campus Co-op who jointly administer The Cannon.

( Someone finally had the presence of mind to consult a solicitor, methinks.)

Cached version of original editorial is here (via Laura Payton). Meanwhile, from Kate McMillan:

[...]

They have a new poll up, and this one's even better!

Beyond uppestdate: A good letter in the Guelph Mercury (via Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs):

Hillier editorial did U of G a disservice

And an editorial:

Hillier honour was well-placed

Posted by markc at January 10, 2009 02:52 PM