University of Manitoba Controlled by Donor
UofM demonstrates money is more important than free speech
Last week, the valedictorian for the graduating class from University of Manitoba’s medical school, Dr. Gem Newman, gave a speech criticizing Canada’s (and Manitoba’s) medical community for not speaking out against the war in Gaza.
A video of this speech was subsequently uploaded onto the University’s YouTube channel.
A major donor, Ernest Rady, wrote a letter to the University accusing Dr. Gem Newman of hate speech, an accusation which he repeated in an interview with CBC News. Rady demanded the University remove the video, and the University acquiesced rather than protect the rights of its alumni to speak out against the humanitarian crisis and to call for peace.
How can we call someone a “philanthropist” when they wield their money as a weapon used to get their way? When they value their own opinions over the rights of others to free speech? Above the obligation of a University to seek truth and protect academic freedom?
The University of Manitoba is demonstrating this institute of “higher learning” can be bought and controlled by its donors. The University of Manitoba is proving money is more important to them than protecting free speech, truth, justice, and humanity.
