The Fraser Institute
Canadian Student Review 4/2 1995
Who Ya Gonna Call?
... P.C. Busters!
by Ezra Levant, University of Alberta, Law
When a politically correct (P.C.) witch-hunt comes to campus, will you know how to respond?
You'd better.
Recent developments suggest that a P.C. crackdown at your university is just a matter of time. For example, every law school in Canada now has two different admissions procedures-one for minority racial groups, and the other for everyone else. Same thing for professors-they're hired by quota too.
And don't get any bright ideas about criticizing these policies: restricted speech and conduct codes have come to campus as well.
Look around you. Is there a "human rights" office on your campus? Odds are, the "rights" promoted wouldn't be found in any dictionary. In fact, at many schools, the human rights office is actually in charge of drafting the affirmative action plans, calculating the racial quotas, and writing the speech codes!
The crackdown is scary. With all these new rules and all these new rulers, something's got to give. After all, you can't have cops without bad guys. That's where you, the politically incorrect student, come in: you're the bad guy.
Maybe you ask a few too many questions of your socialist professor. Maybe you challenge the sacred cows of racial set-asides and affirmative action. Maybe you violate the speech code-you know, saying Manitoba instead of Personitoba.
One day, your professor might ask you to stay after class. You'll be told to tone it down-the word "please" will be used-but the speech code will be mentioned too.
Or, you'll be "invited" for a meeting with your dean. You know, nothing serious. You'll be told to stop writing those pesky letters to the school newspaper-please. But they'll also pull out the student code of conduct and threaten you with discipline.
You've got a choice to make.
You can be a statistic-just another road-kill on the highway of political correctness. Or you can be a P.C.-busting hero.
To win, bring the debate on to your turf. It's not that tough. Think of it as political judo-using your opponents' moves against them. Here are some tips:
* Bureaucrats work by threats. So rule number one-and this is critical-is to bring a witness to every P.C. encounter. You'll show the bureaucrats that you mean business. More importantly, you'll be able to prove it if they threaten you. And they will.
* Bureaucrats love rules. So always use their rules against them. If a committee wants to investigate you, demand to see their "terms of reference," the bylaws they have to play by. Demand to see every relevant document. Be tough. Think "hero."
* Always challenge their authority. Do they have the right to make you attend a hearing, to punish or threaten you? Remember, these professional busy-bodies think this is fun. It's up to you to make sure they're not having any more fun than necessary.
* Finally-and this is the exciting part-realize that you'll never win in their kangaroo courts. You must take your battle against P.C. to a fairer court: the court of public opinion. You must call in the media.
Expose the bureaucrats. Shine the bright lights of publicity on them. Make them explain themselves. Embarrass them. Hit them where it counts-their alumni fundraising. Remember, they'd hit you where it counts too, if they could.
It's time to put up or shut up. I guess it comes down to this: do you believe in freedom? If you don't, go back to bed. If you do, get ready, little P.C. buster.
Welcome to the fight of your life.
Choose your enemies as carefully as you choose your friends.
Produced by
The Fraser Institute
http://www.fraserinstitute.ca
Appreciation to the Fraser Institute for permission to reproduce these articles. Permission to reprint does not imply any endorsement by the Fraser Institute of the views of the Asia Pacific Democrat Youth, nor does it necessarily imply an obverse endorsement.