/r/ official answer from Concordia

puck35 wrote:This is the reply I got from the Concordia administration. How does one respond to this?

Good afternoon,

I wish to thank you for your recent email and for sharing
with me your concerns about the current exhibit sponsored by the Citizens
Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), which is affiliated with the Church of
Scientology.

Although I am sympathetic to the issues you have raised
and do not personally agree with the positions taken by the leadership of the
Church of Scientology, I thought that it would be helpful to outline the key
factors which led us to allow the exhibit on campus.

Firstly, the space was booked by the organizers of the
event in accordance with our policies and procedures. Secondly, it is my
understanding that the Church of Scientology is a recognized religious and
charitable organization. Thirdly, and most importantly, we are motivated by our
commitment to ensuring the university is a place where individuals and groups
have the freedom to present their ideas and perspectives, whether we agree with
them or not, in a civil and respectful manner. Concordia University takes
no position with respect to the content of the exhibit or any of the positions
the CCHR espouses.

I am well aware that you may still disagree with our
decision. That being said, there is an expectation that the exhibit will
respect the spirit of our commitment to academic freedom. It is a
precondition of any event on our campus that the emphasis will be and at all
times will remain on the respectful discussion and debate of possibly opposing
positions in a secure, collegial environment.

Thank you once again for bringing your concerns to my
attention.

Michael Di Grappa
Vice-President, Services
Concordia University
1550 de Maisonneuve West
GM-804
Montreal, QC
H3G 1N2

Good evening Mr. [Doe],

Thank you for your email and for sharing with me your concerns about
the current exhibit sponsored by the Citizens Commission on Human
Rights (CCHR).

First, I can assure you that material at the exhibit, which I have seen
personally indicates that the CCHR is affiliated with the Church of
Scientology. As well, any Google search of CCHR will also reveal this
affiliation.

Second, and with respect, this is not an issue about money. The space
was booked by the organizers of the event in accordance with our
policies and procedures.

Third, the Church of Scientology is a recognized religious and charitable organization in Canada.

Fourth, and most importantly, we are motivated by our commitment to
ensuring the university is a place where individuals and groups have
the freedom to present their ideas and perspectives, whether we agree
with them or not, in a civil and respectful manner. We
also expect that the laws of the land will be respected including
prohibitions against hate speech, incitement to violence etc. (**THIS
IS NEW***)

You should know that, as always in such cases, Concordia University
takes no position with respect to the content of the exhibit or any of
the positions the CCHR espouses.

Finally, there is an expectation that the exhibit will respect the
spirit of our commitment to academic freedom. It is a precondition of
any event on our campus that the emphasis will be and at all times will
remain on the respectful discussion and debate of possibly opposing
positions in a secure, collegial environment.

Thank you once again for writing to express your concerns.

Sincerely,

Michael Di Grappa
Vice-President, Services

I keep hearing this on the news, and nobody seems to correcting you on this:

Scientology is *not* recognized in Canada as a charitable organization, and neither is the CCHR.

A search on:

Charities and Giving

proves this.

This is an university. In an essay you would get F for FAIL.

Thank you for the correction.
It does not change our position with which you are perfectly entitled to disagree.
Regards,
Michael Di Grappa

anon823 wrote:

I keep hearing this on the news, and nobody seems to correcting you on this:

Scientology is *not* recognized in Canada as a charitable organization, and neither is the CCHR.

A search on:

Charities and Giving

proves this.

This is an university. In an essay you would get F for FAIL.

Thank you for the correction.
It does not change our position with which you are perfectly entitled to disagree.
Regards,
Michael Di Grappa