Universities used to be places where freedom of expression and freedom of speech was an important value. However, in current times this right of students is under attack by the powers that be.
On Memorial University of Newfoundland’s St. John’s campus, posters asking MUN President Vianne Timmons to resign and stating no to tuition hikes were put up on poles on Prince Philip Drive and Elizabeth Avenue but were taken down by MUN staff several times.
On orientation day and the first few days of lectures at MUN, posters were placed on bulletins boards on campus but were all taken down. The maintenance staff were told by their supervisors, who in turn were told by the higher-ups that there are not allowed to be any political posters on campus and, if they see them, tear them down.
Below is a video of a maintenance staff tearing down posters.
The students deserve better!
Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.
Matt Barter 