MUN Continues to Use the Student Code of Conduct to Censor Criticism

Today, I received a letter from Memorial University regarding my lawyer’s request to lift the draconian ban placed on me on December 3rd, 2021 for a silent protest. MUN’s legal counsel notified my lawyer that the administration had not liked recent articles published on my website that were critical of the university’s senior administration. It is wholly inappropriate that they continue to use the code of conduct to punish me for speaking out. Last week, MUN’s General Counsel told my lawyer, Kyle Rees, that the unnecessary ban would be fully lifted except for the no-contact order with Dr. Timmons. I was pleased with this and posted an update to my website and on social media about it. They have since backtracked and have decided only to lift the ban to two buildings, QEII Library and University Centre. From my perspective, it seems they are using this process, which has already dragged out for more than a month, to punish me for writing critical articles. It is noteworthy that the articles that they disliked had nothing to do with the case they have brought against me.

I call on the perpetrators of this injustice to resign, including President Vianne Timmons, Director of Student Life Jennifer Browne, Chief Risk Officer Greg McDougall and all involved. Such egregious breaches of fundamental rights are not acceptable in our institutions of higher learning and cannot be tolerated in our community.

There is no reason to prevent me from accessing The Works, Tim Hortons, a mixer at the Political Science department, a church meeting on campus, an after-hours public lecture at the Bruneau Centre, or visiting a friend in residence. If the university does not remove the ban completely, an injunction will be filed at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.

See letter below:

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.