Colleagues
FH has posted a disclaimer on our website about this event
(http://www.fhs.sfu.ca/news/featured-article/fhs-disavows-any-support-or-affiliation-with).
Over the next few days we will also post further info and links for
people to access evidence disputing VRMs claims. SFU rents space on
the downtown campus to community and corporate groups without any
academic screening as long as the event meets legal requirements. At
this point, the SFU administration does not feel that it would be
appropriate to cancel the contract for the space rental. Although
space rental does not convey any approval or support of the event by
SFU, it is unfortunate that the public may perceive a connection. I
have contemplated letters to local newspapers about our disapproval of
this event, but I am afraid it would just provide unwarranted
publicity to VRM. I will keep you posted as the situation develops.
Sincerely
--
John D. O'Neil, PhD
Professor and Dean
Faculty of Health Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Blusson Hall
8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC.
Canada, V5A 1S6
Office: 778.782.5361
Fax: 778.782.5927
Cell: 604.306.4987
e-mail:joneil@sfu.ca <mailto:joneil@sfu.ca><mailto:joneil@sfu.ca>
www.fhs.sfu.ca <http://www.fhs.sfu.ca><http://www.fhs.sfu.ca/>
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Racine [mailto:timracine@gmail.com <http://gmail.com>]
Sent: March-02-13 9:34 AM
To: Sam Black
Cc: Paul W. Percival; Stacy Pigg; JD Fleming; Nienke Van Houten; John
O'Neil; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
<mailto:academic-discussion@sfu.ca>; Anke Kessler; Justin Ankenmann
Subject: Re: Questions regarding the Vaccine Resistance Network Event
@SFU on March 12
A potentially interesting, albeit misinformed, link on this topic and
please note the comments that appear below it:
http://freethoughtblogs.com/butterfliesandwheels/2013/03/oh-that-resistance/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freethoughtblogs%2Fbutterfliesandwheels+%28FTB%3A+Butterflies+and+Wheels%29
Tim Racine
Psychology
On 2 March 2013 08:51, Sam Black <samuelb@sfu.ca
<mailto:samuelb@sfu.ca>> wrote:
> I very much agree with the principle articulated by Paul Percival.
> (The strategy of managing media publicity is something I know nothing
> about.)
>
> The anti-vaccine movement has been around for quite a long time to
poison the minds of credulous parents. The best way to advertise our
ideals as a University to the broader community is for some
knowledgeable faculty members to attend the session and debunk the
junk science. This would also be a public service -- that might even
save some children who would otherwise become very ill.
>
> As Paul also rightly emphasizes combatting error with argument is
better than any available alternative mechanism for approving talks
held in University-owned space.
>
> Sam Black
> Philosophy
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Paul W. Percival <percival@sfu.ca <mailto:percival@sfu.ca>>
> To: Stacy Pigg <slpigg@gmail.com <mailto:slpigg@gmail.com>>
> Cc: JD Fleming <jfleming@sfu.ca <mailto:jfleming@sfu.ca>>, Nienke
Van Houten <nvanhout@sfu.ca <mailto:nvanhout@sfu.ca>>,
> John O'Neil <joneil@sfu.ca
<mailto:joneil@sfu.ca>>,academic-discussion@sfu.ca
<mailto:academic-discussion@sfu.ca>, Anke Kessler
> <akessler@sfu.ca <mailto:akessler@sfu.ca>>, Justin Ankenmann
<ankenman@sfu.ca <mailto:ankenman@sfu.ca>>
> Sent: Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:14:46 -0800 (PST)
> Subject: Re: Questions regarding the Vaccine Resistance Network Event
> @SFU on March 12
>
> I sincerely hope that there is no value judgment of venue rental
> requests. Who would you trust as the arbiter of what is acceptable?
> I agree that this group, Vaccine Resistance Movement, is spouting
> dangerous nonsense, but I defend their right to do so. The original
> post by Anke Kessler gives the wrong impression with the phrase "an
> event that our institution is hosting". Space is being rented by SFU,
> nothing more.
>
> Nienke van Houten suggests that the University might make a statement
> disassociating itself from the opinions expressed by this group. In
> my opinion that is not appropriate. Rather, I suggest one or more of
> the following strategies:
> Knowledgeable individuals might attend the event (without paying;
> the ad says that no one will be turned away) to challenge false claims
> made by the speakers;
> Individuals or groups may choose to protest (peacefully) outside
> the venue;
> The Dean of Health Sciences and other expert faculty could offer
> media interviews and write opinion pieces or letters-to-the editor
> providing evidence to counter the claims of the anti-vaccine lobby.
> Surely this is what we should do as academics: provide reasoned
> arguments, not outrage.
>
> There is a danger, however, in making any response, namely that it
> might bring publicity to a group whose message we would rather went
unheard.
> So be prepared, but play it gently, I suggest.
>
> Paul Percival
>
>
> On 01/03/2013 4:49 PM, Stacy Pigg wrote:
>> As JD Fleming points out, this does appear to be a situation of the
>> free-market renting of space. This is why I am curious to know
>> whether such venue requests are somehow considered or judged or
>> evaluated (whether SFU ever declines to rent space to groups on the
>> basis of the content of the event).
>>
>> SFU is a "brand" (as we know by the major financial investment in
>> rebranding that has occurred). Is the SFU brand being appropriated
here?
>> Is the SFU brand affected by hosting this group?
>>
>> Stacy
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 1, 2013 at 1:22 PM, JD Fleming <jfleming@sfu.ca
<mailto:jfleming@sfu.ca>
>> <mailto:jfleming@sfu.ca>> wrote:
>>
>> Glancing over the event website, I do not see any indication
(unless
>> I am missing something) that this group has been invited by SFU
>> event planners or is claiming any academic association with SFU. My
>> assumption would be that they are paying for the very fine
>> conference space and services offered at market rates by SFU MECS,
>> just as many other non-academic and non-SFU groups do. However,
this
>> case certainly does raise some interesting questions as to whether
>> SFU MECS may associate the university, willy-nilly, with groups
that
>> do not pass smell test.
>>
>> JD Fleming
>> English
>>
>
> --
> Dr Paul Percival
> Professor of Chemistry
> Simon Fraser University and TRIUMF
>percival@sfu.ca <mailto:percival@sfu.ca>
>percival@triumf.ca <mailto:percival@triumf.ca>
>http://chemistry.sfu.ca/people/profiles/percival
>
>
> --
> ***********************************
> ***********************************
> Sam Black
> Associate Prof. Philosophy, SFU