Censure against U of T temporarily suspended after school reverses course in hiring controversy
CBC
A censure against the University of Toronto has been temporarily suspended after the school reversed course on a hiring controversy that saw a federal tax judge allegedly try to block the hiring of an international law practitioner who has written widely on Israel-Palestinian affairs.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), which imposed the censure in April, says it has called for a pause on the measure after it says the school met one of its key demands: to re-offer the position of director of its international human rights program to Valentina Azarova.
After careful consideration, it says, Azarova has declined the offer.
"Her decision, while unfortunate, is understandable given the University's initial reaction to the unfounded and scurrilous attacks on her reputation and her research," CAUT said in a statement Friday.
CBC News has reached out to both Azarova and the University of Toronto for comment.
In a news release Friday, the group called the university's decision a "victory for academic freedom."
But it says the full censure will not be formally lifted until the university addresses other key aspects of the case and explicitly extends academic freedom protections to academic managerial positions and develops policies to prohibit donor interference in internal academic affairs.
Why now for the Edmonton Oilers? A primer on the Stanley Cup hopes of Canada's northernmost NHL team
Canada's northernmost NHL team is seeking to do what none of its peers on this side of the border have been able to do during the lifetime of Connor McDavid: Take home the Stanley Cup.