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CALGARY — An instructor at the Alberta College of Art and Design has been fired after a student beheaded a chicken in the school’s cafeteria, calling it part of a public art performance.

Gord Ferguson has confirmed he was terminated but refused further comment.

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School officials have also declined to comment, saying it is a personnel and legal matter.

Calgary police had said at the time the student’s actions were sanctioned by an instructor and were part of a project to perform and record an act of protest.

Some students in the cafeteria called police after seeing the student kill the chicken with a knife, then pluck it and clean it.

The student then dropped the chicken into a pot, as if he were going to cook and eat it.

No criminal charges were laid.

Jon Peters, a former ACAD student, told the CBCthat he is appalled at the short-sightedness of the decision.

“Art, and its institutions, are expressions of critical thinking, and are the lifeblood of our civilization,” he said.

“As an instructor, Gord embodied this type of thinking, challenging his students to explore their environment in an intellectual and critical way.”

The college released a statement on its Facebook page that it was working with faculty, students and staff to better understand what had happened.