It’s time we gave rampant political correctness on campus a failing grade.

A Ryerson University student is told she can only use feminist sources for her paper — and don’t bother consulting Statistics Canada. It’s part of the patriarchy.

A University of Toronto professor is threatened and vilified by peers and students because he dared to use his right to free speech and refuse to use gender neutral pronouns.

A renowned criminal lawyer is told she isn’t welcome to speak on campus by women’s studies students who object to her defence of Jian Ghomeshi on sexual assault charges.

When did institutions of higher learning decide there is only one way to think — and anything outside that world view can be censored and silenced? And why are we funding this insanity?

A business and marketing major at Ryerson, Jane Mathias is taking a sociology elective. The 21-year-old wanted to write a paper about the gender gap “myth” but was told by her instructor that her “premise is wrong.”

Instead, she should write about the glass ceiling and consult only feminist sources. “Do NOT use business sources. They blame women. The reality is patriarchy,” the instructor wrote in her e-mail. Not even government agencies such as Statistics Canada would be considered acceptable scholarly sources, she said, because they usually reproduce “mainstream stereotypes, assumptions and misconceptions.”

Are you kidding me?

Dr. Jordan Peterson was bemused at my surprise. “I know, when you first discover it, you say ‘What the hell; what’s going on here?’” he acknowledged. “Unfortunately, it’s pretty par for the course. This is standard practice.”

He should know. The U of T psychology prof ignited a firestorm of criticism last fall from trans activists, faculty and students when he ran afoul of the PC police by posting a video on his YouTube channel saying that he wouldn’t use gender-neutral pronouns such as “they,” “ze” and “zir.” Protesters called for his dismissal and someone poured glue into the lock of his office door.

Where’s the intellectual discourse, the room for contrary views?

“This is the thing people don’t understand about postmodernism: postmodernists don’t debate. They don’t believe in debate, it’s not part of the creed,” Peterson argued.

“All these ethnic studies, gender studies, most of the humanities, a good chunk of the social sciences, it’s all gone down the postmodern rabbit hole. There’s no debate. It’s a political war. You don’t talk to the other side.”

Dialogue with those you don’t agree with would be giving them a platform — and respect — they don’t deserve. Instead, you just shut it down. “This is how it is. This is a university,” he sighed. “It sure would be nice if was unbelieveable, but unfortunately, it’s how it is.”

So Mathias was told her paper was offside even before she’d typed a word. “She’s basically telling her she’s wrong before she’s heard her argument,” the professor said in exasperation. “‘Your premise is wrong?’ Guess what, that’s what you decide after you read the essay.”

There’s no room for critical thinking or alternative argument. Isn’t that what university is supposed to be about?

“Everything bad is about patriarchy,” scoffed Peterson said. “Why does hunger exist? Patriarchy. Why does suffering exist? Patriarchy. It’s so pathetic.”

Many students tell him they fear their only way to get good grades is to shut up and toe the party line. “I tell them you never, ever bend what you think to suit a professor’s whim. That’s not education.”

That, he said, is indoctrination.

So what’s the solution? His advice is almost as radical as some of the ideas he protests.

“Cut the university funding by 25% until they sort themselves out. I’d starve them because some decisions have to be made. But failing that, people have to wake up and understand where they’re sending their children.

“Universities have become little more than cults and I’ve seen them do serious damage to their students’ mental health.”

Read Mandel Wednesday through Saturday.