According to Wikipedia, “censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by a government, media outlet or other controlling body.”

It seems that over 50% of Canadian student unions are solid platforms from which unpopular agendas are banned by way of 19th century philosophy – the might is right mentality. It’s evident that the student unions have discovered that ‘strength or physical might’ can establish moral right. In these cases the physical might of ink on formal declarations by student unions has overpowered the Charter of Students Rights and Responsibilities. A bloodless coup d’etat – silencing the opposition of young, quiet and weak citizens.

The following quotes were from the Calgary based, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, (JCCF). There were pages of violations, these are just a sample of the types. “On March 15, 2013, the Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) denied certification to a student men’s issues group because it was allegedly affiliated with two external organizations, A Voice for Men and the Canadian Association for Equality, which RSU deemed “hate groups.””

Robyn Urback, wrote in the National Post, “There are other examples not cited in the JCCF report. [more censorship?] In January, the University of Toronto Student Union actually drafted a motion to take action to block the website for A Voice for Men on its server (sites for making homemade bombs and gore sex are still OK, though). Last May, students at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia tried to halt the creation of a campus men’s centre.” Simon Fraser University’s student society approved the budget for the Men’s centre earlier in the spring.

“On May 3, 2013, York University administrators revoked the club status of the student group “Students Against Israeli Apartheid” (SAIA) and banned it from applying for official club status until January, 2014. The ban was the result of a rally organized by SAIA on March 27, 2013, which the university deemed to have disrupted academic activities near Vari Hall rotunda due to the noise and extent of the demonstration.”

“In 2008, the Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU) declared itself to be officially pro-choice, and further declared that those who think differently must keep their speech and actions in accordance with the student union’s stance on the subject,” which was really inconvenient for those citizens who wanted to create a student group with thoughts of ‘pro-life’. “The Lakehead University Students’ Union (LUSU) told the campus pro-life club (Lakehead University Life Support) that it could only exist by refraining from advocating its stance on abortion, and by not approaching any students to share the club’s viewpoint. When Lakehead University Life Support refused these conditions as unreasonable, LUSU then stripped the club of its status.”

University life is somewhat removed from the average person. The puppies have left the den and are bound at full gallop towards making a difference, eager to participate in, capital D Democracy – with the big dogs. Their bucolic world is certainly separated from the practical world of workaday pursuits. I suppose, that from the majority of the worlds perspective, it’s a decadent discussion. In terms of men’s issues, in a broad sense, the male identity seems to have taken on some semblance of the gender role imposed on pre emancipated women – don’t complain, be seen, but be silent.

The disconnect of academia allows for some engaging conversation about the fabric of society, and the legal threads that go into its making. Yet of course, the students today are the ones that will, in theory at least, be involved in shaping our society; although it was a street vendor, who allegedly didn’t finish high school that was responsible for kicking off change in Tunisia…by setting himself ablaze. But I digress.

The lesson is somewhat muted, but none the less clear. Those with the most powerful voice get to be heard, the others will be silenced.