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You say you care about free speech, but do you?

Wilfrid Laurier University recently came under fire for disciplining one of its teaching assistants over her showing of a video on the gender-pronouns debate. Recently, Dalhousie University also began disciplinary measures against one of its students for her harsh criticism of the Canada 150 celebrations.

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Views published in the media on the Laurier University case have almost universally been in support of the student, on the grounds of free speech. By contrast, views were much more polarized concerning Dalhousie University’s actions. Those who are currently defending the teaching assistant, Lindsay Shepherd, by and large did not extend support to Masuma Khan. While some did, Khan never enjoyed anything remotely resembling the level of support Shepherd enjoys currently.

Why that is so is, of course, pure speculation. Yet I can’t seem to dismiss the idea that it has to do with who they are and why they faced disciplinary proceedings. Shepherd is a cisgender white woman who presented respect for trans people as a matter of debate. Khan is a woman of colour on the student executive who wears the hijab and posted “white fragility can kiss my ass. Your white tears aren’t sacred, this land is.”