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The University of B.C. could face a lawsuit from a free speech club after cancelling a potentially controversial speaking event at the end of January, citing “safety and security.”

However, a free expression expert said he believes the school isn’t stifling free speech, as The Free Speech Club is alleging, and doesn’t have a duty to host an event if it isn’t part of the university’s academic mission.

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“The speaker has every freedom of expression right to express his views. This group of students has every freedom of expression right to find a place to hold an event to let him express his views. It’s just the university doesn’t have an obligation to be that place,” said James Turk, director of Ryerson University’s Centre for Free Expression.

Andy Ngo, editor at large for the right-wing news site Post Millennial, was scheduled to deliver a talk called “Understanding Antifa (Anti-fascist) Violence,” at UBC’s Robson Square campus on Jan. 29.

The Free Speech Club, which organized the event, had paid the booking deposit and the talk was confirmed in November. However, the club was notified on Dec. 20 that the event was cancelled.

Ron Holton, the university’s chief risk officer, said in an emailed statement that campus safety and security is the primary concern, and the school does risk assessments to evaluate the impact that event bookings could have on the campus community.

“The assessment in this case determined the safety and security of UBC students, faculty, staff and infrastructure was at risk if the event was allowed to proceed,” he said, noting the event was cancelled “in order to safeguard the safety and security of our community.”

No specific safety concern was cited.

“What they’re doing is pretty anti-Charter (of Rights and Freedoms), and as a publicly funded institution, they can’t really do what they’re doing, especially given the political nature of it,” said club director Angelo Isidorou. “What I’m hoping is that they rescind their cancellation. If they don’t, we will have to pursue legal action.”