TORONTO

Have post-secondary campuses — and society in general — gone crazy with rabid political correctness?

Christine Van Geyn of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Chad Hallman of Students in Support of Free Speech and Toronto Sun columnist Anthony Furey addressed that question in the wake of the Prof. Jordan Peterson controversy at the University of Toronto Thursday.

Peterson, a U of T psychology prof, exploded into the greater public consciousness in late September following the release of an online video in which he railed against political correctness and Bill C-16, legislation that would amend laws to protect gender identity and expression from discrimination.

The three speakers at the event organized by Generation Screwed, a student-based organization affiliated with the CTF, warned of the elimination of free speech, discussion, and debate, and of encroaching control by left-leaning ideologues who feel the need to protect.

“They are offended on behalf of some imagined victim,” said Van Geyn, who told the story of a student at one Ontario university who was told by a peer to remove his Donald Trump hat because it could be seen as “hate language.”

Furey talked of a time around a decade ago when journalist, author and commentator Christopher Hitchens spoke at U of T and made some controversial comments about religion.

“There’s no way you could do that on a campus today,” said Furey, warning those in attendance to “not let others frame the parameters of your debate” and to “not let them box you in...(and) make you think you’re a bad person” for challenging the views of others.

Hallman called some protectors of political correctness “Orwellian,” and told a story of his organization recently rallying for free speech and being silenced by a white-noise machine brought to the demonstration by opponents.

Peterson refused to use gender neutral pronouns such as ze and hir — instead of standards like he and she — for those who don’t self-identify as male or female. Since then, U of T ordered Peterson to call students whatever they way they wanted to be addressed and to lay off making public statements on the subject.

TDavidson@postmedia.com