On December 20, 2021, I was fired from my position as a professor in the Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies at Mount Royal University for questioning "woke" ideas. "Woke-ism" is the colloquial term used for the postmodern tactic of reducing scientific objectivity to subjective authoritarianism, imposing its arbitrary interpretation of what is acceptable. The related distortion of language was one of the main themes of George Orwell's warning in his dystopic novel 1984. Particularly disturbing is the fact that my union, which I am relying upon to fairly represent me, also has been impacted by "woke-ism" (see the video below).
While my case constitutes an egregious violation of my academic freedom and freedom of expression rights, as well as the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness, it has massive implications for the academy and scholarship generally that go far beyond how I have been treated. My interview with Peter Shawn Taylor - shown in the video below - that became the basis for his C2C Journal piece provides a good overview of my case and how it relates to the deterioration of the intellectual character of universities.
The open exchange of ideas and the ability to debate a wide range of topics are under threat in universities today. Promoting critical thinking has been gradually overtaken by identity politics that has become totalitarian, which is the focus of the de-Enlightenment agenda of "woke-ism". Also referred to as "reified postmodernism" by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay, the dogmatic demand is that identities that are perceived to be oppressed be "made real". This means that it is expected that the claims of trans activism, indigenous "knowledge keepers", and Black Lives Matter inspired initiatives must be accepted without question even if they are untrue. Any professor who challenges the sacred cows of "woke-ism" will be ostracized and then eventually targeted for dismissal.
The weapons of "woke-ism" are university policies that turn intellectual disagreements into matters for investigation and disciplinary action. Even mild criticisms of the claims being made by certain identities can result in a trip to the Star Chamber. One of my Tweets satirizing a cartoon about "misgendering fatigue" and the letters of the LGBTQ+ initialism (shown below), for example, was found by an outside investigator (hired by MRU) to have violated three policies and two laws. No legal rationale was provided for these conclusions.
As
a result of the weaponization of these policies, hundreds of thousands
of dollars in public funds are being spent by universities to police
the private social media activities of professors. This money, which
should be spent on improving teaching and research, is instead being
diverted to stifle discussions about important matters of public concern.
In order to fight back against what has been happening, funding is needed for legal services and research assistance to help me make the best legal arguments to ensure that procedural fairness and free speech are protected in universities. Although my union is taking my case to arbitration in January 2023, "woke-ism"'s influence has meant that outside expertise is needed to help it mount a vigorous defense of academic freedom and free speech. I also need funding to help me publicize my case and fight "woke-ism" more generally, as my salary from MRU was cut off in December 2021, and my unemployment insurance ran out in the fall of 2022.
A successful arbitration decision will mean that universities will think twice before punishing dissenters and critical thinkers. By contributing to my legal and research costs, as well as the expenses needed to publicize my case and alert the public about the problems of "woke-ism", everyone will be able to see how universities have been engaged in attempts at censorship and intimidation. Only people like you can help us to take back our universities and make them places where the truth can be pursued once more.
There are a number of videos on my YouTube Channel that discuss how Mount Royal University has violated my academic freedom and rights to due process, as well as the Alberta government's free speech directive. To find out more about my case, please visit the website www.wokeacademy.info/. The sixteen "episodes" below are documented in the "MRU Frances Widdowson Firing" area. Two more episodes still need to be uploaded. For all episodes see:
http://www.wokeacademy.info/episodes/.
For specific episodes see:
Episode 1: The Renae Watchman Complaint
Episode 2: The "Trans-Exclusionary" Arts Faculty Council Motion
Episode 3: Questioning Indigenous "Star Knowledge"
Episode 4: The "Disruptive" Actions at Meetings
Episode 5: "Anti-Racism" and Defending Wendy Mesley
Episode 6: The Satirical Letter that was "Demeaning of Others"
Episode 7: The Students' Association Press Release Condemning Frances Widdowson
Episode 8: The Terrorization of Frances Widdowson by MRU's Human Resources
Episode 9: Misgendering Fatigue in White Supremacy Culture
Episode 10: MRU's Rigorous Due Process
Episode 11: Is the Mount Royal Faculty Association Acting in Good Faith?
Episode 12: Did Gabrielle Lindstrom "Harass" Frances Widdowson?
Episode 13: Disrespectful Criticism of Islam will not be Tolerated
Episode 14: Did Mark Hecht Violate a Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DIE) Oath?
Episode 15: Rational Space and the Critical Thinking Series
Episode 16: The Poisonous Work Environment Endured by Frances Widdowson from 2016-2019
My case must be won, and I will fight to the end to make the university an academic space once more.
