Angry in the Great White North

From the Globe and Mail:

The [University of Western Ontario] had faced stiff opposition from some over its decision to award Dr. Morgenatler [sic] an honorary degree. About 12,000 people signed a petition to voice their disagreement with the move and a $2-million bequest to the school was withdrawn.

When the honour was finally conferred during a ceremony Thursday, those in attendance greeted the 82-year-old physician with a lengthy standing ovation.

Outside, the school's Alumni Hall, about 300 protesters waved placards carrying slogans such as "abortions kill children" and "protect the life of women and baby."

University vice-president Greg Moran, introducing Dr. Morgentaler, reminded those in the audience that debate is a key element in a liberal education and important to the formation of a strong society.

Note that I'm not going to quote anything Morgentaler said -- is comments have been widely debated, and generally panned.

What I'm upset about is how a graduation ceremony was ruined by this. Despite what Greg Moran said about debate being a key element in education, a graudation ceremony is not an opportunity to educate people. It is a celebration of a phase of education completed. Frankly, the last thing on the minds of the graduates in the audience is more education. The same goes for the parents and grandparents in attendance.

The university had to know what the effect of Morgentaler's presence would be, and the anger that was voiced once the decision was made public should have removed any doubts. Did those in attendance give him a standing ovation? Clearly many did, but the funny thing about standing ovations is that they tend to hide all those people sitting on their hands. Given the pro-Morgentaler slant of the article, I suspect that any frustration in the convocation hall was being played down.

I wonder how many students just skipped graduation altogether, opting to receive their degrees in the mail. I wouldn't be surprised is more than a few did.

If the university wanted to have Morgentaler speak, they could have arranged a speaking engagement. Moran spoke of "debate" being a key element. Funny, I don't recall a report of a second speaker following Morgentaler to the podium to present a different point of view, something that also could easily have been arranged as a special event for students to attend.

The bottom line is that this celebration was ruined by an insensitve university leadership eager to establish their ultra-liberal bona fides, instead of focusing on the most important thing -- giving the students and their families in attendance an opportunity to celebrate and to feel pride in their academic accomplishments. Now their memories will be forever tainted by protests and placards and petitions, regardless of where they stand on this issue. For students and other audience members who are against abortion, instead of this last day being one of shared experiences and memories, they will leave the university for the last time with a feeling that perhaps they were never truly welcome there.

If I were a student who supported abortion, I'd feel cheated of my special day. If I were a student who was against abortion, I'd feel hurt on top of cheated. If I was a parent of either of those students, I'd be livid.