Gather with other HxA UofT members to discuss heterodox perspectives on the most pressing issues facing the academy, and join in our collective efforts to advance our core principles.
Check Out Our Upcoming Events
“Mismatched and out of touch? Why local context matters when implementing DEI”: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Memorial University of Newfoundland: A Conversation with David Gill
Wednesday, March 26th, 7-9pm, OISE Room 6-184
(252 Bloor St. W., 6th Floor)
Attendance is Free
DEI and anti-racism programs in higher education originated in prestigious American universities and were justified mostly by American historical narratives about racial inequality. But what happens when those programs get imported to settings with very different histories and present conditions? Dr Gill will discuss the impact that MUN’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism policies along with Indigenization and Decolonization efforts are having on academic freedom, student voice, and community connections.
An Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland., Dr. Gill has taught at Amalgamated Academy in Bay Roberts, developing and facilitating technology integration projects at provincial, national, and international levels. He has been a technology learning resource and e-learning specialist, science, and social studies teacher for the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District. Dr. Gill has won the Certificate of Excellence Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, his provincial Teachers’ Association Barnes Award for his Professional Development programs, and the Canadian Association for Teacher Education’s Dissertation Award of Recognition for his work on technology education. Since joining MUN’s Faculty of Education in 2015, Dr. Gill has investigated pedagogical impacts of technology on teacher education and student engagement, critical thinking, and problem solving. He also likes chickens.
Past Events
Nadine Strossen: Should Free Speech Ever Be Limited in the University
(co-hosted with the Institute for Liberal Studies)
February 6, 2025 at 3:30 pm to 5:30pm
Room 221, Galbraith Building
35 St. George Street, University of Toronto St. George Campus
Bruce Pardy: Two Paradigms of Canadian Law
(co-hosted with the Runnymede Society)
January 20, 2025 at 7pm
Common Room, 300 Bloor Street East (just west of Mt. Pleasant Bridge)
Professor Pardy will present on “The Two Paradigms of Canadian Law” and take questions from the audience. Refreshments will be served. Please register here.
Heterodox Movie Night & Social
April 18 at 7pm
We will screen the film “The Coddling of the American Mind”. Afterwards, co-producers Hector Hererra and Pazit Cahlona will briefly discuss their film, and will be joined by Leigh Revers (UTM professor and author of 2 recent articles in the National Post). We will then have an open group discussion for another 30 minutes, followed by refreshments and mingling.
Taboo: How Making Race Sacred Led to a Cultural Revolution
May 8 at 5pm
Medical Science Building, Room 137
We are co-sponsoring this talk with the Council on Academic Freedom at the University of Toronto (CAFUT). Eric Kaufmann is a Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham, has written several books about immigration, populism and politics, and has also written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Times of London, Newsweek, National Review, New Statesman, Financial Times and other outlets.
Salon: “Liberalism, Wokeness and Universities”
May 10 at 7:00
180 Bloor St. W., 2nd floor
For many years, Prof Neil McLaughlin has hosted a series of salons in which various presenters discuss their ideas for 20-30 minutes, followed by group discussions. HxA UofT is co-sponsoring Neil’s next salon. Wodek Szemberg, former producer at TVO, will discuss liberalism, cowardice and wokeness. Scott Davies, Professor at UofT, will present “The Social Movement University” and will argue that university administrations have increasingly adopted social movement tactics rather than procedures of institutional neutrality.
Civility and Heterodoxy: A Conversation
May 15th at 7pm
OISE, 6th Floor, Room 6-184
Professor Randy Boyagoda was recently appointed as UofT’s provost adviser on civil discourse. Prof Boyagoda will discuss his ideas about heterodoxy and civility. Panelists Stephen Reich (U of T OISE doctoral student) and Neil McLaughlin (McMaster)will offer their own thoughts on the topic. Refreshments and a social will follow.
Erich Fromm
June 28th at 7pm
Neil McLaughlin’s Salon,
88 Bloor St. E., Apt. 2510,
Buzzer Code: 350
Troubleshooting: Text: 647-297-6215
Critics of Critical Theory like Jordan Peterson or James Lindsay often view German psychoanalyst and critical theorist Erich Fromm as a villain, responsible for importing Nietzsche’s German relativism and nihilism into the United States. This salon will complicate this simplistic view, by looking at the diversity of ideas within critical theory, outlining the differences between Fromm’s “left” thought and “woke” ideology, thereby offering an alternative way of thinking about what we mean by critical theory and its role in both the academy and Western democratic politics more generally.
Presented by Neil McLaughlin, a professor of sociology at McMaster University, with a courtesy appointment at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology at the University of Toronto. McLaughlin has published widely on Erich Fromm and critical theory, the sociology of public intellectuals, public sociology, the history of social science and the crisis of Canadian sociology. Heterodox member and University of Toronto PhD student Stephen Reich will moderate the conversation based on his own academic research on the diffusion of critical theory in Canadian education.
Snacks and red wine will be provided; bring white wine, or beer if you prefer. Informal discussion to follow.
Professor Amna Khalid on Academic Freedom
November 20, 5 PM, Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84502358335pwd=NT6D2MN3dG7xUBMbu68extsS28vVlz.1
Meeting ID: 845 0235 8335, Passcode: v20Uis
Co-sponsored with the Council on Academic Freedom at the University of Toronto (CAFUT).
Stephen Reich, Scott Davies and Ardavan Eizadirad will discuss “Where is Public K-12 Education Going?”
What are the Impacts of Foucault and Postmodernism on Higher Education, Identity Politics, and Truth? A Heterodox Conversation with Mark Lilla and Michael Behrent.
December 9, 7 PM,
OISE Auditorium (G-162), 252 Bloor St W., Toronto.
