1,000 signatures reached
To: The University of Alberta
I support the University of Alberta's right to award David Suzuki an Honorary Degree
We support your decision to award Dr. David Suzuki an honorary degree for his environmental research, advocacy, and education initiatives.
Why is this important?
The University of Alberta has awarded David Suzuki an honorary degree in celebration of his impressive contribution to environmental awareness and literacy in Canada. Now, the institution is facing politically-inspired backlash from faculty, alumni, and conservative politicians.
This backlash began with an overblown message from the University of Alberta Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Fraser Forbes, who called the honorary degree a “betrayal” and the “worst crisis… that we’ve faced in more than three decades.”[1] Forbes’ message inspired a number of conservative politicians including Jason Kenney and Matt Jeneroux to publicly protest the honorary degree, and even prompted a law firm to revoke its funding to the U of A. [2]
In reality, offering Dr. Suzuki an honorary degree does not represent a betrayal by the university, but rather the banal recognition of a long-time academic, environmentalist, and media figure in Canada.
Dr. Suzuki is a respected academic and broadcaster whose career spans over 40 years (his broadcast career began at the University of Alberta, where, as a professor, he appeared in science segments on campus television). Dr. Suzuki has published 52 books, and is the recipient of a number of major awards, including the Order of Canada. Dr. Suzuki has been awarded honorary degrees from dozens of universities and colleges, including the University of Calgary, Queen’s University, and many other Canadian post-secondary institutions.
Critics like Forbes, Kenney, and others are protesting the University of Alberta’s decision for no other reason that he disagrees with them on the state and future of oil and gas activity in the province. They have not only relied on hyperbole to exaggerate the significance of awarding Dr. Suzuki an honorary degree, but are using their positions of influence and money to stifle opinions they disagree with. These actions reveal what these individuals — which includes a current dean at the University of Alberta — believe the university should be: a reflection of themselves in both appearance and intellectual thought.
Sign the petition now if you agree that the U of A has the right to award an honorary degree to Dr. Suzuki for his historical links with the university and significant contribution to Canadian society.
- Richie Assaly, Avnish Nanda, and Amy Sanderson
[1] University defends its decision to award honorary degree to David Suzuki https://twitter.com/i/moments/988887038500966417
[2] Message from Fraser Forbes: https://www.ualberta.ca/engineering/news/2018/april/message-from-fraser-forbes
This backlash began with an overblown message from the University of Alberta Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Fraser Forbes, who called the honorary degree a “betrayal” and the “worst crisis… that we’ve faced in more than three decades.”[1] Forbes’ message inspired a number of conservative politicians including Jason Kenney and Matt Jeneroux to publicly protest the honorary degree, and even prompted a law firm to revoke its funding to the U of A. [2]
In reality, offering Dr. Suzuki an honorary degree does not represent a betrayal by the university, but rather the banal recognition of a long-time academic, environmentalist, and media figure in Canada.
Dr. Suzuki is a respected academic and broadcaster whose career spans over 40 years (his broadcast career began at the University of Alberta, where, as a professor, he appeared in science segments on campus television). Dr. Suzuki has published 52 books, and is the recipient of a number of major awards, including the Order of Canada. Dr. Suzuki has been awarded honorary degrees from dozens of universities and colleges, including the University of Calgary, Queen’s University, and many other Canadian post-secondary institutions.
Critics like Forbes, Kenney, and others are protesting the University of Alberta’s decision for no other reason that he disagrees with them on the state and future of oil and gas activity in the province. They have not only relied on hyperbole to exaggerate the significance of awarding Dr. Suzuki an honorary degree, but are using their positions of influence and money to stifle opinions they disagree with. These actions reveal what these individuals — which includes a current dean at the University of Alberta — believe the university should be: a reflection of themselves in both appearance and intellectual thought.
Sign the petition now if you agree that the U of A has the right to award an honorary degree to Dr. Suzuki for his historical links with the university and significant contribution to Canadian society.
- Richie Assaly, Avnish Nanda, and Amy Sanderson
[1] University defends its decision to award honorary degree to David Suzuki https://twitter.com/i/moments/988887038500966417
[2] Message from Fraser Forbes: https://www.ualberta.ca/engineering/news/2018/april/message-from-fraser-forbes