Intimidation and Rights

A mob, by definition, is not interested in rational discourse, but rather has decided to act, or has been persuaded to act, by using the force guaranteed by numbers. -There are no small mobs.-

Violence is usually understood as an attack on persons or on property. - It is addressed in the Criminal Code under the terms "assault" and "intimidation". -

Intimidation, in the usual sense, is the threat of violence by virtue of numbers (of a mob); the use of power (enshrined in the law); the denial of a right (usually thought to be unfair or unjust); or the threat of personal attack or attack on property.

In the United Kingdom, a legal strike can become illegal if the strikers intimidate their opponents by the use of large numbers.

In a University setting, each student has the right to follow the courses and have access to the laboratories, libraries and other facilities designed to promote learning in the subjects chosen by the student. Each student can choose a course of studies and by making that choice asserts and acquires a right to attend the required classes.

The University, by offering these several courses of study, is obliged to make them available to the students who chose them.

The Faculty, by announcing that a given course will be offered at a specified hour and day each week during the term, or academic year, has the obligation to appear in the classroom and present the course as it was described in the University Calendar,(or some other source of official information designated by the University.)

In this system of choices, rights and obligations, it ought to be clear that intimidation, not to mention violence, has no place in a University setting. For instance, no group of students, however enamoured of their own importance, has a right to inhibit the choices made by any single student. Nor can any one claim the right to interfere with the conduct of classes or labs, or hinder access to the libraries or prevent their ordinary functions.

And so it follows that, if these several rights and obligations of the faculty, students and administrative staff are disregarded, the University cannot function. And in a self-governing society, the civil laws must be enforced.

Montréal

22 May 2012