Michele Mandel, Postmedia Network Mar 10, 2017

, Last Updated: 10:19 PM ET

Its time we gave rampant political correctness on campus a failing grade.

A Ryerson University student is told she can only use feminist sources for her paper and dont bother consulting Statistics Canada. Its part of the patriarchy.

A University of Toronto professor is threatened and vilified by peers and students because he dared to use his right to free speech and refuse to use gender neutral pronouns.

A renowned criminal lawyer is told she isnt welcome to speak on campus by womens studies students who object to her defence of Jian Ghomeshi on sexual assault charges.

When did institutions of higher learning decide there is only one way to think and anything outside that world view can be censored and silenced? And why are we funding this insanity?

A business and marketing major at Ryerson, Jane Mathias is taking a sociology elective. The 21-year-old wanted to write a paper about the gender gap myth but was told by her instructor that her premise is wrong.

Instead, she should write about the glass ceiling and consult only feminist sources. Do NOT use business sources. They blame women. The reality is patriarchy, the instructor wrote in her e-mail. Not even government agencies such as Statistics Canada would be considered acceptable scholarly sources, she said, because they usually reproduce mainstream stereotypes, assumptions and misconceptions.

Are you kidding me?

Dr. Jordan Peterson was bemused at my surprise. I know, when you first discover it, you say What the hell; whats going on here? he acknowledged. Unfortunately, its pretty par for the course. This is standard practice.

He should know. The U of T psychology prof ignited a firestorm of criticism last fall from trans activists, faculty and students when he ran afoul of the PC police by posting a video on his YouTube channel saying that he wouldnt use gender-neutral pronouns such as they, ze and zir. Protesters called for his dismissal and someone poured glue into the lock of his office door.

Wheres the intellectual discourse, the room for contrary views?

This is the thing people dont understand about postmodernism: postmodernists dont debate. They dont believe in debate, its not part of the creed, Peterson argued.

All these ethnic studies, gender studies, most of the humanities, a good chunk of the social sciences, its all gone down the postmodern rabbit hole. Theres no debate. Its a political war. You dont talk to the other side.

Dialogue with those you dont agree with would be giving them a platform and respect they dont deserve. Instead, you just shut it down. This is how it is. This is a university, he sighed. It sure would be nice if was unbelieveable, but unfortunately, its how it is.

So Mathias was told her paper was offside even before shed typed a word. Shes basically telling her shes wrong before shes heard her argument, the professor said in exasperation. Your premise is wrong? Guess what, thats what you decide after you read the essay.

Theres no room for critical thinking or alternative argument. Isnt that what university is supposed to be about?

Everything bad is about patriarchy, scoffed Peterson said. Why does hunger exist? Patriarchy. Why does suffering exist? Patriarchy. Its so pathetic.

Many students tell him they fear their only way to get good grades is to shut up and toe the party line. I tell them you never, ever bend what you think to suit a professors whim. Thats not education.

That, he said, is indoctrination.

So whats the solution? His advice is almost as radical as some of the ideas he protests.

Cut the university funding by 25% until they sort themselves out. Id starve them because some decisions have to be made. But failing that, people have to wake up and understand where theyre sending their children.

Universities have become little more than cults and Ive seen them do serious damage to their students mental health.

Read Mandel Wednesday through Saturday.

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Give political correctness a failing grade - Canoe News - Canoe