Editorial: Rice speech taints policy school opening (Gauntlet / U Calgary)

[struggle4progress]

Sarelle Azuelos
Features Editor
May 14, 2009

When former United States secretary of state Condoleezza Rice was invited to the University of Calgary, a clear message on our academic direction was sent. Rice came to give a speech on "critical issues facing North America from a global perspective" for the U of C School of Public Policy's grand opening.

The $500-a-plate event sparked debate quickly after it was announced, with petitions from angry students and community members popping up online. They argued that Rice's history regarding torture policy and the pre-approval of CIA waterboarding was not something they wanted supported through the school's gala launch. Much like former president George W. Bush's visit in March, some called for an acknowledgement of her involvement in war crimes. Rice approved waterboarding on prisoners as early as May 2002, when she was still national security advisor ...

Rice has been quoted many times supporting her actions in the name of America's safety. She has expressed no regret nor even a hint of remorse for her role in this abuse. That the university invited her to their prestigious media-filled event is both sad and infuriating. Rice's involvement tainted what should have been a proud occasion for the university. Instead, she gave a speech about the future of public policy while any questions about her own controversial actions were moderated out of existence.

Unfortunately, online petitions and even protesting seemed to have little effect on the university's decision. She was a big name that would draw a crowd and that was their primary goal. The old cliché, "any publicity is good publicity," should have died long ago ... http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/13569

[applegrove]

1. U of Calgary is the home of the "Calgary School" of economics I think. That

is where the milton Friedman's of Canada congregate and pretend that their school isn't made up of just American neocon ideas. No wonder they invited Rice.

[gula]

3. Sad, but true.

Their only aim is to destroy Canada as a social-democracy. May they rot in hell.

[applegrove]

4. I'd really like to know why science funding is so low. Is that a conservative policy?

Why is the media saying the money Canada spends on research is really low.

[bemildred]

2. Look, it is fatuous to pretend Bushite policies have made the USA safer.

Anybody that asserts that is by definition a tool.