Letter To J. Peterson - 18oct2016

October 18th 2016
Professor Jordan Peterson

Department of Psychology
University of Toronto
Dear Professor Peterson,

We are writing in follow up to Professor Ferbers letter to you of October 3, 2016 (copy
attached for reference), regarding the ongoing concerns related to your videos, and complaints
that have been made to the University by members of the University community, including
transgendered persons and the organizations that represent and support them on campus,
about some of the content of those videos.
Firstly, let us be clear that the University is committed to the protection of freedom of speech
as a core value for our community and for any university in a democratic society. The
University is likewise committed to protecting the academic freedom of our faculty members,
including their right to criticize the University and society at large with freedom from
institutional censorship, as articulated in Article 5 of the Memorandum of Agreement between
the University of Toronto and the University of Toronto Faculty Association. The Universitys
commitment to protecting these core values includes your right to express and debate views
that may be discomfiting or even offensive to others. However, as Professor Ferber has already
pointed out to you, these rights are not without limitation and must be exercised in accordance
with your responsibilities as a faculty member, including upholding applicable laws.
You have continued to state publicly that if a student or colleague or staff member requests
that you refer to them using gender neutral pronouns, you will refuse to do so and that you do
not recognize the rights of others to tell you which personal pronoun to use when addressing
them.
/2
Office of the Dean, 100 St George Street, Suite 2005, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3 Canada
Tel: +1 416-978-1085, Fax: +1 416-978-3887, email: dean@artsci.utoronto.ca www.artsci.utoronto.ca
The law of Ontario, specifically the Ontario Human Rights Code, protects against discrimination
based on gender expression and gender identity. Depending on the context, if personal
pronouns are being used, the refusal by a teacher or colleague to use the personal pronoun
that is an expression of the persons gender identity can constitute discrimination. In many
situations it is not necessary to use personal pronouns at all, but where it is, the personal
pronoun that is chosen as the persons gender identity-related and gender expression-related
identifier should be used.
Your statements that you will refuse to refer to transgendered persons using gender neutral
pronouns if they ask you to do so are contrary to the rights of those persons to equal treatment
without discrimination based on their gender identity and gender expression.
You should also be aware that many members of the University community are concerned and
distressed about the declarations of your discriminatory intentions. The University has received
communications from individuals, student groups and employee groups that find your
comments to be unacceptable, emotionally disturbing and painful. Some members of the
University community report that the statements and the invective that has followed in the
ensuing commentary and debates on social media have caused them to fear for their safety on
the University campus.
Some students have reported being the target of specific and violent threats, including threats
of assault, injury and death against them individually and as members of the trans community.
We trust that these impacts on students and others were not your intention in making these
remarks. However, in view of these impacts, as well as the requirements of the Ontario Human
Rights Code, we urge you to stop repeating these statements.
As Professor Ferber informed you, your responsibilities as a faculty member at the University of
Toronto include an obligation to uphold the law, including the Ontario Human Rights Code, and
to do so as you exercise your academic freedom, or freedom of expression. Your
responsibilities as a faculty member also include dealing with other members of the University
community in ways that provide equal treatment without discrimination. Article 5 of the
Memorandum of Agreement between the University of Toronto and the University of Toronto
Faculty Association not only recognizes that faculty members have the right to academic
freedom, but also notes the responsibilities of faculty members to establish fair and ethical
dealings with students, as well as with colleagues. The impact of your behaviour runs the risk
of undermining your ability to conduct essential components of your job as a faculty member
and we urge you to consider your obligations as a faculty member to act in a manner that is
consistent with the law and with University policy.
You have referred to allegations of criminal behaviour by some in attendance at the rally of
October 11, 2016. The University deplores acts of violence and the disruption of civil debate.
The allegations of criminal behaviour are being investigated by the Toronto Police Service. The
University continues to emphasize to its community members the obligation to engage in civil,
non-violent interactions at all times, including when difficult topics are discussed on campus.
Yours sincerely,
David Cameron
Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science
Sioban Nelson
Vice-Provsot, Faculty and Academic Life
cc. Professor Susanne Ferber, Chair, Department of Psychololgy

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October 18th 2016

Professor Jordan Peterson

Dear Professor Peterson,

cc. Professor Susanne Ferber, Chair, Department of Psychololgy

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