Saint Mary’s has decided to cancel the debate between Dr. Peter March and ‘race realist’ Jared Taylor. The two had been scheduled to debate on March 6th in the Burke auditorium. Taylor is the editor of a monthly magazine that considers itself “America’s premiere publication of racial-realist thought. It purports, “Of all the fault lines that divide society—language, religion, class, ideology— [race] is the most prominent and divisive.” Taylor was to argue against multiculturalism.

In January 2007, Taylor’s scheduled debate with Dr. David Devine, the chair of Black Canadian Studies at Dalhousie University, was cancelled, because of Taylor’s questionable past. After Dr. Peter March arranged another debate at Saint Mary’s, the university initially responded by stating “[it] is NOT sponsoring the debate nor does it support or sanction Mr. Taylor’s presence or his views.” March also agreed to pay for all expenses, including insurance, security and cleanup.

However, upon further reflection,Saint Mary’s changed its mind. In a press release dated March 5th, two days before the scheduled debate, the university issued a statement explaining, “Following a review over the weekend by Saint Mary’s University and its Security Department, the University has withdrawn the use of campus facilities for the proposed debate between Dr. Peter March and Mr. Jared Taylor. The review, conducted in preparation for the event, included consideration of new information. The conclusion was that there is a higher level of personal risk and need for increased security than the University has the capacity to provide.”

The press release also explains that the university supports free speech and academic freedom, but that it has an obligation to provide a safe environment on campus.

It is unfortunate that Saint Mary’s first indicated it would allow the debate to occur on campus, and changed its policy two days before the event.

Many members of the community would have liked to have the opportunity to hear what Jared Taylor had to say. It is true that many racists champion his views; one quick look at the comments on Taylor’s website will support this. However, it would have been very unlikely that Taylor would have delivered a hate speech if he had been allowed to talk. Taylor has debated against multiculturalism many times before, without serious altercation. Still, in the event that those hooded protesters were to show up again, SMU had required that March pay for the service of four armed guards.

Taylor should not be feared, he should be confronted, just as Peter March attempted to do. Censoring Taylor has done little to undermine him. I’m sure he’s checked this second Halifax trip as another victory, a masking of racial skeletons in the closet. We could have used this opportunity to show Taylor and his band of racist followers that Halifax champions its multiculturalism
and its benefits.

Taylor can now sit back without having said a word, and add another notch to his belt.

Perhaps Saint Mary’s is privy to information we have no access to concerning a serious security issue. However, if this is not the case, the debate should not have been kicked off campus.