Sunday, February 03, 2008

What kind of (local) dumbassitude is this?


Via The Frame Problem, we learn that some of Waterloo's citizenry, for all their vaunted high-tech, world-class brainpower, are still grappling with the concept of logical thought and critical analysis being a good thing.

Consider the intellectual vacuum at local Wilfrid Laurier University that permitted this bit of jaw-dropping fuckery when confronted with a proposal to set up a campus freethought group:

"While the Campus Clubs department understands the goals and visions of your organization, they are not compatible with the guidelines of what may be approved and incorporated into our department. While the promotion of reason, science and freedom of inquiry are perfectly legitimate goals, what is most in question in regards to your club’s vision is the promotion of “a fulfilling life without religion and superstition“. While this university is indeed technically a secular institution, secular does not denote taking an active stance in opposition to the principles and status of religious beliefs and practices. To be clear, this is not meant to say that the promotion of science and reason are illegitimate goals. But due to the need to respect and tolerate the views of others, the Campus Clubs department is unable to approve a club of this nature at this time. If you wish to adjust and rethink your club’s application and vision, you may resubmit a revised proposal at any time."

In unrelated news, WLU officials are scheduled to meet next week to grapple with other issues involving rigorous investigation and logical deduction.


8 comments:

Lindsay Stewart said...

ah laurier, where tomorrows mbas leave mommy to get drunk for the first time, throw up on their beds and writhe in sexual frustration. don't forget that the only reason laurier got the nod and had the place named for him was so that they wouldn't need to change the campus' initials from wlu. waterloo lutheran university. the forces of superstition are deep and powerful.

Dr.Dawg said...

We need a blogburst on this one.

Handyman said...

Perhaps I missed something in the various postings I've now read on this, but it is not completely clear whether the group was turned down by WLUSU (the student union) or the university administration. Appalling either way, but I want to know who I should be slagging.

When I was a student club president (over 20 years ago! Oh, and not in an MBA), the university administration had nothing to do with university clubs - they were entirely a WLUSU responsibility. I have seen WLUSU do quite stupid things entirely apart from the WLU administration, and visa versa.

Dr.Dawg said...

Alas, it's the student union:

http://www.wlusucc.com/start.htm

Ti-Guy said...

What a bizarre understanding of "secular." Seems to me that "the promotion of 'a fulfilling life without religion and superstition'" fits that perfectly. I'm not an atheist and even I agree that religion (as opposed to faith) and superstition (which is irrational) are major obstacles to a fulfilling life.

Red Tory said...

So, if they were to "promote a fulfilling life without ignorance and prejudice" would that be out of the question too?

What a ridiculous decision.

anthrosciguy said...

My, isn't religion a fragile thing indeed.

Anatoly said...

Brilliant as always CC, thanks for the exposure.

- Vice-President of an apparently intolerant and unrecognized campus club