How removing EDI opens the door to hate at U of A

It seems as though the University of Alberta is opening the doors for discrimination and hate on campus by trying to remove equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) from its recruitment policy. The U of A is trying to remove a policy they implemented only six years ago. Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise. The Government of Alberta seems to be pulling at some heavy strings, hoping, possibly forcing, universities to remain politically neutral. But their vision of neutrality isn’t really neutral at all.

This February, the U of A discussed a new recruitment policy at the General Faculties Council (GFC), which would eliminate EDI from their hiring process. The final decision on this policy will take place on March 26. And it seems like the U of A is taking after the Alberta government. The United Conservative Party (UCP) has been trying to implement anti-EDI policies since at least November of last year. Specifically, they introduced Bill 13, colloquially known as ‘Peterson Law.’ During the hiring process, under this bill, companies would be able to decide for themselves whether they want to implement EDI policies.

This bill goes to show what strings Alberta’s government will tug on. For example, during the UCP’s annual general meeting (AGM) in 2024, the membership essentially voted to block funding to universities that go too far with EDI policies. Most concerning is that this policy seems to have continued on to 2025.

Earlier in October, a government appointed panel made several recommendations about the funding that universities should get in the future. One of their recommendations was that universities must remain neutral. But neutrality means a very different thing in the panels’ eyes. The main concern the panel brought up was that universities were ostracizing students and professors for speaking their mind and adding their thoughts to conversations. But this isn’t really what’s being challenged. There is a right and wrong way of challenging ideas in a university. And the panel’s vision of this is allowing hate speech in universities. Just like Bill 13, this initiative is just trying to let people be hateful without consequences. 

Politics has always crossed paths with universities — but only now does it feel like it’s become a prominent issue. Even with politics being a part of everyone’s daily lives, it doesn’t imply that university institutions are leaning one way or another. No one is stopping students and professors from challenging current rhetoric. There is a difference, though, between challenging rhetoric and saying something hateful. The removal of EDI is not challenging rhetoric; it’s simply letting hate and discrimination go unchecked. 

No one coming into the U of A should be concerned about being a part of this community. Universities should give everyone fair and equitable opportunities. Removing EDI policies would be a punch in the face to everyone at the U of A. It would only prove that our university is a loyalist to Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP government. Because the removal of these EDI policies is only trying to do one thing: open the door to discrimination.