University of the Fraser Valley cites \u201csecurity concerns\u201d and cancels talk from WeNeedaLAW.ca director.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For Immediate Release<\/p>\n Surrey, BC \u2013 In a strongly worded letter<\/a> to University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), lawyer John Carpay from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms demanded that president Dr. Mark Evered and UFV reverse its decision to cancel an event on April 10, 2013.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand from Ms. Bulthuis, president of UFV Life Link (hereinafter \u201cLife Link\u201d), that on March 20, 2013, UFV approved a Life Link event to take place on Wednesday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Room B101<\/span><\/span> on the Abbotsford Campus<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0 This April 10 event, approved by UFV, features a presentation by Mike Schouten from the group \u201cWe Need a Law<\/a>,\u201d which advocates for the protection of the pre-born through legislation,\u201d Mr. Carpay writes.<\/p>\n The letter goes on to say: Your attempted cancellation of this April 10 event, and your content-based censorship of Life Link\u2019s expression, is contrary to UFV\u2019s Board Policy on Academic Freedom<\/em>, which states:<\/p>\n The university is committed to the belief that the exchange of knowledge and ideas in an environment of intellectual freedom is an indispensable foundation of quality education. Academic freedom is one means to ensure that an environment of intellectual freedom is sustained. Academic freedom includes the right of all members of the university community to inquire, discuss, speak and express themselves, study, conduct research, teach, publish, associate, create and exhibit their work without hindrance or restriction by the university or any of its representatives.<\/p>\n Carpay continues, \u201cIf a university implements a policy of cancelling events the moment it learns that protesters might be present at an event, the university is no longer a safe space for the peaceful expression of a broad range of diverse opinions.\u201d<\/p>\n