A petition has been launched calling on Mount Royal University to fire a professor who has what they call “racist” beliefs..The petition was launched Tuesday after the Western Standard published a story about Prof. Frances Widdowson and her battle against what she calls the “woke” culture on campus..So far, more than 1,200 people have signed the petition started by Kenna Fraser..“Frances Widdowson is a racist professor who works at Mount Royal University. This is a call to demand that the university condemns Widdowson’s hateful actions against the BIPOC community and that she is terminated for her racist remarks,” states the petition..“Mount Royal University has still yet to make a statement regarding Widdowson’s racist actions and continues to employ her. In ignoring the racist actions of people in power, we directly contribute to the systemic racism within our society.”.“I’m not comfortable having a professor who believes residential schools should be considered an “opportunity for Indigenous children to get an education that normally they wouldn’t have received,” said petition signer Sara Buzreba..“She is completely disrespectful to Indigenous history, BIPOC, and all minorities fighting for systemic change. Her words are disgraceful to this university and MRU’s reputation.”.Aurora Williams signed with the following message: “I am an Indigenous person (Nunatsiavummiuk), whose grandfather attended a residential school. It is 2020, we know the truth of what happened in residential schools – which were an act of genocide committed against Indigenous people. If MRU is committed to reconciliation, then Francis (sic) Widdowson needs to be held accountable for her remarks and beliefs.”.MRU officials refused to comment on the petition..The controversy comes just as MRU professors join their colleagues across the country in a “Scholar Strike” – walking out of classes in support of the Black Lives Matter movement..Prof. Frances Widdowson said in an interview with the Western Standard the BLM movement has “destroyed MRU” and she “doesn’t recognize the institution anymore.”.“You’re supposed to be teaching. That’s your job. You can go on strike to protest police brutality but what does it have to do with you?”.“A ‘woke’ faculty is now in charge. This isn’t going to be good.”.Up next for Widdowson is research into Canada’s residential school history..“What people don’t realize is that these Indigenous children were able to get an education that normally they wouldn’t have received,” she said adding the term “genocide” to describe residential schools is incorrect.. Defying crackdown, hundreds march against lockdowns in Calgary .One campus student group blasted professors for walking about calling them “bandwagoneers.”.“This is nothing but empty virtue signalling,” said Wyatt Claypool, president of the Mount Royal University Campus Conservatives Club..“It is not relevant in Calgary. Instead of them just having a free day, at least talk about what’s happening in the classroom situation..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
