REGINA — A group of professors at the University of Regina is protesting a scholarship program for the dependents of dead soldiers, arguing it promotes militarism.
“We think this program is a glorification of Canadian imperialism in Afghanistan,” said Jeffrey Webber, one of 16 professors who drafted an open letter to university president Vianne Timmons.
The program, called Project Hero, provides financial aid for children of Canadian Forces personnel who have lost their lives while serving in an active mission. Individual universities establish the terms and conditions for the scholarship including value, duration and application process.
The open letter, endorsed by Mr. Webber and his colleagues, asked for three things: the immediate withdrawal from “Project Hero,” public pressure on government to provide funding for universal access to post-secondary education and a public forum on the war in Afghanistan and Canadian imperialism to be held before the end of semester exams.
Barb Pollock, a spokeswoman for the University of Regina, defended Project Hero.
“The decision was made by the executive of the university,” she said. “Other universities whom we respect are involved in it and we thought it was a good thing to do.”
She did not expect the reaction from the group of protesting professors.
“We have diverse opinions on moves the university makes all the time and the decision has been made at this point…. That’s where it’s at.” But she said university will “not have a debate” on the issue and has made its decision to go through with the program.
The professors’ objections begin, but don’t end, with the name of the program.
“Project Hero” has dangerous cultural underpinnings, implying that Canada’s military activity in Afghanistan is heroic, said Mr. Webber.
“We disagree with that. We think it’s a military occupation of a sovereign country,” he said. “It’s not the position of the university administration to take a position in favour of this war.”
“We think it’s aligning a public university — without any consultation with its students or staff, or the broader community — with support for this war.”
Andrew Tyler, a fourth-year history major and naval reservist — who said his opinions are his own, not that of the Canadian Forces — said he was “upset” and “irritated” by the professors’ letter.
“This is providing to the children whose mothers and fathers have been lost in overseas operations,” said Mr. Tyler. “Why make a big deal about this?
“These are ultra left-wing people who have no idea what it’s like to be in the boots of a soldier. I’m tired of (them) pontificating to us about what we should do.”
One person conflicted about the debate was Ben Walsh, the father of deceased soldier Master Cpl. Jeffrey Scott Walsh, who considered the Hero Project a “gift” that the “university’s initiated.”
“I don’t think it was the families who asked for this help,” said a grateful Mr. Walsh, grandfather of three. “But it’s not fair to students who need financial help and don’t have soldiers in their families.”
Mr. Walsh said universities should “match” help to dependents of fallen soldiers with other needy students who don’t have any military connections.
He also wondered if universities talked to families with fallen soldiers prior to program implementation.
“It’s honourable, but they should’ve talked to some of the families to get their feelings on it.”
Ms. Pollock said starting in the fall of 2010, the university will waive tuition and course fees and provide $1,000 per year to successful applicants of Project Hero. Applicants must be under age 26, full-time students in an undergraduate degree program and maintain an average of 75% each semester to remain eligible.
Canwest News Service
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