Pushing freedom of speech to objectionable limits, pamphlets belonging to the US-based National Alliance group were posted around campus last week.
"We’ve had numerous complaints about this group, we just haven’t been able to identify any of the people," said Campus Security Operations Supervisor Bob King. "These types of complaints come in very infrequently, about two to half a dozen times a year. We’ve had in the neighbourhood of 10 complaints of the National Alliance group."
Appearing benignly political with the heading "Why Conservatives Can’t Win", the pamphlet is right-wing oriented, attempting to appeal to revolutionist sentiments, urging action for a return to a defined ideological basis including eugenics (selective breeding) and racial segregation.
"They [idealistic young Americans] are fighting for a new order in American life," stated the pamphlet. "Based not on the fads and whims of the moment, but on the fundamental values of the race and personality–values which once led Western man to the mastery of the earth and which can yet regain that mastery for him and lead him on to the conquest of the universe."
Pamphlets containing that quote were found tacked onto poster boards in Science A, Science Theatres, Math Sciences, and the Administration/Professional Faculties link. The National Alliance group touts itself as "America’s leading patriotic organization" representing "White Americans working for a better future."
According to King, similar information is usually distributed less overtly–literature is left washroom cubicles. Occasionally, National Alliance business cards are found scattered on tables or tacked to boards.
Neither the Students’ Union or University Communications, which combine resources to employ a poster regulating officer for the entire campus, were aware of the pamphlets.
"[It is] completely inappropriate and unacceptable," said University of Calgary Students’ Union Vice-president Academic Heather Clitheroe. "If students are distributing materials like these, it’s quite possible that they could be charged with non-academic misconduct, which can carry penalties from expulsion to probation."
Section 319 of the Canadian Criminal Code states that "no one will communicate statements in a public place that will incite hatred." "Statements" include spoken, written, electronic recordings, gestures, signs, or other visual representations. However, there is little the U of C can do to prevent it.
"This is obviously a statement in the true sense of the law," said King. "It’s borderline, though. It would be tough to get a criminal charge out of this."
Provided the people responsible can be found, the university can take its own disciplinary action.
"It’s contrary to the policy of the university and makes people uncomfortable," said King. "Whether or not the person attends [the U of C], we would ask them to not do it any-more. If they refused, they would be banned from campus under provincial statute."
The U of C seems to be the only target at this time, with no such incidents reported at Mount Royal College or SAIT.