Come Stand Up For Free Speech This Friday

M c D o n a l d . H a l l . A u d i t o r i u m
This Friday
7pm

The Rock administration is suppressing free speech.

The Rock administration uses the police
to remove students and professors
while giving public presentations.

Come out and help take back our university.
Come out to hear about the corruption.

Education belongs to us.

PRESS CONFERENCE, NOV 28 2008

PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY
14h30
in the foyer of McDonald Hall

(footage taken on Nov 21 2008)

Dean Lalonde Locks-Down MCD 113, Allan Rock Plans to Permanently Shut-Down MCD 113, and the Department Chair Cancels the Council Meeting.

The High-Security Lock-Down of MCD 113.

On Friday Nov 21, the Dean of the Faculty of Science Dr. Andre Lalonde and the Department Chair Dr. Bela Joos infiltrated MCD 113 with several Protection Officers and a number of unidentified University employees. They ejected all the students, replaced the door lock with a high-security lock, and installed an alarm/surveillance system.

MCD 113 is the radiation lab run by Physics Prof Denis Rancourt, and is the work place/meeting area for his research students and employees.

The lock-down of MCD 113 is a direct security response to student Marc Kelly who was seen accessing the lab the day before. The Rock administration believes Marc Kelly to be a high-level security risk due to his political ideology.

The Ottawa Police were called on site when Prof Rancourt attempted to enter his lab. Prof Rancourt was not informed of the lock-down.

The new security protocol for accessing MCD 113 requires the total evacuation of all bystanders within a 25-meter radius of the lab entrance.

The Permanent Shut-Down of MCD 113.

President Allan Rock is attempting to permanently shut-down MCD 113 in order to rid the University of campus radicals. Allan Rock is framing Prof Rancourt claiming he "blocked entry and exit from the premises for several hours" and "a security officer was kept in the room and unable to exit". Video footage reveals this to be a fabricated lie.

The Canceling of the Council Meeting.

The Chair of the Department of Physics Dr Bela Joos canceled the Department Council Meeting, which was to be held today at 14h30. Dr Joos canceled the meeting last night at 21h23 "to avoid unnecessary confrontations". This is the second time in a row that Dr Joos unilaterally cancels the departmental governance meeting for politically motivated reasons. The canceling of the Department Council Meeting is an obstruction of democracy.

McDonald Hall Foyer
14h30

The Department Chair Dr Bela Joos is hijacking the Department of Physics. Dr Joos will be challenged at the press-conference to re-establish democracy.

"Every member of our institution will take part
in [its] educational mission." --Vision 2010

C O N T A C T S :

Brian Vissers, Manager of Technology and Security Systems Division
Email: brian.vissers@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 x6503

Luc Bilodeau, Patrol Officer
Email: luc.bilodeau@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5499

Bela Joos, Chair of the Department of Physics
Email: phychair@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 ext. 6755

Andre E. Lalonde, Dean of the Faculty of Science
Email: deansci@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 864-9845

Allan Rock, President of the University of Ottawa
Email: president@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5809

Denis G. Rancourt, Full Professor, MCD 113 Lab Supervisor
Email: dgr@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 ext. 6774


uofovoice.blogspot.com
voice.uottawa@gmail.com

PRESS CONFERENCE, OCT 24 2008

PRESS CONFERENCE, OCT 24 2008

14h00 in the foyer of McDonald Hall

The Faculty of Science Deregisters Student Marc Kelly Against His Will

On Wednesday Oct 21st, the Faculty of Science of the University of Ottawa deregistered student Marc Kelly, expelling him out of the semester. An email was sent to Marc Kelly by the Vice Dean Leonard Klein that read "The Faculty of Science has been asked to deregister you [...] The message is to notify you that you are no longer registered [...]"

This is the first time in the history of the University of Ottawa that the administration has deregistered a student against his will. This is a dangerous abuse of power and potentially threatens all students. The administration must not have the power to expel students without cause.

The Department of Physics Arbitrarily Rejects His Research During Closed-Door Meetings

Faculty of Science deregistered Marc Kelly because his research was deemed unacceptable by the Department of Physics. The Department of Physics disagrees with the nature and methods of his research.

The Department of Physics twice rejected his project behind closed doors. Marc was informed of the department's rejections only through official letters that state "It is common sense that [your research] has to use physics tools and physics knowledge".

Marc was never questioned nor contacted. Marc approached the Department Chair Bela Joos to get information on the Department's decision, and the Chair closed his office door in Marc's face. The Department of Physics refuses to have a dialogue.

The Faculty of Science Obstructs Marc Kelly's Research

The Project Coordinator Dr. Peter Piercy corrupted Marc's data and sabotaged his research. Dr. Piercy sent an email message to all Physics Profs discouraging them from participating in Marc's research.

Now the Dean of the Faculty of Science Dr. Andre Lalonde is barring Marc from his research lab, by withholding the keys, preventing him from accessing his research equipment.

********************

THE EXPULSION OF STUDENT MARC KELLY WILL BE CHALLENGED AT THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENTAL COUNCIL MEETING

Oct 24 @ 14h30
McDonald Hall Lounge

This meeting is open to the public in spirit of Vision 2010.

Come support Academic Freedom.

********************

For further information please contact:

Marc Kelly, Physics-Mathematics Student
Email: marckelly.uottawa@gmail.com
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 ext. 6774

Denis G. Rancourt, Research Supervisor
Email: dgr@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 ext. 6774
Fax: (613) 562-5190

Claude Lamontagne, Research Co-Supervisor
Email: clamonta@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 ext. 4300
Fax: (613) 562-5147

Leonard Klein, Vice Dean Academic Faculty of Science
Email: lkleine@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 ext. 6003
Fax: (613) 562-5193

Bela Joos, Chair of the Department of Physics
Email: phychair@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 ext. 6755
Fax: (613) 562-5190

voice.uOttawa@gmail.com
UofOvoice.blogspot.com

PRESS CONFERENCE, SEPT 11 2008

PRESS CONFERENCE, SEPT 11 2008

12h00 in front of Morisset Library

(by the main doors on the university court yard)

The University of Ottawa attempts political censorship.

The Executive of the Board of Governors (EBOG) will meet on September 11 at 13h00, in Room 210 of Tabaret Hall, to rule on the one-day suspension of Prof. Denis Rancourt. The University of Ottawa is determined to discipline Prof. Rancourt for openly criticizing and publicly exposing the governance of the institution with his blog UofO Watch (uofowatch.blogspot.com). The University of Ottawa states that Prof. Rancourt is violating a policy that allows professors to use its copyrighted images from its website only "for the positive promotion of activities related to the University of Ottawa." Under this pretense, the University of Ottawa is engaging in political censorship. Prof. Rancourt has explained that "Criticism is positive, healthy, and necessary to produce change. [...] Not exposing known problems encourages their continuation." At the Sept 11 EBOG meeting, the University of Ottawa is expected to justify its motivation for suppressing institutional criticism.

The University of Ottawa operates in secrecy.

The University of Ottawa has barred Prof. Rancourt from attending the EBOG disciplinary meeting, in response to Prof. Rancourt publicly announcing the meeting. This is a continued attempt on the part of the University of Ottawa to silence Prof. Rancourt's views from the general community. Prof. Rancourt will present himself at the EBOG meeting to question the Board's conduct.

University of Ottawa student Marc Kelly requested to attend the Sept 11 EBOG meeting, in accordance with the University of Ottawa's official values (http://web5.uottawa.ca/vision2010/), which state that "every member of [the] institution will take part in [its] educational mission" and that "transparency [is one of the] principles that guides [the] university governance". Secretary Pamela Harrod responded that the "Executive Committee meeting will be held in closed session" and that "[students] will not be able to attend the meeting".

University of Ottawa alumni Nicholas Loeb requested to observe the Sept 11 EBOG discussion. Secretary Harrod responded that “meetings of this Committee are not meetings to which the public are invited to attend.”

The University of Ottawa violates its values.

In January 2004, the University of Ottawa began constructing its "vision, mission, values, directions and goals" through a process "conducted in the spirit of complete transparency" which became Vision 2010 (http://web5.uottawa.ca/vision2010/). With Vision 2010, the University of Ottawa promises to "encourage freedom of expression in an atmosphere of open dialogue" and to be "open to the world". With Vision 2010, the University of Ottawa promises to "enhance [students'] ability to question and analyze [...] and become responsible citizens and leaders of our society". By barring everyone from the Sept 11 EBOG meeting, the University of Ottawa has shown Vision 2010 to be a charade.

According to the University of Ottawa Act 1965, and academic practice in Canada, Board of Governors meetings are meant to be transparent and public. According to the University of Ottawa Act 1965, the objective of the university is to "promote the betterment of society". The betterment of society is not possible without transparency of governance.

THE EXECUTIVE OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS WILL RULE ON THE TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PROF. DENIS RANCOURT

September 11 at 13h00
Room 210 of Tabaret Hall

During the EBOG meeting, the University of Ottawa is expected to justify its motivation for suppressing institutional criticism and governing without transparency. In accordance with the University of Ottawa's Vision 2010, all members of the university and the general public are free to participate.

For further information please contact:

Pamela A. Harrod, Secretary of the University
Email: secruniv@uOttawa.ca

Tel.: (613) 562-5950
Fax: (613) 562-5178

Denis G. Rancourt, Full professor
Email: dgr@uOttawa.ca
Tel.: (613) 562-5800 ext. 6774
Fax: (613) 562-5190

voice.uOttawa@gmail.com
UofOvoice.blogspot.com