1997 Members of the Governing Council, my colleagues and friends. You honor me by your presence here. Academic appointment policies and their implementation are crucial to all of us.
Heavy stakes hang on the outcome of every faculty appointment.
There is a dark cloud hanging above this distinguished university, one of suspicion of prejudice and injustices, of scholarship being suppressed and scholars exploited and led away by police after raising the issue of systemic racism. This is disturbing, for a modern university is a place where academic freedom should flourish, where scholars are free to pursuit academic inquiries. If this university is to cope with the current debate intelligently, we must understand the forces at work. Systemic racism Some of you will already have heard or read about my 10-year saga at the U of T, my alma mater. It is probable that systemic racism has played a key role in my case.