Should Universities Police Student Behaviour at Private Events?
First Prize
“Institutional Vigilantism in the Academy: The Policing of Private Activities by Universities”
Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, Faculty of Law
Judge’s Comments:
“This essay passionately and eloquently makes the case that the expansion of university policy enforcement to off-campus situations is a further creep of cancel culture — and therefore must be fought.” – Andrew Lawton
“When I first read this essay, I knew I was reading the winner. The writing and the argument had a natural flow.” – Sam Goldstein
“An incisive attack on cancel culture that draws a clear and appropriate line between criminal wrongdoing and nonconformism.” – John Robson
Second Prize
“Should Universities Police Student Behaviour at Private Events? An Unregulated, Unconstitutional and Ineffective Approach”
McMaster University, Faculty of Medicine
Judge’s Comments:
“A thoughtful, balanced and well-written analysis of universities’ behaviour enforcement policies that explores the legal and cultural ramifications of the trend.” – Andrew Lawton
“Well-researched with a lot of examples to bring home the points.” – Sam Goldstein
“A strong analysis of contemporary misapplication of the legitimate principle that universities have reputations to protect.” – John Robson
Third Prize
“If we’re being honest, universities need to police culture off-campus”
University of Alberta, Faculty of Law
“The author of this essay invoked a unique approach to illustrate the problems facing the academy. It ultimately drew attention to off-campus policy enforcement being a symptom of a broader problem, and the logical end of post-secondary institutions’ current directions.” – Andrew Lawton
“This essay had a novel approach to the topic.” – Sam Goldstein
“A pointed call for modern universities either to live up to their misguided modern self-image as activist organizations or get back to their roots as places of free inquiry.” – John Robson