David Suzuki to receive U of A Honorary Doctorate, what a joke.

[HVA7mm]

I wonder how much endowment money the U of A will lose because of this boondoggle. Not surprising that U of A president David Turpin isn't backing down as he grew up on Vancouver Island, and held positions at Simon Fraser UBC and Queens. There are already businesses planning on withdrawing funding from the faculty of law and faculty of engineering. I'm sure that the faculty of business will suffer a similar fate. I don't know why so many people in positions of power continue to bite the hand that feeds. How so many well educated people can be so stupid never ceases to amaze me.

[357Maximum]

What's even more of a Joke is the taxpayers funding that goes to the U of A.

[TBD]

... that'll get us a few more miles of pipeline

[Bub]

Originally Posted by HVA7mm

There are already businesses planning on withdrawing funding from the faculty of law and faculty of engineering.

Any links for that? Not confronting or anything, just wondering who.

[HowSwedeItIs]

Originally Posted by HVA7mm

How so many well educated people can be so stupid never ceases to amaze me.

As a university graduate myself, you really do have to be university educated to be that stupid

[AB2506]

https://globalnews.ca/news/4163116/u...edium=Facebook

[HVA7mm]

Originally Posted by Bub

Any links for that? Not confronting or anything, just wondering who.

Here's a link that lists a law firm pulling funding from U of A law school. I'll see if I can dig up any more definitive sources. I'm sure that the list will continue to grow, as many alumni won't be too thrilled.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/loca...t-david-suzuki

[Bub]

Originally Posted by AB2506

https://globalnews.ca/news/4163116/u...edium=Facebook

Originally Posted by HVA7mm

Here's a link that lists a law firm pulling funding from U of A law school. I'll see if I can dig up any more definitive sources. I'm sure that the list will continue to grow, as many alumni won't be too thrilled.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/loca...t-david-suzuki

Thanks, gents!

[HVA7mm]

Originally Posted by Bub

Thanks, gents!

It looks like only $40K so far, but if this snowballs the number could grow exponentially. Too bad, as I personally feel that it was a really poorly timed decision by the university. Not like Suzuki really needed this honorary doctorate at this time, as he already has 29.

[AB2506]

https://www.canadaaction.ca/revoke_s...iter_id=229266

[CaberTosser]

Originally Posted by HVA7mm

It looks like only $40K so far, but if this snowballs the number could grow exponentially. Too bad, as I personally feel that it was a really poorly timed decision by the university. Not like Suzuki really needed this honorary doctorate at this time, as he already has 29.

He keeps good company, Bill Cosby has had 57 honorary degrees, though many have since been revoked.

The presentation of an honorary degree may have started out meaning something at some point, these days its just University management virtue signalling themselves and getting an excuse to hang out with someone they admire while the University foots the bill for their self-congratulating party.

[TreeGuy]

As someone who busted his arse for four years getting a university degree honestly, while incurring a stupid amount of debt, I take particular issue with the awarding of honorary ‘degrees’.

U of A paying homage to one of Alberta’s greatest enemies leaves me frankly enraged. Such an unbelievable slap in the face from a publicly funded institution, no doubt emboldened by its socialist leanings and current alumni’s political standing.

May they reap what they’ve sown...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mr Flyguy]

Graduated from UBC but decided a few years ago to stop sending $'s to the their scholarship fund 'cause of Suzuki's hypocritical and ill informed comments on the oil sands industry.

[rmatei]

Wonder how this d..khead is getting here, by bicycle I guess. Absolutely insane that an Alberta funded institution would do this.

[AndrewM]

Great reason for me to stop the emails soliciting donations from the UofA. They won’t get a penny from me.

[Newview01]

I don't even need to have a university degree to be offended by this type of hypocrisy.

[260 Rem]

If the U calls me to offer an honorary PhD, I will refuse it. No point in stirring up a hornets nest on AO

[Sundancefisher]

They should balance this then with the same honorary degree for one of the many oil companies that have contributed huge to all sorts of environmental efforts as well as for providing the energy that keeps hospitals saving lives, runs vehicles to move people around, for the jet fuel that flies Suzuki around etc.

It is bogus. I am ashamed of the UofA now.

[EZM]

Honorary Degrees mean nothing ......... absolutely nothing .......... but the offense they cause is indiscriminate. I am offended by these, and for good reason, and let me tell you why ...

Hypocrisy and stupidity run rampant in this well educated elite community.... that aside, I accept we won't change that ...

HOWEVER

I understand that many people who have struggled to complete their education conventionally (like I did) get annoyed at things like this.

I get especially annoyed at the people whom I work with, who spent $60,000 to get an "executive" MBA from a recognized school that took them the equivalent of 4 courses (10 days) of study and wear their badge on their business cards like it means something.

I think these people should have to put eMBA as their badge of honor (dishonor). They are passing off their "10 days of BS knowledge" as the equivalent to the additional 2-3 years most people spend after they have completed their undergraduate degrees (Bachelors). To me, this is FRAUD.

The body of knowledge doesn't even compare. Ask me how I know. How many times have I had to coach someone with a executive MBA on something they should already know?

People who did "full load" Graduate Degrees will have spent more time in practical study (labs, simulations, design, whatever) versus those who have not.

They will also have experience applying those learned skills.

A honorary doctorate is even worse as far as I'm concerned.

[HoytCRX32]

The president of the U of A is from Victoria...go figure

[HoytCRX32]

Originally Posted by EZM

Honorary Degrees mean nothing ......... absolutely nothing .......... but the offense they cause is indiscriminate. I am offended by these, and for good reason, and let me tell you why ...

Hypocrisy and stupidity run rampant in this well educated elite community.... that aside, I accept we won't change that ...

HOWEVER

I understand that many people who have struggled to complete their education conventionally (like I did) get annoyed at things like this.

I get especially annoyed at the people whom I work with, who spent $60,000 to get an "executive" MBA from a recognized school that took them the equivalent of 4 courses (10 days) of study and wear their badge on their business cards like it means something.

I think these people should have to put eMBA as their badge of honor (dishonor). They are passing off their "10 days of BS knowledge" as the equivalent to the additional 2-3 years most people spend after they have completed their undergraduate degrees (Bachelors). To me, this is FRAUD.

The body of knowledge doesn't even compare. Ask me how I know. How many times have I had to coach someone with a executive MBA on something they should already know?

People who did "full load" Graduate Degrees will have spent more time in practical study (labs, simulations, design, whatever) versus those who have not.

They will also have experience applying those learned skills.

A honorary doctorate is even worse as far as I'm concerned.

Well said

[260 Rem]

I’m with you EZM ... and would add lots of those “summer school degrees” from the US....also, any degree that avoided a residency requirement ... and course work in lieu of a dissertation.
The whole idea of an honorary degree is a mystery.

[Dean2]

I have met Suzuki on a number of occasions. It is offensive to see this two faced opportunist being recognised for being a complete sell out. If you see the vehicles he drives and the 4 large houses he lives in you can be sure he is a LARGE consumer of petrochemical products. His involvement with the environmentalist movement is and always has been, all about making as much money as he can, not a true belief he holds nor a lifestyle he lives.

https://bcblue.wordpress.com/2013/10...h-oil-company/

[big zeke]

Wearing a "Shill for rent" sign. A white lab coat would make him look more authentic.

I suspect for a few bucks you could get the good scientist to proclaim that the sun rises in the west and gravity makes things fall up instead of down.

The real shame is the U of A insisting on maintaining this path, it's like they are deaf (or daft).

Shame on you U of A
Zeke

[Spidey]

Originally Posted by CaberTosser

He keeps good company, Bill Cosby has had 57 honorary degrees, though many have since been revoked.

Ha! Without adding running water to a very old rumor mill from those halls of academia, that's a very interesting comparison Caber.


I am following this with great curiosity!

[skain11]

I did hear from a reliable source that CNRL are contemplating pulling out of a $12m joint project with U of A because of the newly minted Doctor...as earlier stated the O and G community has contributed millions to various post secondary institutions in this province, Can't imagine what tuitions would be without that foundation...

[Albertadiver]

Originally Posted by skain11

I did hear from a reliable source that CNRL are contemplating pulling out of a $12m joint project with U of A because of the newly minted Doctor...as earlier stated the O and G community has contributed millions to various post secondary institutions in this province, Can't imagine what tuitions would be without that foundation...

Here's hoping that is true!

[kevinhits]

Originally Posted by Albertadiver

Here's hoping that is true!

x2....

I thought there would be more of an uproar on this. I am disgusted to even think this will happen...I am embarrassed to be Canadian these days...

[Swervs]

Very disappointed that my alma mater gave him the honourary degree. Even if it is meaningless piece of paper it is bad form from an institution that is supposed to represent Alberta. It seems like it will be a costly decision for university.

[6MT]

Originally Posted by kevinhits

x2....

I thought there would be more of an uproar on this. I am disgusted to even think this will happen...I am embarrassed to be Canadian these days...

Me too. I can't believe that the U of A is doing this. Suzuki has a long record of opposition to what Alberta makes its living on. Plus, there's so much opposition right in the university. It just makes no sense.

I guess the left leaning ethics-lovers have their head too far up their a$se$ to realize that by doing this, they are giving the finger at pretty much every Albertan. What a joke.

I really hope a lot more companies and individuals pull their funding.