Letters to President Allan Rock (and his administration), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada – Summer 2008 This file contains the first of many letters sent from students and community members to President Allan Rock, University of Ottawa, Canada, in response to his decision to maintain the previous administration’s July 14, 2008, decision to cancel the weekly documentary film and discussion series that had been hosted by Professor Denis Rancourt and offered continuously by the University since September 2005. The University’s decision coincides with a human rights complaint against the University before the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) that will be heard at the mediation step in September 2008. The complaint arose because the University of Ottawa, under previous president Gilles Patry, refused to provide Deaf sign language interpretation for the film and discussion events. Meanwhile the SFUO student union had stepped in to provide the needed Deaf access funding. Note: The position of “Secretary of the University” (occupied by Pamela Harrod) is a vice-president position in the university administration. The office of Legal Counsel of the University reports to the Secretary of the University. The relevant early background is summarized here: http://uofowatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/christian-values-do-not-apply-to-deaf.html A first media reaction is given here: http://ottawa.indymedia.ca/en/2008/07/8037.shtml The key communications documenting the University’s decision and Professor Rancourt’s counter arguments are posted here: http://www.archive.org/details/UOfOPresidentAllanRocksDecisionOnOttawaCinemaPolitica-Summer2008 The first 25 signatures and comments on the petition to reinstate the film series are posted here: http://www.archive.org/details/First25PetitionSignatures-ReinstateOcpAtUofo-Summer2008 Many other University of Ottawa decisions are critiqued here: http://uofowatch.blogspot.com/