Former Mount Royal University professor Frances Widdowson has filed legal action against the University of Lethbridge. In the lawsuit, she’s named the school as well as several people in leadership positions as defendants. Widdowson had been invited by a professor at the U of L for a group discussion on residential schools and whether they were genocidal. Thirty minutes before the talk, the university sent an email saying Widdowson would be on campus and described her as controversial. A large group of students then gathered and stopped the talk from happening. Widdowson is now suing the university and its leadership for $3 million, citing defamation. “The university and these faculty members will not make their arguments. They will never present their arguments. They just make these accusations,” said Widdowson. “And so this lawsuit will force them to do that. “And it will also punish the University of Lethbridge and the University of Lethbridge’s faculty association for the terrible silencing that they’re engaged in.” Widdowson said she plans to continue to try to make appearances at the U of L and other universities. The U of L said it’s aware of the lawsuit and will be filing a statement of defence.
