Cancellation Of Yale-NUS‘ Course ’Organised Resistance’ Threatens Academic Freedom

If you haven’t heard, Yale-NUS is cancelling their course on the various modes of dissent and resistance in Singapore.

And believe it or not, not everyone is happy.

In fact, some might even be disappointed.

The Course 

The course would have seen students learning how to design protest signs.

Yikes. Let’s hope no one was planning to actually apply what they learnt in class to real life.

It would have explored and examined the political, social and ethical issues that surround democratic dissent in authoritarian societies.

Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa’at and the programme manager Tan Yock Theng of the university would have led the course.

The proposed activities included film screenings and dialogues with documentary film-makers, theatre-makers and journalists.

Reasons For The Cancellation 

Yale-NUS President Tan Tai Yong explained that the proposed activities for the course do not align with the learning objectives that were earlier approved by the Curriculum Committee.

It does not critically engage with the range of perspectives required for a proper academic examination around the issues of dissent.

Most importantly, Tan was afraid that it would infringe Yale-NUS’ commitment to preventing strong political interests on campus.

It would expose the students to “the risk of breaking the law, and incurring legal liabilities”.

Lest you’re not aware, protesting is usually legit in other countries, but in Singapore, gathering in a group is already a no-no.

Since the course was due to start soon, the committee had assessed that there was insufficient time to make arrangments for a fresh new set of activities that would meet the learning objectives.

Yale Uni Say Their Values Are Threatened By Cancellation Of The Course 

Confused by the subheading, since Yale-NUS is the one cancelling the course?

Well, Yale-NUS is a collaboration between NUS and a university called Yale University, which is a popular private Ivy League research university in the US.

Yale has insisted on the values of academic freedom and open inquiry, which has resulted in outstanding work, according to Yale President Peter Salovey.

“Any action that might threaten these values is of serious concern, and we at Yale need to gain a better understanding of this decision.”

Support and Criticism 

Freelance journalist Kirsten Han, who would have been involved in the programme, expressed her criticism in a thread on twitter.

On the other hand, there were others who were glad it got cancelled.

After hearing the reason for the cancellation, do you think that Yale-NUS made the right choice?

Well, to us laymen…at least we learn something.

Protest also got course one seh.