Anyone who has been following the scandalous events at the University of Toronto over the last year knows that U of T is a pressure cooker waiting to explode. Despite new attempts to shut down events sponsored by the Canadian Association for Equality (CAFE), Dr. Miles Groth will be speaking today on why we need men’s issues groups on campus, and tomorrow there will be a party at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Will campus Feminists succeed in shutting down the event or sabotaging their efforts? Or will the message that men’s rights are human rights prevail?

Upfront, I should remind everyone that there will be live coverage of events in Toronto by A Voice for Men Radio. See here to learn more. There will also be a party/rally at Queen’s Park in Toronto called “Rally for Men and Boys in Crisis” on Saturday (tomorrow). See here to learn more about the rally.

Now, let’s briefly recap on what has been going on. These events have all been sponsored by the Canadian Association for Equality:

• November 16, 2012 – Dr. Warren Farrell gave a talk at the University of Toronto focusing on the decline of men and boys in academia. Enraged at the idea and openly stating that their intent was to shut down the event, campus Feminists tore down flyers promoting it. On the eve of the event they formed a human barricade in front of all the entrances and exits, which had to be broken up by police. With their barricade broken, the Feminists hurled insults and abuses at students, practitioners, and community stakeholders who attempted to enter the event. While the event was delayed over an hour, the resulting media controversy carried the message far beyond the university.
• March 7, 2013 – Dr. Janice Fiamengo gave a lecture on misandry and intellectual dishonesty in women’s studies. Campus Feminists pulled fire alarms to disrupt the event and displayed some fairly hateful signs outside, but the talk went off otherwise without a hitch.
• April 4, 2013 – Drs. Paul Nathanson and Katherine Young, authors of several books on misandry, gave a talk on misandry in our culture. Wearing masks, campus Feminists and their cohorts again pulled fire alarms, and screamed, banged on walls, and used noise-enhancing devices right outside the lecture hall so that people sitting on the second row couldn’t hear the speakers.

Fast forward to current events. Making an increasingly public demonstration as to where their values lie, in addition to not disciplining any of their students for what were clearly criminal acts caught on video, the U of T administration actually went so far as to fine the Canadian Association for Equality at the last minute with a ~$1000 “security fee” to protect them from the criminal conduct of their own Feminist students. Out of money, CAFE appealed to the community for help. The community responded, and their donations saved the event.

With Dr. Miles Groth, founder of the Men’s Center at Wagner College, set to talk today about why we need men’s issues groups on campus, numerous political ideologues convened four days prior to discuss how they can disrupt or shut down the event. Although it was a public “townhall” event that anyone could attend, representatives from the Canadian Association for Equality who showed up were asked to leave. Those presiding over the event warned that those who used language contrary to Feminist dogma would be ejected from the meeting. They also prohibited the use of recording devices.

Agents from A Voice for Men were able to infiltrate the meeting, however, and obtain a recording of it. Here is that recording, as well as notes and commentary. Much of their meeting is simply the reiteration of Feminist dogma, as well as the usual lies and slander against men’s advocates that have characterized their reactionary opposition to men’s advocacy for years.

As usual, AVFM has warned men’s advocates not to respond physically to the violence of protesters, never to engage in violence themselves, that if they are attacked they are to immediately leave or (if they are on the ground) curl up in a protective position, and has gone so far as to threaten prosecution for anyone – regardless of whether they are Feminists or men’s advocates – who resorts to violence. Three days before the event, Ian Dwyer of CAFE made a guest appearance on AVFM Radio to talk about his experiences regarding the U of T administration and campus protesters.

And that, my friends, is the setting for Dr. Groth’s upcoming talk on why we need men’s issues groups on campus – as if the violence, hatred, and criminality of Feminist ideologues was not evidence enough. There will be many media reporters attending the event, as well as several staff from AVFM. Given that funding, time, and location constrains me, I will be unable to attend, but will definitely be there in spirit.

It is worth inquiring into what kind of resistance men’s advocates will face at these events. I’m not sure if Feminists & Friends will be so stupid as to do what they have tried to do three times and failed at: suppressing the freedom of speech and association of others. I am sure, however, that whatever tactics they employ will definitely revolve around the usual: lies and slander. Given the high presence of media coverage at the event, perhaps the most likely form of opposition will be that certain Feminists will attempt to pose as men’s advocates while engaging in hateful or criminal acts and while being recorded by their friends who will be able to edit the recording to their liking.

Another concern – unlikely, yet still a possibility to take precautions for – is that they may make an actual attempt on the health or life of one or several men’s advocates. It bears remembering that the stakes have been raised with every new event sponsored by CAFE at U of T, and rather than learn their lesson and either go away or peacefully attend/peacefully protest, they have instead ratcheted up their opposition. They have also engaged in more extreme acts when the event features men who are speaking (Warren Farrell, Dr. Nathanson), and a man will be speaking at this event. In addition, they are increasingly left with few alternatives; with waning public support (as demonstrated by wave after wave of negative news coverage they have received), they have effectively backed themselves into a corner. And people who are backed into a corner do not always act rationally.

I wish everyone who attends the lecture and the rally a very safe, nonviolent, crime-free, and insightful experience. My thoughts today and tomorrow are with the AVFM staff and Dr. Groth. Take care, folks.

I will also be keeping an eye on Victor Zen, who today will be manning a table to draw interest to his proposed men’s issues group at Kennesaw State University. I have been in frequent communication with him lately. He will be posting live updates via his Twitter feed. Good luck to you all.

Poster for the U of T event: