In an article published on BoingBoing in July of 2015 by Cory Doctorow, The University of Toronto is criticized for offering a course taught by a homeopath that actively denies vaccination and promotes ideas such "quantum healing". The homeopath in question, a Ms. Beth Landau-Halpern, is in fact married to the dean of the college. The class was equally criticized for screening a documentary that defends the actions of Andrew Wakefield, the ex-doctor who famously and fraudulently tried to link vaccines with autism.
The fact that a class containing so little scientifically peer-reviewed material can be offered by an establishment with the credibility of U of T is incredibly damaging not only to the reputation of the college, but damaging to the critical thinking skills of each and every one of the students that take that course. Even should the critical thinking skills of the students remain intact by the end of the class, U of T's flirtation with pseudoscience, i.e. conducting a homeopathic study of ADHD treatments, incorporating traditional Chinese medicine into modern day medical and pharmacy training, etc., the reputation of the college may be so low as to make their degrees worth less than the paper they are printed on. If the largest university in Canada is willing to make such sacrifices in terms of scientific integrity, what does this say about the standards of scientific integrity of other universities around the world?
U of T has reported that the class will not be offered next semester.
Article: http://boingboing.net/2015/07/13/university-of-toronto-upholds.html
I am a little in shock after hearing this. Especially since the school is allowing someone who denies vaccination to shape young minds. Like you said, the class has very little scientific evidence to back up its material. It seems like the U of T is taking steps backward rather than forward.
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