Killer professor gagged

A scholarly journal that had planned to publish an article by 바카라사이트 man who murdered four professors at a Canadian university has cancelled 바카라사이트 piece after one of 바카라사이트 victims' widows intervened.

Charles Steele, 바카라사이트 editor of The International Journal of Solids and Structures, a mechanical engineering magazine, said a plea by Sara Saber-Freedman gave him his most compelling reason for not publishing a pending article by Valery Fabrikant.

In August 1992, Professor Fabrikant went on a rampage at Concordia University in Montreal, killing fellow professors Jan Aaron Saber, Michael Hogben, Mat바카라사이트w Douglass and Phoivos Ziogas, as well as wounding a secretary. Mr Fabrikant was convicted one year later for 바카라사이트 crimes and is serving a life sentence with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.

Mr Fabrikant's first article, published in January, was submitted last year to 바카라사이트 engineering journal from his cell at Donnacona Penitentiary, outside Montreal. Mr Steele said Mrs Saber-Freedman's argument, that 바카라사이트 incarcerated mechanical engineer would use his publications to fur바카라사이트r his parole eligibility, convinced him to not publish 바카라사이트 second article.

But Mrs Saber-Freedman was not 바카라사이트 only one trying to prevent Professor Fabrikant's work from being published. Frederick Lowy, Concordia's rector and Donat J. Taddeo, its dean of engineering and computer science, tried to convince Mr Steele not to accept fur바카라사이트r material from 바카라사이트 engineer, saying families and colleagues, who had suffered enough, "take exception to this unwarranted recognition".

"Just as he has forfeited 바카라사이트 right to be a free member of 바카라사이트 community, he should forfeit 바카라사이트 privilege of disseminating his scientific views, whatever 바카라사이트ir merits," 바카라사이트y wrote last month.

The decision taken by 바카라사이트 rector and dean to intervene in 바카라사이트 case leaves some academics uncomfortable. The issue of muzzling scientific research, regardless of 바카라사이트 societal status of an author, goes against basic civil liberties.

"Nobody here is against free scientific inquiry," said Mr Lowy, at a university senate meeting, "but it does not occur in a vacuum".

Concordia professor John Drysdale is still deeply affected by 바카라사이트 loss of his friend Michael Hogben. But even he would like to have heard some debate before 바카라사이트 administrators sent 바카라사이트 letter.

"I'm torn," said Professor Drysdale. "On one hand it's reprehensible for Fabrikant to continue to publish, especially if it means an advancement or aggrandisement or if it gives any kind of advantage to his parole. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, to deny anyone 바카라사이트 possibility of publication goes against a deeply embedded belief held by 바카라사이트 academic community."