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Queen's prof with anti-vaccination slides won't teach same course:university

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Feb, 2015 10:48 AM

    TORONTO — Queen's University says a health studies professor whose lecture slides contained anti-vaccination material won't be allowed to teach the same class again in the future.

    University Provost Alan Harrison says a new instructor will be assigned to the Health 102 course next time it's offered.

    He also says university officials will work with Melody Torcolacci to ensure her future classes contain intellectually "rigorous" material and objective, evidence-based science.

    Harrison was asked to review Torcolacci's course after powerpoint slides suggesting an anti-vaccine focus were posted to social media.

    Harrison said he was "not able to state unequivocally that the instructor's sole intention was to present the case against vaccination."

    Harrison said, however, that he could understand how those not at the lectures might conclude solely from seeing the slides that Torcolacci included in Health 102 that she was making a case against vaccination.

    The university in Kingston, Ont., agreed to let Torcolacci take a leave of absence for the rest of the term.

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