French Guide dog refused entry to English Program

[Taz]

I was so outradged by this story that I wrote a letter to UNB yesterday . I'm very gald to hear the decision was reversed today.



Canadian Press

FREDERICTON — The University of New Brunswick has reversed a controversial decision to ban a blind man and his guide dog from an English immersion program.

The university found itself in the dog house this week when Yvan Tessier, a blind student from Quebec, was refused entry to a five-week summer English program because his guide dog, Pavot, understands only French commands.

The university announced in a release late Wednesday it will now allow Tessier in the course.

The decision came after Tessier, who is from Trois-Rivieres, Que., went public with his story and it was picked up around the world.

After being inundated with interview requests from national and international news media, including the BBC, officials at the Fredericton campus of the university said earlier Wednesday they were hoping to work out a solution with Tessier as soon as possible.

Tessier said he still wants to attend the immersion program.

"I will try to rejoin the program this week," he said in halting English. "I guess it wouldn't be too late."

Tessier said Pavot, a black Labrador, has been trained to respond to commands in French. He said it would be confusing, time-consuming and ultimately dangerous to try to quickly retrain the guide dog to understand English commands.

But the university insisted that Tessier address his dog only in English, or he would violate the strict terms of the immersion program and be dismissed.

Tessier refused to sign a contract promising to use only English with Pavot and he was refused entry to the program, which began last Sunday.

Jean Pedneault, a francophone journalist in Edmundston, N.B., was so outraged by the university's decision, he wrote to UNB officials offering to help Tessier during the immersion program.

Pedneault said he can't understand the university's position. He said the demand for English-only communication with Pavot makes no sense.

"A blind man would not converse with his dog except to tell him,`turn left, turn right,' " Pedneault said in an interview.

"It's not like he would spend his evenings talking to the dog. He wouldn't lose what he learns from the course."

Pedneault said he had not heard back from the university. He said he would be willing to spend his summer vacation in Fredericton, assisting Tessier, if that's what it takes to get him into the program.

Tessier has been studying religion at Saint Paul University in Ottawa and received a bursary to learn English.

The program at the University of New Brunswick is extremely intensive. Students are not permitted to speak any language other than English during the five weeks.

The university said course officials demanded an iron-clad guarantee that Pavot would not be addressed in French.

[Renee750il]

How do you say "moronic beaurocratic nimrods" in French?

[Pugdawg1]

Originally Posted by Renee750il

How do you say "moronic beaurocratic nimrods" in French?

That about sums it up. Geez!