Gordon Ferguson, a sculpture instructor at the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) for the last 32 years, was fired Monday, after one of his students slaughtered a chicken in the college cafeteria last month claiming it to be part of a performance project assignment.
The decision to fire the instructor came after three weeks when one of his students slit the neck of a chicken and allowed it to bleed out before plucking and cleaning it in school cafeteria, prompting the campus police to initiate an investigation.
The student defended this demonstration as a performance piece, art, which was part of a student project that required him to perform and record a public protest.
Calgary police allege that at the time of this controversial performance, the student's actions were sanctioned by the instructor.
The student has not yet been charged.
"ACAD followed due process in a timely and thorough manner and a decision has been made but as its personnel issue we are unable to comment at this time," said ACAD spokesman Alex Middleton.
Ferguson refused to comment and said that he will appeal the decision.
Students annoyed with the judgment to fire Ferguson, criticized the college on its official Facebook page.
"Today I am ashamed to call ACAD my alma mater. Firing Gord Ferguson was a chicken-shit move, an appalling attack on academic and artistic freedom, and a complete betrayal of your 'mission statement.' Once again, administrators at ACAD have shown themselves to be enemies of their students and teaching staff," Jane Grace said.
YOU FIRED GORD !!! ??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME !!! ??? I quite frankly don't give a SH!T if I PASS or FAIL this year... I have no desire to waste another cent on an institution of such low moral or integrity. You should be held responsible for misleading the public and you should probably FIRE some more of your staff because it's obvious you're not doing a very good job at all !!!," Matt Brunning , another student wrote.
