As a probe into the conduct of a Ryerson journalism teacher begins, his superiors and many students say they back his right to express controversial views on sex with children.
But others said Gerald Hannon's views must not be tolerated and he should be sacked.
"Nobody is going to fire this guy - over my dead body," insisted Don Obe, Ryerson Polytechnic University's acting chairman of journalism. "You can't go around firing people because you don't like his views."
A Ryerson administration decision on the fate of the 51-year-old part-time freelance-writing instructor, whose views on the acceptability of sex between adults and children have been widely published, will be released by the end of the month.
"The investigation is to determine what did or did not go on in the classroom," said Michael Dewson, vice-president of faculty and staff affairs.
"Management always has the right to investigate. In fact, management has an obligation to find out what the facts are."
The university is responding to a column in The Toronto Sun on Nov. 14 in which columnist Heather Bird outlined Hannon's controversial views.
"The charges in the newspaper were significantly serious to warrant an investigation," Dewson said.
Starting next week, Dewson said, his staff will talk with as many of Hannon's 50 students as possible as well as to the instructor himself. Hannon will be permitted to teach his next scheduled class on Tuesday.
"He is a terrific writer and a very good teacher. I recommended him for the teaching job here," Obe said.
The question was hotly debated yesterday by journalism students who are split on the issue.
"If he did say stuff like that in the class then I do have a problem because pedophilia is not a choice of lifestyle, it's a disorder," said Anna Sottile, 31.
If it's raised as a lifestyle choice in the class, Karen Bridson said, Hannon should "absolutely" be fired.
But Jeff Harris said it's "shameful how this has blown up." The media, he said, are destroying Hannon's reputation and that of Ryerson.
"I abhor what he says and I don't agree with any of his views but I entirely support his right to free speech," said Kathy Blessin.