A controversy-courting U.S. politician causes stir on Canadian university campus

[Spazito]

Far-right candidate Doug Mastriano got a doctorate in New Brunswick. A professor says it was undeserved

One of the most controversial politicians in the United States is causing a stir far north of the campaign trail: at a Canadian university that once granted him a doctorate.

Students at the University of New Brunswick are pushing their university for details about its role in granting Doug Mastriano the crowning academic achievement on his CV in 2013.

A UNB associate professor listed on Doug Mastriano's doctoral dissertation describes it as atrocious academic work and says he can't understand why the paper includes his name.

snip

Mastriano's work was dishonest, sloppy, tinged with religious zealotry, and indifferent to facts that contradicted his claims, said Brown, a scholar of U.S. history at UNB and a U.S.-Canada dual citizen.

more

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mastriano-new-brunswick-york-1.6605669

[Martin68]

1. No country is immune to right-wing extremism and religious zealotry.

All countries must fight to preserve democracy and enlightened humanitarian ideals.

[Spazito]

2. Why the University of New Brunswick gave him a doctorate...

when, by all accounts, his dissertation was so full of errors, sloppy research methods and more is an important question, imo.

The UNB has yet to answer the question or address the concerns of the students and other scholars.

[Martin68]

3. He had a friend or friends in high places. nt

[Spazito]

4. That's my guess as well...

nothing else makes sense.