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PRINCIPLES GUIDING MCGILL’S RESPONSE TO ENCAMPMENT

Editorial by McGill President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini.
Lire cet article en français
By
Deep Saini
May 22, 2024

McGill President Deep Saini 

The human suffering in the Middle East has brought enormous pain to people
worldwide, including at McGill University. Especially for members of our
community who have personal ties to the region, it has been a time of grief,
anger and anxiety.

Diverse, often opposing viewpoints, have given rise to fierce debates. People
within and outside academic communities have gathered at universities to amplify
their views.

To educate, to learn, to research, universities must welcome debate and
challenge convention. And that is precisely why protests must be roundly
protected, regardless of the cause they support. But what we are seeing on many
campuses goes beyond protest.

Since April 27, McGill’s downtown campus has been the site of a growing
pro-Palestinian encampment occupied by hundreds of mostly masked persons who say
they will not leave until the university cuts ties with Israel.

Through discussions in good faith with the encampment participants, we have
tried to reach a mutual understanding, including by offering to:

 * Examine divestment, in ways that are geographically neutral and align with
   our values, from companies whose revenues largely come from weapons, using
   our established policies and within an accelerated timeline.
 * Increase McGill’s links to scholars and institutions in Gaza and the West
   Bank, and provide urgent support to displaced students and scholars.
 * Where permitted, extend McGill’s transparency in our investment reporting to
   include equity holdings under $500,000.

Participants in encampments elsewhere have seen such offers as important steps
and have reached agreements with university administrations. Yet at McGill, the
occupants continue to eschew meaningful conversation.

The participants are asking, primarily, for divestment and severance from
organizations – including academic ones – because of where they are situated.
Doing so would compromise McGill’s mission and ability to create a healthy, safe
environment.

Experience has taught us that maintaining a neutral institutional stance on
geopolitical matters best supports – as a whole – our 50,000 members who hold
varied political views, represent diverse identities, origins, and beliefs, and
ardently espouse various causes. Students and academics are trained to
interrogate and contest assumptions and authorities. An inclusive environment,
open to diverse viewpoints and difficult conversations, is essential to
advancing knowledge.

However, resorting to intimidatory tactics is antithetical to our values. What
is happening at McGill isn’t a peaceful protest; it’s an unlawful occupation.

The space is barricaded, with participants refusing entry to those who do not
pass their vetting, including fire inspectors or police. They blocked a
building’s emergency exit, creating a hazard. Profanity-laced graffiti has
repeatedly defaced our historic buildings.

The encampment has notably drawn counterprotests. Hundreds of individuals faced
off on our campus a few weeks ago, separated by approximately100 police
officers. Throughout, slogans are being chanted that – regardless of their
intent or origin – have harmful impacts, causing some members of our university
community to feel unwelcome and threatened.

We have been compelled to move our spring convocation, depriving graduates of
celebrating this milestone on our beautiful downtown campus, as they usually
would.

Most recently, members of the university’s leadership and their families have
been targeted at their homes by groups clearly linked to the encampment. This
crosses the line into harassment and intimidation.

From the outset, we have collaborated with police and sought their help to end
the occupation peacefully. While we continue working hard to maintain a climate
where all members of our community feel safe, realizing this objective will
require more co-ordinated action.

Ultimately, ending a decades-long conflict is beyond the mandate and means of
any university. The encampments at McGill and other campuses throw into relief
the tensions and divisions in Canadian society that have sharply escalated since
Oct. 7. These are not just university problems. They are regional and national.

Universities require collaboration and courage from actors at all levels of
government to work toward peaceful and effective solutions.




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