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More Chaos at Concordia [Montreal, Canada]
By Neil Lazarus
Concordia University emerged into the limelight again, when the
Student Government banned the Jewish students' Hillel organization
on campus and subsequently only conditionally rescinded its decision.
The Concordia Student Union (CSU) justified the banning of a Jewish
student organization on campus by claiming that Hillel had circulated
a flyer to recruit volunteers for the Israeli Defense Force. The
student government claimed that the pamphlet was a violation of
Canadian law; local Muslim groups termed other leaflets on the table,
"racist".
Facing a threat of legal action by Hillel and a new barrage of
bad publicity, Concordia University is apparently taking a cautious
position, passing the elusive buck back to the student union. A
recent statement by the University reads:
“- The university has learned that the CSU Executive has
apparently reversed the recent decision of the CSU Council with
respect to the sanctions taken against Hillel. They have, however,
imposed new conditions for the reinstatement of Hillel. The university
remains concerned about the original Council decision, which effectively
shut down the operations of Hillel, one of the CSU constituent organizations.
"It is our understanding that they (the student union ) sanctioned
Hillel for distributing information regarding recruitment for a
foreign military force which, the CSU alleges, is illegal in Canada.
It is unclear whether due process was followed before the CSU Council
decision was taken. In fact, the university has been informed that
Hillel has engaged an attorney who has sent a formal legal demand
to the CSU outlining a number of procedural irregularities and demanding
that the decision be reversed by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9."
The University, in a sign of tiredness of its campus Middle East
war, is quite blunt:
"More to the point, it is the duty of the CSU to exercise
its authority in a manner which is fair, equitable, and above all,
proportionate and non-partisan. In the university's opinion, the
current sanctions against Hillel are wholly disproportionate and
should be modified."
Hillel has denied all allegations:
"The allegations that Concordia Hillel violated the Foreign
Enlistment Act by distributing a flier recruiting for the Israeli
Defense Forces are entirely unfounded. The flier in question was
not a Hillel flier, but rather the brochure of an independent
organization with no ties whatsoever to Hillel. The flier was
not put out by Hillel, or by any official representative thereof.
Though the flier was allegedly found on a Concordia Hillel information
table, if was never approved or endorsed by Concordia Hillel or
any agent or official thereof. Further, the presence of the flier
on the Hillel table was not brought to the attention of the Hillel
leadership until the matter was brought before the CSU Council
in a surprise, politically motivated motion to suspend."
For a full statement see: http://www.newswire.ca/releases/December2002/06/c0952.html
Netanyahu Prevented from Speaking
Controversy is nothing new to Concordia University and continued
after the Student Union Council was impeached in 2001 for inviting
a convicted racist to speak to the student union, at the peak of
a wave of anti-semitic and anti-Israel activity.In April 2002, mock
gravestones were placed in the university, supposedly symbolizing
Palestinians killed by Israel.
In September 2002, violent protests by Concordia students prevented
Benjamin Netanyahu, a former Israeli Prime Minister, from speaking
at a Jewish student event. Palestinian demonstrators became violent,
throwing furniture from the mezzanine to the lobby and a large window
on de Maison Neuve Blvd. was broken. Police were finally forced
to drive the crowd back with pepper spray and tear gas, and the
event was cancelled, as were all classes in the building, for the
remainder of the day.
The Canadian Police took legal action against the violent students,
while the University called for a moratorium, preventing Palestinian
sympathizers andPalestinian students from campaigning on the campus.
The decision was met by widespread criticism, with complaints that
the university was exhibiting a form of moral equivalency, whereby
Jewish students were being punished for the violent actions of others.
Review
With the attempted banning of Hillel conditionally rescinded, it
is clear is that Concordia University appears to be taking a less
tolerant attitude towards Palestinian sympathizers and their anti-democratic
actions. The swing in opinion can only be interpreted as the result
of public pressure on the University.
The experience at Concordia demonstrates the necessity for Israeli
advocates
- To ensure that all events are well planned and supervised, so
that they are compliant with all the relevant laws and statutes;
- To maintain pressure on University authorities to take action
against anti-democratic elements on their campus. Bannings, rioting
and intimidation represent neither free speech, nor legitimate
criticism of Israel.
Call for Solidarity
The International Hillel Organization has made a called for action
and solidarity by communities and students world wide.
Community members are also encouraged to protest the CSU decision
to Concordia Rector Frederick Lowy ( Frederick.Lowy@concordia.ca
), Dean of Students Dr. Donald L. Boisvert ( dlb@alcor.concordia.ca
), and the Concordia Student Union ( prez@csu.tao.ca
). Messages of solidarity can be sent to Concordia Hillel ( concordiajews@hotmail.com
).
Background References
Canadian Islamic Congress justify Jihad
http://www.canadianislamiccongress.com/r1/ar/ar_jihad.shtml
Concordia students fight anti-Semitic campaign
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/carmelita/689/PDF/CJnews.html
Some of the leaflets allegedly distributed:
http://montreal.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=5915&group=webcast
http://montreal.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=5914&group=webcast
Full text of Hillel’s denial:
http://www.newswire.ca/releases/December2002/06/c0952.html
Former Israeli Primer Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prevented from
speaking:
http://pr.concordia.ca/ctr/2002-03/Sept_12/02-Netanyahu/
Concordia Hillel Celebrates; Protests on Campus:
http://www.hillel.org/Hillel/NewHille.nsf/445CFA50FBCD8C0F852567CB005BD58E/
AF654563664ED1BE85256C860073C973?OpenDocument
Palestinian "gravestones" at Concordia
http://thelink.concordia.ca/news/02/04/09/0231227.shtml
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