Some Equivocation

Not all Canadian universities permitted matters to get out of hand during the annual perversity in morals and blaming that has been named "Israel Apartheid Week".

Although, because passions run high on the aggravation that presents as Israel-Palestinian relations both antagonists, the pro-Palestinian factions on campus and the pro-Israel groups, tended to loosen the usual academically circumspect air through which disagreements could be voiced in a civil manner, the finger of blame rests squarely with the liberal-left-union-organized pro-Palestinian IAW organizers.

Their uncommonly uncivil, vicious caricaturing of Israeli and Jewish icons presenting as child-murderers, ravening lunatics, money-grubbers to advance the deeply ingrained anti-Semitic tropes of power-hungry, lucre-obsessed Jews led the situation to the kind of culture-clash that universities seek to avoid. The response of Jewish students was predicable, desperate to protect themselves and Israel from the incendiary libels that flowed in condemnation of the 'nature' of Jews and the existential frailty of the Jewish state.

That Jewish student groups at York University and University of Toronto were so hard-pressed to maintain a level of civilized equanimity in facing the accusations levelled against them and that York University has seen fit to fine several Jewish student groups alongside the actual perpetrators of the bedlam that ensued with the prosecution of the event, speaks volumes about the values of tolerance of those institutes of higher learning.

In the nation's capital, University of Ottawa and Carleton University reacted somewhat differently, taking the initiative before matters got out of hand, to pronounce the viciously offensive anti-Semitic posters depicting an Israeli fighter jet targeting a teddy-bear-hugging Palestinian child to be incendiary in nature and not to be displayed there. This enraged the pro-Palestinian groups who then demanded that both universities overturn their decisions, to no avail.

The two universities took the unusual step of banning that particular poster deeming it to be "inflammatory and capable of inciting confrontation". Well enough put; obviously that was the purpose, to inflame passions and to incite confrontation. And, without the poster a little steam went out of the campaign temporarily. Whereas in Toronto, the two universities assented to the Students Against Israeli Apartheid coalition's assertions that they had the right to defame, corrupt reality and intimidate to their righteous delight.

On February 8, Carleton University's equity services ordered the posters to be removed from campus because, in the words of a Carleton spokesperson they "could incite infringements of the Ontario Human Rights Code". The IAW events were otherwise permitted to proceed. Following that decision on the part of Carleton University, the University of Ottawa banned the very same poster, with the statement that "the administration has the right and the responsibility to ensure that all posters comply with the posting regulations before they are displayed on a bulletin board owned by the university".

The "Israel Apartheid Week" is not the only besmirching of Jewish students and Israel that occurs on university campuses, merely the most overtly outrageous. On previous occasions other incidents have occurred where student organizing bodies for whom support of the Palestinians against tyrannically brutal Israel has resulted in attempts to boycott Jewish student group activities.

A few months earlier the Ontario Public Interest Research Group, an inter-related student group which promotes on-campus events, refused to promote a Hillel event at Carleton University. In writing to Carleton University to protest on that occasion, Carleton's president, Allan Rock responded: "I share your concern. If the facts of the matter prove to be as reported in the media, I would agree that OPIRG’s decision raises serious issues.

"OPIRG is an independent student-run organization that receives its funding from students through the Student Federation. I have contacted the President of the Student Federation, voiced my concern, and suggested that the Federation itself take the lead in defense of the important principles from which OPIRG has reportedly departed. I think it would be best if student leaders themselves showed leadership in defending those principles. I am awaiting an answer. Once I have it, I will determine how my own response is best expressed."

Carleton University's provost and vice-president academic, Feridun Hamdullahpur circulated a communication to the university community labelling the rejected IAW posters "hurtful and discriminatory. Carleton University, regardless of the circumstances, cannot and will not tolerate actions that infringe or contravene the Ontario Human Rights Code and Carleton's own University Human Rights Policy and Procedures."

He finished by adding that should anyone violate those policies, they could anticipate sanctions and "students can be withdrawn from their studies indefinitely."

Quite the contrast from the disinterested, unhelpful and neglectful response from both University of Toronto and York University where shameful and defamatory posters, statements and actions along with instances of harassment and anti-Semitic slurs have been permitted to air in the purported interests of 'academic freedom'.