Several days ago, in partnership with the Network of Engaged Canadian Academics (NECA), we prepared a petition calling for the University of Windsor’s Board of Governors to “pause” the implementation of, and ultimately rescind, the agreements the administration reached with campus occupiers and the students’ alliance. The agreements compelled the university to take a political position on the Middle East conflict and urge the federal government to adopt that position; and to boycott Israeli universities. The agreements also reflected an anti-Zionist, distorted perspective.
A member of the University’s Board of Governors brought a formal motion for an implementation pause to the full Board of Governors, to be heard on October 22. In response, the Chair has taken the position that the Board of Governors has no jurisdiction to hear this motion.
This is hardly the end of the story. It is only the beginning. Whether or not the administration had the authority to enter into these agreements, they impact profoundly on the policies, reputation, and legitimacy of the university as an inclusive place of higher learning. The agreements implicate academic freedom, research integrity, institutional neutrality, and undermine respectful dialogue in favour of a culture of indoctrination of students and marginalization of Zionists, Jewish and non-Jewish on campus.
It is untenable in law to suggest that the Board, vested with management and control of the university under the applicable legislation, is powerless to address these unconscionable agreements and their impact.
In just two days, our petition attracted over 2000 signatories. It is important that we continue to collect signatures of those who oppose these agreements and a counterpetition that attacks pro-Israel organizations. We must ensure that the Board understands the depth of concern about these agreements.
This issue is not about imposing our views respecting Israel on anyone. It is about protecting the principles that should animate higher education and confronting the distorted narrative currently being presented.
How You Can Help:
Sign the Petition: Add your signature to support this motion, and share it widely across your networks, platforms, and member organizations.
Write to the Board of Governors: We strongly encourage you to send a letter directly to the Board of Governors at bog@uwindsor.ca. Indicate in your letter, if acceptable, that your letter should be distributed to all Board members and may be publicly referred to.
The petition must be completed as soon as possible. We appreciate your support on this critically important issue.
About the Author
Mark Sandler, LL.B., LL.D. (honoris causa), ALCCA’s Chair, is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading criminal lawyers and pro bono advocates. He has been involved in combatting antisemitism for over 40 years. He has lectured extensively on legal remedies to combat hate and has promoted respectful Muslim-Jewish, Sikh-Jewish and Black-Jewish dialogues. He has appeared before Parliamentary committees and in the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions on issues relating to antisemitism and hate activities. He is a former member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, a three-time elected Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, and recipient of the criminal profession’s highest honour, the G. Arthur Martin Medal, for his contributions to the administration of criminal justice.