Student response to the banning of the term "Israeli Apartheid" at McMaster.
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SPHR McMaster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:29:46 -0500
From: "SPHR McMaster" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Location: Public Forum Feb 29
Note: We would like to thank again everyone sending their responses and
letters of support. We also would like to use letters sent to the
administrationa and MSU in a booklet. For anyone who CC'ed us on them, please
inform if you do not want your letter used in this way. If we do not hear from
you, we will assume that it is okay. Thank you.
UNITED FOR STUDENT RIGHTS (U4SR) PRESENTS:
Rights & Responsibilities in Political Discussion on Campus:
Who Speaks for McMaster?
Join the Discussion!
PUBLIC FORUM
Friday, February 29, 2008 at 10:00am
McMaster University Student Centre
Marketplace (First Floor)
Hamilton, ON
United for Student Rights (U4SR) is holding a Public Forum to discuss the
recent shocking decision by McMaster Student Union (MSU) and administration to
unequivocally ban on campus the usage of the phrase "Israeli Apartheid". This
decision was first passed by the McMaster Provost office, which is second in
authority only to that of the President's office. It has been accepted by
McMaster Human Rights & Equity Services (HRES) and, in turn, the MSU. This
information was communicated to Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR)
and McMaster Muslims for Peace & Justice (MMPJ) early in February 2008 by the
MSU and HRES. Due to this decision, these MSU approved clubs have not been able
to get approval for various initiatives related to Israeli Apartheid. It is the
MSU that is directly enforcing this decision, as it is the only campus body
with jurisdiction over student clubs. MSU President, Ryan Moran, explained that
though the MSU is not bound by this decision, it has
chosen to implement it none the less. U4SR is calling on the MSU to rescind
this decision immediately as part of opening up the discussion for all to
decide.
Statement of Human Rights & Equity Services: "The university has taken the
position that literature which refers to "Israeli apartheid" and activities
promoted under the banner, "Israeli Apartheid Week" are unacceptable. The
university takes the position that this phrase is in violation of the
university's efforts to ensure that all people will be treated with dignity and
tolerance."
According to the statement of HRES, banning Israeli Apartheid organizing is a
matter of dignity and tolerance. In the view of those who use the term,
opposing Israeli Apartheid is a matter of dignity and tolerance for the peoples
of the Middle East and world over who are fighting for justice and for human
rights. Clearly, there is a contradiction of a political nature between these
two views.
U4SR considers this decision unacceptable especially given that the recent
decision of the Provost is in keeping with consistent efforts by the McMaster
administration, MSU and even Hamilton Police to repress Palestinian solidarity
work over the last six years. At every point, Palestinian solidarity views have
been presented as anti-Semitic and a matter of hate crimes. The most recent
decision by the Provost is a ramping up of longstanding attempts to criminalize
the views of students who oppose Zionist violations of the human and national
rights of Palestinians. Such efforts overlook the importance of political
engagement and discussion on university campuses, while making political issues
a matter of policy and decisions taken behind closed doors by various offices
of the university. This history provides an important context for understanding
that the banning of terms diverts from the violation of the political and human
rights of students attempting to defend a just
peace for Palestine.
These are not simple matters to be decided arbitrarily and in private. They are
related to profound questions of rights and responsibilities on campus and in
society at large. It is unjust to require that the students most affected
should submit to this decision or simply engage in an unequal private dialogue
with the administration.
A Matter for All to Decide
It is important to note that the administration has an obligation to society to
respect the basic legal and moral rights of the university community. Despite
all its efforts to claim that the university can act like a private
corporation, McMaster is a public institution that plays a central role in the
development of youth and intellectual thought. In turn, Human Rights & Equity
Services is mandated to defend and elaborate issues of human rights on campus,
and this function has ramifications for all of society. Similarly, the MSU
plays an important role in supporting and intervening in society, as the
organized front of students. In sum, the functioning of all these parts of the
McMaster University and their recent decision are a matter that concerns all
students, faculty, and the general Hamilton and Canadian society.
For this reason, U4SR is holding a public forum so that everyone's views can be
heard. We are inviting the administration and MSU to be part of this discussion
and no longer use their positions of power to impose their views on the
conscience of students. We are also calling on all students, faculty, staff and
members of the Hamilton community to join the discussion. Organisers will
ensure that everyone's participation and comments are respected.
Join Us!
We, as Canadian students, are taking up our responsibility to society. We are
working to end the marginalization of the McMaster community and Canadian
polity at large from the decision-making processes that affect their lives and
the political orientation of our society. This struggle at one university
campus is a converging point for all those who believe that Canadian society
should decide political matters in a public and transparent way. Join us!
United for Student Rights is an ad-hoc committee of McMaster University and
Hamilton community members that was formed to facilitate public involvement in
this issue.
For information please contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Ralph Nader's dad to Ralph when he was 10 years old: "So what did you learn
in school today? To believe or to think?"
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