Political interference in University of Windsor’s autonomy will have a steep cost -- The Hill Times
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Sid Shniad
Jul 19, 2024, 9:57:21 PM (2 days ago) Jul 19
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THE HILL TIMES July 18, 2024
Political interference in University of Windsor’s autonomy will have a steep cost
Windsor found a peaceful resolution to the student encampment via dialogue and good-faith talks, but Liberal MP Anthony Housefather says he is 'deeply disturbed' with the deal.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, pictured on the Hill, was recently appointed as the federal
government’s special adviser on Jewish community relations and antisemitism.
The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
After a persistent two-month encampment by students, the University of Windsor has reached a landmark agreement with protesters, concluding their demonstration in peaceful solidarity with Palestine. This agreement, unparalleled in its breadth and depth among Canadian institutions, encompasses a comprehensive set of commitments that include enhanced transparency, divestment initiatives, support for academic boycotts, support for Palestinian scholars and students, and anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia. The resolution has garnered widespread support from both students and faculty.
The University of Windsor is a rare exception. Unlike other institutions, where confrontations often involved campus police, riot squads, or even lawsuits—as seen in the forceful dismantling of student encampments at McGill and York Universities, the University of Toronto, and a contentious $1.5-million lawsuit by the University of Waterloo against its students—Windsor achieved a peaceful resolution through genuine dialogue and good-faith negotiations.
Despite the University of Windsor’s commitment to resolving student protests peacefully and respectfully, the agreement has drawn criticism from some quarters. The most vocal critic is Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, recently appointed as the federal government’s special adviser on Jewish community relations and antisemitism.
Housefather has publicly declared that he is "deeply disturbed" with the agreement. His appeals for intervention from Deborah Lyons, the special envoy on antisemitism, and Jill Dunlop, the Ontario minister of colleges and universities, are particularly concerning. By soliciting Lyons, Housefather insinuates that the agreement is antisemitic, while his call to Dunlop suggests an inappropriate push for governmental meddling in university governance.
Such actions by a politician not only abuse their power, but also threaten the sanctity of academic freedom—spaces traditionally dedicated to open discussion, expression, and scholarly debate. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be deeply concerned about his advisor's seemingly unilateral actions that could derail the delicate balance of university autonomy and political oversight.
Housefather’s objections contribute to the weaponization of antisemitism, aiming to stifle pro-Palestinian voices. Such tactics are both tired and redundant. There is nothing anti-Jewish about the agreement.
Instead of levelling baseless accusations, the federal and provincial governments should view the agreement between student protesters and the University of Windsor as a guiding example for navigating challenges and tensions. This agreement is a model of how universities ought to respond to student encampments, which is consistent with universities' historical role in leading anti-war efforts. The University of Windsor continues this tradition having been the first Canadian university to divest from apartheid-era South Africa due to student activism, and it proudly upholds its commitment to justice by standing on the right side of history once again.
The student encampment movement including the one at the University of Windsor has inspired the world to engage meaningfully in the protection of Palestinian life. They have also insisted on creating a shared future based on principles of decolonization, anti-racism, and liberation. It is heartening that the University of Windsor has gone beyond lip service on issues of equity by engaging in good-faith negotiations that have led to this agreement. Where other universities have failed, the University of Windsor has demonstrated that institutional commitments to human life and robust debate remain core values of academia. The students and the university have demonstrated that choosing Palestinian life and liberation ought not to be controversial. Hopefully more universities will follow suit.
The University of Windsor must steadfastly maintain its course. It has set a standard not just for academic integrity, but also for moral leadership by once again ensuring that the historical record is clear on its stance in the face of genocide against Palestinian people. Making sound ethical decisions is easy when they are met with widespread approval, and are free from the threat of backlash. However, it is precisely in the face of criticism and controversy that taking a principled stand truly tests the integrity of the "right choice."
As for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: when your special adviser weaponizes antisemitism to undermine academic freedom, the price will be steep. It’s time to rein him in.
Naved Bakali is an assistant professor of anti-racism education at the University of Windsor. Jillian Rogin is an associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor, and researches the weaponization of antisemitism.
The Hill Times
The University of Windsor is a rare exception. Unlike other institutions, where confrontations often involved campus police, riot squads, or even lawsuits—as seen in the forceful dismantling of student encampments at McGill and York Universities, the University of Toronto, and a contentious $1.5-million lawsuit by the University of Waterloo against its students—Windsor achieved a peaceful resolution through genuine dialogue and good-faith negotiations.
Despite the University of Windsor’s commitment to resolving student protests peacefully and respectfully, the agreement has drawn criticism from some quarters. The most vocal critic is Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, recently appointed as the federal government’s special adviser on Jewish community relations and antisemitism.
Housefather has publicly declared that he is "deeply disturbed" with the agreement. His appeals for intervention from Deborah Lyons, the special envoy on antisemitism, and Jill Dunlop, the Ontario minister of colleges and universities, are particularly concerning. By soliciting Lyons, Housefather insinuates that the agreement is antisemitic, while his call to Dunlop suggests an inappropriate push for governmental meddling in university governance.
Such actions by a politician not only abuse their power, but also threaten the sanctity of academic freedom—spaces traditionally dedicated to open discussion, expression, and scholarly debate. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be deeply concerned about his advisor's seemingly unilateral actions that could derail the delicate balance of university autonomy and political oversight.
Housefather’s objections contribute to the weaponization of antisemitism, aiming to stifle pro-Palestinian voices. Such tactics are both tired and redundant. There is nothing anti-Jewish about the agreement.
Instead of levelling baseless accusations, the federal and provincial governments should view the agreement between student protesters and the University of Windsor as a guiding example for navigating challenges and tensions. This agreement is a model of how universities ought to respond to student encampments, which is consistent with universities' historical role in leading anti-war efforts. The University of Windsor continues this tradition having been the first Canadian university to divest from apartheid-era South Africa due to student activism, and it proudly upholds its commitment to justice by standing on the right side of history once again.
The student encampment movement including the one at the University of Windsor has inspired the world to engage meaningfully in the protection of Palestinian life. They have also insisted on creating a shared future based on principles of decolonization, anti-racism, and liberation. It is heartening that the University of Windsor has gone beyond lip service on issues of equity by engaging in good-faith negotiations that have led to this agreement. Where other universities have failed, the University of Windsor has demonstrated that institutional commitments to human life and robust debate remain core values of academia. The students and the university have demonstrated that choosing Palestinian life and liberation ought not to be controversial. Hopefully more universities will follow suit.
The University of Windsor must steadfastly maintain its course. It has set a standard not just for academic integrity, but also for moral leadership by once again ensuring that the historical record is clear on its stance in the face of genocide against Palestinian people. Making sound ethical decisions is easy when they are met with widespread approval, and are free from the threat of backlash. However, it is precisely in the face of criticism and controversy that taking a principled stand truly tests the integrity of the "right choice."
As for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: when your special adviser weaponizes antisemitism to undermine academic freedom, the price will be steep. It’s time to rein him in.
Naved Bakali is an assistant professor of anti-racism education at the University of Windsor. Jillian Rogin is an associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor, and researches the weaponization of antisemitism.
The Hill Times
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