Academic Freedom Threatened in Ontario Universities
Margaret Aziza Pappano - In the aftermath of the most recent Israeli assault on the Palestinian people, we now know that many buildings of the Islamic University in Gaza have been destroyed, as at least ten bombs have hit this so-called "military target," including a residence for female students. Students waiting for a bus were hit. How will they hold classes now? Even before this, classes were piecemeal, governed by such unavoidable distractions as failure of electricity and sudden erection of checkpoints. Students in Gaza and in the West Bank struggle to get an education and professors struggle to teach classes. I once ran a workshop on applying to graduate schools in the U.S. and Canada for Palestinian students in which I had to field questions like, how do I explain that I am 35 and still working on a BA because my university was closed for five years and I was imprisoned for two? How do I explain that I can't get a letter of recommendation because my professor was killed? As we encounter frustrations like too-large seminars and inadequate teaching support, North American academics may have difficulty imagining such dire circumstances as the stuff of daily life.
While most academics would agree that a university should be a place where
critical debate is fostered, what is academic freedom when the freedom to
attend classes without being bombed isn't even assured? Academic freedom
falters it seems when it comes to Palestine, whether in the Middle East or
in North America. Not only is there no realizable academic freedom for
Palestinians, but also, even in North America, students and faculty raising
critical viewpoints about Israel find themselves muffled, accused of
anti-Semitism, threatened with disciplinary action, or, in the case of
former Depaul University professor, Norman Finkelstein, out of a job
entirely.
In Canada, the annual educational event known at "Israeli Apartheid week,"
held on university campuses, has faced repeated attempts to suppress it.
What justification can be found to block an event in which scholars and
activists speak about the history of the region, with a focus on the
illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, information that is taught in
history and political science classes and available in books published by
university presses? Yet, 125 University of Toronto faculty members signed a
letter, published in the National Post, in which they "request that the
administration stop this hateful and divisive event from returning to our
University."
More worrisome, however, is that the administration on some campuses has
actually endeavoured to comply, a trend that should alarm anyone who cares
about the integrity of their university. In February of last year, the
McMaster University administration attempted to ban the use of the term
"Israeli apartheid" by Student Union clubs on campus, including "activities
promoted under the banner, 'Israeli Apartheid Week.'" It was only after a
concerted protest and huge rally that the administration backed down from
what would likely have been an illegal action anyway.
This year's event has been marked by a similar action at Carleton
University. The Israeli Apartheid week poster was banned by the
university's Equity Services because of its graphic, a drawing of an
Israeli bomb being dropped on a child, who is labeled "Gaza." The SAIA
(Students Against Israeli Apartheid) chapter was informed that the "image
could be seen to incite others to infringe rights protected in the Ontario
human rights code." The interim Provost and Vice President of Carleton,
Feridun Hamdullahpur, circulated a letter to the entire Carleton community
in which he threatened indefinite expulsion for anyone contravening the
code; although vaguely worded, the letter alludes to "harassment and
intolerance which can take the form of inappropriately challenging or
questioning a person's race or beliefs." One has to wonder how this stock
anti-war graphic can be seen as "inappropriate," unless Carleton is
concerned to protect Israel's image rather than the rights of its students
to free expression.
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