CAIA Statement Congratulating Ryerson Students' Union

15 November 2007 - The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) warmly congratulates the Ryerson Students' Union (RSU) at Ryerson University, Toronto, for its successful efforts to promote and deepen discussion around the academic boycott of Israeli apartheid. The RSU has convinced the university administration to launch a debate around this issue despite an earlier statement by the University President that he was opposed to academic boycott.

In the summer of 2007, while most students and faculty were away over holidays, presidents from over 20 universities in Canada unilaterally issued statements declaring their opposition to the boycott of Israeli academic institutions. Sheldon Levy, President and Vice Chancellor of Ryerson University, was one of the signatories of these statements. In response to this shameful move by Levy, the Ryerson Students' Union (Local 24 of the Canadian Federation of Students) passed a motion calling for the statement to be retracted and for a transparent and honest debate to be held around the university response to Israeli apartheid. Many Ryerson community members drew parallels with the courageous stance of the university and prominent faculty members around South African apartheid a decade or so earlier.

The RSU has won the agreement of the University administration and President's Office to hold a debate around this issue on November 28. The pro-boycott position will be argued by a prominent South African anti-apartheid activist and academic, Salim Vally, along with Ryerson academic Alan Sears. The opposition to boycott will be argued by two university professors from the English and Philosophy departments. The debate is endorsed by the University President and will be moderated by the award winning CBC News Anchor, Suhana Meharchand.

CAIA congratulates the students at Ryerson for this important show of solidarity with Palestinian students and educators. CAIA believes that free and open debate on the issue of Israeli apartheid is more urgently needed now than ever before. The stranglehold of apartheid continues to deepen alongside Israel’s attempt to find a Palestinian leadership willing to sign away the fundamental rights of the people. Israeli universities are one of the key state institutions that work to develop military, scientific and ideological support for the crimes of apartheid and occupation. These universities systematically discriminate against Palestinian students who are citizens of Israel. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are prevented by military orders from studying there. Many of these institutions are built on land ethnically cleansed of their Palestinian inhabitants. They have remained silent on the systematic destruction of the Palestinian educational system in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and have persecuted the few lone voices of dissent within their own walls.

CAIA believes the victory of the RSU is a powerful precedent and provides encouragement to other voices across the Canadian academy to speak out against the crimes of Israeli apartheid.  We urge all to attend the November 28 debate (details below).

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****Academic Boycott and Academic Freedom****

The Ryerson University President's Office and the Ryerson Students' Union invite you to a forum on academic boycott and academic freedom.
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Time: November 28th at 6pm
Place: 575 Bay Street @ Dundas Street
RBB - Ted Rogers Business Building in Room 1067
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Salim Vally, South African anti-apartheid activist & academic
Alan Sears, Ryerson Sociology Professor
Stuart Murray, Ryerson English Professor
John Caruana, Ryerson Philosophy Professor
Moderated by: Suhana Meharchand, Award Winning CBC News
Anchor

This is a historic debate, seating will be limited, come early.

For More Info: Vice-President of Education, Ryerson Students Union, vp.education@rsuonline.ca