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We were randomly assigned to live together. What we have learned about dialogue and mutual respect has lessons for the broader community.
Published May 3, 2024 • Last updated 5 hours ago • Reading time 3 minutes
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A pro-Palestinian encampment in McGill. “The image I had of myself when I entered college, that I was someone who was open to learning and meeting people from all over the world, was overridden by my fear that I wouldn't get along with my roommates.” writes political science student Lucas Furman. Photo by Allen McInnis/Montreal Gazette
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When I first stepped foot on McGill University's campus, I was excited to embark on a journey of discovery. Located in the heart of Montreal, McGill University stands not only as a beacon of academic excellence, but also as a center of cultural exchange and a gathering place for people from all over the world. I enjoyed being in an academic environment where people from different backgrounds could share different perspectives. He also longed to escape the small-town bubble of Long Island, New York, where he felt trapped by the conservatism of his neighbors. I felt that my heart was narrow-minded.
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Unlimited online access to our award-winning journalism, including thought-provoking columns from Alison Haynes, Josh Fried, and Bill Brownstein. Opportunity to join our commenting community and learn from other readers in our moderated forums. Unlimited online access to the Montreal Gazette and national newspapers. Posts such as the New York Times Crossword, and 14 news sites can be supported by his one account. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. The Montreal Gazette ePaper is an electronic replica of the print edition that can be viewed, shared and commented on on any device. .
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My expectations were soon disappointed and I formed an unexpected bond with my randomly assigned roommate in my first-year dorm. When I first met him and asked him where he was from, he answered, “Palestine.” The only thing I knew about Palestine at the time was its endless conflict with Israel.
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When I entered college, the image I had of myself as someone who was open to learning and meeting people from all over the world was upended by my fear that I wouldn't get along with my roommates. Nevertheless, I did not hide my Jewishness from him, and within a few months we became great friends.
We laughed, ate, drank, played video games, studied, and of course talked politics. The amount I was able to learn from him and his lived experiences helped shape my perspective on a reality I knew little about.
Almost three years on, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has gripped universities across North America, including McGill University, which in recent months has seen protests on every corner of its campus and encampments on the lowest field. It reached its climax on the ground. .
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I believe that all students have the right to protest and that the SPVM should not be involved in peaceful protests. But the problem I see is that these demos don't include dialogue. There's a lot of chanting, pointing, and placard waving, but the kind of genuine attempt at mutual understanding that characterized my experience with my freshman year roommates and greatly benefited both of us. There is no evidence of this.
My roommate and I found ourselves living in the same room, tried to get to know each other, understand each other's views, fears, and aspirations, and became friends along the way, but I didn't know much about the McGill protests and counter-protests. I see it as a physical embodiment. The opposite is that you are listening to no one but yourself in a strictly segregated echo chamber.
This week, McGill University President Deep Saini offered to hold a “forum” to discuss the demands of students barricaded in the encampment if they “immediately and permanently leave the encampment.” This seems like a step in the right direction, albeit too late. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is by no means new at McGill or elsewhere. An offer to hold such a forum could and should have been made long before tensions reached a boiling point.
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In any case, the students themselves have organized similar events for members of the McGill community and all Montreal universities (valid ID required), so that those interested in genuine discussion can have a safe space. I believe it's a better idea that we can get together. We can share perspectives and hopefully reach a place of better understanding and mutual respect.
That may sound too ambitious and a little naive. But if it worked for his two first-year students in a college dorm, who can say what will happen on a larger scale? Perhaps chanting, pointing, placards? You'll probably get more productive results than shaking it all up. I encourage students at McGill University and other universities to give it a try.
Lucas Furman is a third-year political science student at McGill University. He is currently working on developing a nonprofit media startup focused on combating political polarization. He lives in Plateau-Mont-Royal and can be contacted at his lfuhrman3@gmail.com.
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