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As proud alumni, we are saddened by the escalation of so many cross-border incidents that disrupt university life.
Published on June 22, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 min read
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Montreal police arrested 15 people after protesters occupied the James Administration Building at McGill University on June 6, 2024. Photo by John Mahoney/Montreal Gazette
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As proud McGill alumni and members of McGill's Regional Advisory Board on the East Coast of the United States, we have watched as encampments have popped up on campuses across the U.S. We were saddened to see a similar situation emerge and fester at McGill.
We are writing to condemn the actions of the protesters and to express our support for McGill University President Deep Saini, the university's faculty, staff, and administration as they navigate this situation while staying true to McGill's mission of advancing learning and the creation and dissemination of knowledge.
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Unlimited online access to award-winning journalism, including thought-provoking columns from Allison Haynes, Josh Freed and Bill Brownstein. Opportunity to participate in the comment community and learn from other readers in moderated forums. Unlimited online access to the Montreal Gazette and National Post, including The New York Times Crossword, and 14+ other news sites with 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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Universities are institutions of higher education where learning does not only take place through lectures and books, but also when students and researchers come together to exchange ideas. For many students, the university experience is their first opportunity to meet people from different regions, countries, faiths or sexual orientations. The academic environment allows you to try out new ideas, express yourself in new ways and make friends from all walks of life. What better way to learn?
The encampments that have popped up on campuses across North America, including McGill University, threaten the very core of our academic mission and experience, resulting in the intimidation of students and the disruption of campus life. Far from fostering an atmosphere of respectful debate and community engagement, the encampments disrupt a tranquil environment meant to invigorate students and faculty.
“While we recognize students' right to express their views, even in the form of protest, we oppose aggressive actions and tactics that violate McGill's Code of Conduct and deny the vast majority of students and faculty the rich academic experience the University has provided for more than two centuries. We commend Saini and McGill faculty and administration for their efforts in resolving the many complex issues that have arisen from the encampment, from negotiating with protesters to pursuing legal action.”
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“In our view, while the University has responded swiftly to these issues, we remain firm in our position that the actions of the protesters are an unacceptable attack on McGill's proud educational ideals. We further commend the University for its efforts to maintain normal operations under these extremely challenging circumstances.
Despite the efforts of McGill officials, the atmosphere on campus appears to have deteriorated. Supporters of the camp occupied the main administration building on June 6th and later posted invitations on social media to a “revolutionary youth summer program” at the camp, complete with photos of people holding assault rifles. The act of occupying university grounds and providing an alternative “educational” forum while disrupting McGill's core academic mission has, in our view, gone too far.
These occupations should not be tolerated at a university that has promoted the free and open exchange of ideas for decades. We call on all parties to support the removal of the occupation, end the intimidation and disruption on campus, and restore the academic environment that we enjoyed during our time at McGill and that new students can reasonably expect when they arrive on campus in the fall.
We believe that the lack of action to return McGill’s campus to an open, safe and secure educational environment for all is an attack not only on McGill as a Canadian institution, but also on the foundations of higher education and our values as a democratic society.
Ariel J. Deckelbaum and Kathleen Servidea are members of McGill University's Regional Advisory Council for the United States (East Coast); others contributed to this commentary. Comprised of McGill alumni and parents of current students, the Regional Advisory Council serves to promote the university and its work in their communities.
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