An open letter from the SSMU Executive to McGill University regarding Choose Life
October 7, 2009
An open letter from the SSMU Executive:
The SSMU Executive is incredibly concerned and upset about the response of McGill University to the recent "Echoes of the Holocaust" event, hosted by the SSMU club Choose Life. We feel that McGill University has not only disrespected the rights of the SSMU as the accredited representative body of all McGill undergraduate students, but also failed to protect students' rights.
McGill University has not respected SSMU Council and the SSMU Executives as representatives of the McGill undergraduate student population. When the SSMU Council passed a resolution officially and publically censuring the event "Echoes of the Holocaust", the SSMU Council clearly stated that for Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson to permit it to go forward would disregard the desire of the Council. In response Professor Mendelson argued that this resolution is a tyranny of the majority. Firstly, this is an offensive misrepresentation of the purpose of SSMU Council. The SSMU Council was acting on behalf of all undergraduate students, both in its representative capacity and in reaction to many conversations with students. Secondly, it is worrisome that the Deputy Provost interprets a large percentage of students being outraged and appalled at an event to be a tyranny of the majority. The SSMU had hoped that he would consider the impact as well as content of the presentation instead of ignoring the formal intervention of students' representative body by using the rhetoric of academic freedom.
By ignoring the SSMU Council's decision, McGill acted as an enabler for a group attempting to violate the SSMU's governing documents. The resolution regarding "Echoes of the Holocaust" was passed because the subject and format of the planned presentation violated the SSMU Constitution and Equity Policy. Council did not pass judgment based on individual opinions, but on the constitutionality of the event overall. The SSMU did not censor Choose Life's opinions, but the offensive format within which those opinions were being presented. Moreover the SSMU Council, as the highest governing body of the SSMU, has ultimate authority over SSMU clubs. McGill University must respect the right of the SSMU to govern groups under its jurisdiction according to its Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Clare
posted 10/09/09 @ 4:23 PM EST
"Victimizing,offensive, stifling of educated debate,violated,demonized and silenced, hostile environment". You are seriously using these words to describe the thoughts of the PROTESTORS at the Choose Life presentation? Are we talking about the same event? And what exactly do your students need to be protected from? A contrary opinion? How threatening! You will continue to advocate for "students' rights" while conveniently ignoring the rights of those students who actually wished to hear the presentation. (Continued…)
Brian
posted 10/11/09 @ 11:15 PM EST
"This event created a hostile environment and should not have been permitted. It is possibly most disappointing that when students' peacefully engaged in a public response to this hostile environment, they were removed through a police intervention. (Continued…)
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