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Israeli Apartheid Controversy
A Summary Of Information

Photo: Joey Coleman, used with permission

If you've read The Silhouette and were in the atrium today (Feb 28th) you are aware of an issue currently brewing on campus regarding the use of the word "Israeli Apartheid" at McMaster University.

The following is what MacInsiders has been able to gather thus far, and we've tried to put it together into an easy to understand summary. Members are invited to discuss further information in our forum thread.

THE POSTER / BANNER

• An international event "Israeli Apartheid Week" took place Feb 4-8th
• Two MSU clubs are involved: the "Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights" group known as SPHR, and the "McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice" group, known as MMPJ.
• A poster for a movie screening during this week was taken to the Underground printing center to be copied. On it, was the title of a guest speaker to the event who it said was speaking on behalf of the "Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid" - the term (in italics and bolded) was what came into question
• The poster also had a photo depicting violence on it
• The MSU has a policy that it can not print posters depicting violence, and thus the club was asked to remove the image. However, the question then came up whether they were allowed to use the phrase "Israeli Apartheid"
• The MSU disallowed the photo on the poster (which is clearly in their policies), however they didn't feel they could make a decision on the usage of the phrase and in cases like this, the MSU turns the decision over to Human Rights and Equity Services.
• Human Rights and Equity Services stance (website) - They decided it was not fit to be printed, but didn't give a satisfactory reason as to why the phrase could not be used. An e-mail from them to the SPHR president stated (bolded for emphasis): "The university has taken the position that literature which refers to "Israeli apartheid" and activities promoted under the banner, "Israeli Apartheid Week" are unacceptable. The university takes the position that this phrase is in violation of the university's efforts to ensure that all people will be treated with dignity and tolerance"
• The MSU stance (website): An e-mail to the SPHR president stated:
  "...the MSU has decided to abide by [the Human Rights and Equity Services'] recommendation". Thus, they are abiding by what the Human Rights and Equity Services group has decided.
• This unability to print the poster because of the phrase was an issue because the club was unable to advertise the group by which the speaker was from, thus not being able to properly advertise who the guest speaker was to their event
• There was also mention of a banner that would go up during the week with the phrase on it. This poster was debated later, but NEVER EXISTED and was never made.
• New posters were printed, the event went on anyways, and things went as planned - the event was successful

THE PURSUIT FOR ANSWERS

• After the event, the club then decided to pursue the issue they had with regards to not being allowed to print a poster with the phrase 'Israeli Apartheid'. They wanted clarification, so they turned to the McMaster Provost, Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac.
• The Provost's Stance: An e-mail sent by the Provost on Feb 21st 2008 stated (bolded for emphasis): "Although there is a rumor circulating that I have banned the use of the phrase "Israeli Apartheid", this is patently not true. McMaster University fully supports freedom of speech and we have no abridged this fundamental principle. The single action we took was to refuse to place a highly inflammatory and large banner in a very public part of our campus. No restrictions were placed on any activities associated with Israeli Apartheid Week"
  
  The club is not happy with her using the words "highly inflammatory", and denies a request for such banner.
  
  In another e-mail from the Provost, sent to Mr. Gary Gerofsky, it appeared a different opinion came to the forefront. The e-mail, which can be found online here, is copied below (bolded for emphasis):
  1. Dear Mr. Gerofsky,
     I learned of just this morning of the table occupied by a student group, named Muslims for Peace and Justice, who widely displayed Israel Apartheid Week literature. We regret this incident greatly and never condone hate-mongering in any form. We have met with a representative of he student group, explained to them that their banner will not be permitted, and told them in no uncertain terms that their activities must show respect and tolerance for everyone or we will take further actions.
     I thank you for voicing your concern and agree that this is an ugly incident. Hateful behaviour has not place in our community.
• The Provost stated later that this e-mail was a personal message that had her own opinions, and she was speaking outside of her Provost role. What caused so much debate was that the Provost called the MMPJ group "hate-mongering" and participating in "hateful behaviour".

Photo: Joey Coleman, used with permission

WHY THE TOPIC OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH?

• "Israeli Apartheid" can have a negative connotation to it, bringing up very serious and scary times in history, and making certain students on campus upset. It would appear that this is the reasoning behind not wanting to display the phrase on posters/banners on campus, as it might upset some students.
• Being a university, with a clearly defined Student Code of Conduct, the university must remain open to all religious and cultural points of view, and under the freedom of speech, allow groups on campus to bring up these historical events and run events to promote awareness about them on campus. With the Human Rights and Equity Services not allowing students to print promotional material with a certain phrase, and the Provost appearing to back this, the club was getting the sense that the university was censoring them (which it has no right to do if they uphold the Student Code of Conduct).
• This 'censorship' issue then stems into the question of who gets to decide what is censored and what is not? If the university feels they can stop certain things from being printed, then what stops them from continuing to do this for any other student group on campus and censor other events that are on completely different topics/issues?

THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

• A copy of the Code can be found online in PDF form here.
• It clearly states that:
  
  "Membership in this community implies acceptance of the principle of mutual respect for the rights, responsibilities, dignity, and well-being of others, and a readiness to support an environment conducive to the intellectual and personal growth of all who study, work and live within it." (Appendix A - Page 13)
  
  "Pursuant to the laws of Canada and Ontario, you have the RIGHT to the safety and security of your person in an environment free from harassment, intimidation, discrimination or assault. You have the RESPONSIBILITY to treat others with respect and to refrain from acts of harassment, intimidation, discrimination or assault. " (Page 14)
  
  It lists as a MINOR OFFENSE: "engaging in disruptive behaviour. Disruptive behaviour is behaviour in class or out of class which, for any reason disrupts the class work of others or invades the rights of others; " (Page 16 - bolded for emphasis)
  
  It lists as a MAJOR OFFENSE: "engaging in verbal or non-verbal behaviour or communication toward an individual or group directly or indirectly, which is considered intimidating, offensive and/or threatening"
  
• Thus, if the University was to uphold this Code of Conduct, denying a group to print a poster with that phrase, as well as the e-mail from the Provost with that attitude, would not be allowed if the environment stated in the Code were to be properly upheld.

PETER GEORGE MAKES A STATEMENT

• Peter George's stance: On Februrary 29th, Peter George made an official statement (link) on the Daily News website. The clubs/groups involved stated that they were happy with what he said, which included him talking about student's Freedom of Speech and how he wanted to make sure that the university defended that freedom. He also stated that the word was not "banned":
  
  "The term has not been banned. McMaster's commitment to freedom of speech has not been compromised."

Photo: Joey Coleman, used with permission

THE PUBLIC FORUM IN THE STUDENT CENTRE

• The Public Forum took place for 2.5 hours on Feb 29th 2008
• It was organized and run by "United for Student Rights"
• It was conducted in a professional manner with a facilitator, and clearly defined rules that it was not to be a debate, would not tollerate hate language, and no banners/posters/signs/symbols would be allowed to be held up or shown during it (protest posters for example), as well as no booing or interrupting the speakers, that there would be no sides, etc.
• It included 2 hours of pre-registered speakers and 30 minutes of Q&A
• Speakers included representatives of the MSU Clubs, the President of the MSU, professors and staff from McMaster, as well as speakers from Ryerson, York, and other groups.
• A bit of commotion was stirred up during the time when the organizer from York spoke - she brought up issues which were off-topic and angered parts of the audience. The facilitator had to reminder her twice to stay on the topic of freedom of speech and expression.
• The topic was brought up that the people were at the public forum to discuss freedom of speech/expression, because the poster was not allowed to be printed and it appeared the university was not upholding to their Student Code of Conduct or Freedom of Speech/Expression.
• It was also brought up that while some students may be offended by the term "Israeli Apartheid", the university environment should be one which allows open discussion and debates on issues - not censor them in order to stop one group from being upset.
• One of the speakers claimed to have an e-mail from Human Rights and Equity Services at McMaster, which he says also gave him permission to make the e-mail public, stating that the term isn't banned on campus, but CAN'T be used in the title of an event.

SO WHAT IS THE CONCLUSION? IS IT BANNED? IS IT NOT?

• The university has not "banned" the term.
• Human Rights and Equity Services has not allowed any posters being printed or displayed on campus with the phrase... thus students are allowed to say the word on campus to their friends, but it can't be used in the titles of events run by MSU clubs.
• The Provost's stance remains slightly confusing, as she said she didn't support the use of the phrase in an e-mail, calling it "hate-mongering", but then later told MMPJ in a meeting that the university didn't have a problem with the phrase, and that what she said earlier was only a "personal communiqué outside her capacity as a university official" (aka. her own personal opinion, speaking outside of her role as Provost). She reinforced that her personal views "are irrelevant to this matter" and that she wanted to continue upholding university policy, in particular freedom of speech.
• The President, Peter George, says that the phrase isn't banned and he supports and defends human rights like the freedom of speech.
• Students want a clear answer on what they can and can not print/say on campus.

WHAT THE MCMASTER SOLIDARY FOR PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP WANTS:

1. An appology from the Provost for calling them "hate-mongering" and that they were doing "hateful behaviour" OR a public statement issued by the Provost stating in general that she does not consider anti-Israeli Apartheid organizing as "hate-mongering" or "hateful behaviour"
2. That the university and MSU issue a clear statement that:
   a) "Israeli Apartheid" is not a prohibited term
   b) That posters and materials promoting and explaning the concept aren't prohibited
   c) That Israeli Apartheid Week isn't prohibited at McMaster
3. That the original posters would be approved by the MSU "without delay"
4. That there be an impartial enquiry into the events leading to the controversy
5. That the university and MSU review the Student Code of Conduct and the MSU Poster Policy

What are your thoughts on this? Post in the MACINSIDERS FORUM.

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