Smashed windows of campus buildings, academic freedom, and upcoming budget cuts were among the discussion items at the McGill Senate’s Feb. 12 meeting.
The meeting began with memorial tributes to Patrick Dias in the Faculty of Education, Patrick Farrell in the Department of Chemistry, and Abraham Fuks in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. McGill President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini, the Senate Chair, then moved to the Report of the Senate Steering Committee.
Saini then addressed the Senate regarding the protestors who smashed windows of the Leacock, McCall-MacBain Arts, Dawson Hall, and James Administration Buildings on the night of Feb. 5. Saini noted that “an anarchist group […] with no known connection to McGill” has taken responsibility, stating they were protesting McGill’s refusal to divest from companies with ties to the state of Israel. The base repairs are expected to cost McGill hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Even higher, though, is the price to our collective morale,” Saini said. “Our campus cannot continue to bear the brunt of outrage caused by a war half a world away.”
Saini then read two written statements from instructors whose classes were writing exams in Leacock when the protestors smashed the building’s windows before concluding that the university cannot make decisions “rooted in response to threats.” From there, he opened the floor to comments.
Arts Senator Anzhu Wei noted students’ frustration with a lack of communicable channels with McGill, particularly surrounding the university’s investments in companies connected to Israel. Wei highlighted that 78.7 per cent of voting students in the Fall 2023 referendum voted in favour of the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine, which called on McGill to divest from such companies. An injunction subsequently suspended the policy.
“I’m not saying that McGill should make any decisions in response to violence or intimidation,” Wei said. “I think where a lot of the frustration comes from is that disconnect between what students want and what students want to say and what they perceive McGill to be taking in as input.”
The Senate moved on to address McGill’s expected budget cuts as the result of a projected $15 million CAD deficit for the current fiscal year. Engineering Senator Nathaniel Quitoriano asked what role the Senate would have in determining how the cuts will be allocated given the Senate’s jurisdiction over academic matters at McGill. Saini responded that budget cuts are administrative in nature, but situations of academic concern would be brought to the Senate, such as the hypothetical amalgamation of departments.
“Or, in an extreme scenario, there’s a suggestion to eliminate a faculty to save money,” Saini said.
The Senate then addressed questions from members. The first—submitted by Wei and Arts Senator Vivian Wright, concerning artificial intelligence and pedagogy—was deferred to Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi, who was not present but provided a written response. Manfredi also answered the second question—submitted by Quitoriano and Member-at-Large Christa Scholtz—about the Report on the Policy on Indigenous Membership.
Student Senator Abe Berglas raised concerns regarding this report’s accessibility.
“It’s quite difficult, if you start from the main page of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives [website], to find the report. I wouldn’t have been able to find it if I didn’t work backwards from the full hyperlink,” said Berglas.
Saini noted the feedback before turning Senators’ attention to the annual reports on the Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism, Student Life and Learning, the Committee on Student Services, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Strategic Plan, and the EDI Committee.
The meeting ended with a confidential session regarding an honourary degree.
Moment of the Meeting:
The two written statements from instructors—who were teaching and invigilating when the protestors smashed windows in Leacock—reported a climate of uncertainty, with one noting that some students screamed out that there was a shooting, while another described locking the doors and calling security.
Soundbite:
“If you think that the university should have a role in thinking through these issues, such as the ones raised by BDS, I suggest that we just have an academic conference where we talk about these things [….] I think it would be wrong to not do things just because the [protestors who smashed the windows] want something.” — Senator Catherine Lu in response to Saini’s request for comments in regard to academic freedom.
A previous version of this article stated that Catherine Lu was an Arts Senator. In fact, Lu is an Arts Faculty Senator. The Tribune regrets this error.
