Last Thursday afternoon, a crowd of approximately 100 demonstrators protesting against Quebec’s proposed tuition hikes entered the McGill campus.

The demonstration, organized by an autonomous committee of students from four different campuses—Cégep du Vieux-Montréal, l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Concordia University, and McGill University—began walking at 11:00 a.m. at Concordia and then moved towards McGill. 

Professor Jim Nicell, Associate Vice-Principal (University Services), sent out an email around noon informing McGill staff and students that protestors were approaching campus, and that the march was peaceful. 

“We felt it was appropriate for the entire community to know that this group was passing through campus so that they wouldn’t be surprised if they were to see or hear them,” Nicell said. 

Upon arriving at McGill, the protestors walked up McTavish Street and marched through McLennan Library, shouting through megaphones and chanting slogans in both English and French. They then entered the SSMU building and made their way up the staircases. 

“They were very loud and obnoxious,”  Darrell de Lara, U2 anthropology, said. “It seemed like they were trying to gather more people for the protest.”

A group of protestors remained on the second floor and proceeded towards room 202 where Career Planning Service (CaPS) was hosting a Public Service Jobs Fair. CaPS Administrative Assistant Jean Hepworth was taking registration at the door and was confronted by the demonstrators.  

“I stood in the doorway and told them [that] this is a fair … you can’t come in here and disrupt,” Hepworth said. “They basically pushed me aside and marched in.”

“Two girls wearing masks came in first, carrying bins full of garbage and compost,” a U4 geography and history student attending the CaPS fair, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “They passed by each display, looking to see who was present at each table.”

The girls approached the table facilitated by Correctional Services of Canada. One of the girls reportedly swept everything off the table, and together they emptied the contents of their garbage bins.

The crowd of demonstrators left shortly after. 

“[The disruption] was obviously not spontaneous … they came in with determination,” the anonymous U4 student said. “This was very shocking behaviour, especially at a [CaPs] Fair where students are hoping to meet potential employers.”

Other reactions to the intrusion at the fair included expressions of shock, disappointment, and confusion. 

“I want to know why this happened … I don’t get the relation [between the fair and the demonstration] at all,” Hepworth said. 

“I think this was incredibly unfortunate,” Nicell said. “Despite what they may feel about this particular event, I can’t see what right they have to unilaterally decide on what events can or can’t happen at McGill.”

SSMU VP External Joël Pedneault offered a plausible explanation for why the demonstrators targeted the CaPS fair. 

“Organizations like Correctional Services and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) have poor track records for human rights in Canada,” Pedneault said. “Some of the demonstrators might have decided to disrupt the event because they don’t agree with what these organizations do … and denounce the idea of them recruiting at McGill.”

Hepworth will be filing a complaint about the incident with the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of Executive Director, Services for Students. 

“The fact that there was no security for me and the employers … is unacceptable,” Hepworth said. “SSMU security should have been informed that [the demonstration] was heading into the building.”

After leaving the McGill campus, the demonstration moved to Cégep du Vieux-Montréal and spontaneously disrupted a conference on mining development in the north of Québec. 

The demonstration ended at the UQAM campus. 

“An interesting aspect of Thursday’s demonstration is that it revealed the horizons of what student activism might be,” Pedneault said. “People are organizing across the lines … this is unprecedented activism between anglophone and francophone students.”

The ongoing, growing student movement against tuition hikes has several future demonstrations planned, the next of which is scheduled for Feb. 16. 

“A coalition of unions, community groups, and student associations are organizing a mass blockade of the Montreal Commerce Centre,” Pedneault said. “They will be protesting not just the [tuition] increases but other austerity measures that the [provincial] government has announced.”

Warning emails will not necessarily be sent out to the McGill community for all future protests.  

“It will always depend on the circumstances at the time,” Nicell said. 

A province-wide student strike could be declared as early as Feb. 20.