Here's a letter that was sent out today to a variety of Professors at the University of Ottawa. These profs somwhow believe that the 'New anti-semtism' may limit their freedom of speech, and are asking University of Ottawa President Alan Rock not to participate in a Parliamentary inquiry.
I have a few questions for these Profs:
1. How on earth are your rights threatened? Can you provide specifics?
2. Are you having a hard time getting out your anti-Israel message?
3. Are you not concerned about anti-semitism at all?
I can just imagine the type of courses that Ms. Spronk teaches...well, I think it's time for some research! Stay tuned.
Dear colleagues/chers colleagues,
I am writing to ask if you would be willing to sign a letter addressed to Alan Rock expressing our concern about the University of Ottawa's participation in the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism (CPCCA). For more information on this standing committee, please feel free to contact me and I can direct you to various sources (see, for example, http://www.cpcca.ca/about.htm, and statements available on the websites of Independent Jewish Voices http://ijvcanada.org/sign-signez-petition-audiences-cpcca-hearings/, amongst others).
I apologize in advance for the short notice, but if you would like to sign the letter, please respond to this message by 16h30 today and I will forward it to Alan Rock's office by email at 17h00. This is not an open letter; it will only be sent to President Alan Rock and copied to the signatories.
Yours truly,
Susan Spronk, Assistant Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies.
PS Any volunteers willing to translate the letter into French?
University of Ottawa
President Allan Rock
We, a group of professors from the University of Ottawa, are writing to you to express our concerns related to the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism (CPCCA). First of all, we are deeply troubled by the community concern that there is a rise of anti-semitism on university campuses and we share a deep commitment to fighting racism in all of its forms in the university community. However, we are concerned that the way that “new anti-Semitism” is being interpreted by this committee might be used to curtail the academic freedom and freedom of speech of faculty and students regarding the Israel/Palestine conflict.
We have understood that university presidents from major universities on campus were invited to address the CPCCA. The CPCCA website lists Ms. Francine Page the Director, Centre for Equity and Human Rights, as one of six 'representatives from' certain Canadian universities' appearing before the Panel' on November 24. We would like to know a) if you intend to represent the University during the hearings b) if Ms. Page’s submission will represent the view of the Administration of the University of Ottawa, and c) if the submission is being put forward on behalf of the University if it was approved by the Board of Governors or another governing council.
We thank you in advance for responding to our concerns.
Yours sincerely,
Pierre Beaudet
Susan Spronk
Sylvie Paquerot
Sophie Thériault
Susan Spronk, PhD
Assistant Professor / Professeure adjointe
School of International Development and Global Studies/ École de développement international et mondialisation
University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa
Pavillon Tabaret, pièce 378H
550 rue Cumberland
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5
Canada