University of Winnipeg Weak on Palestine

Civil disobedience is a form of peaceful protest

Stock photo from Canva

Trying to stay in my lane

I’ve been relatively quiet on the issues happening in Gaza and across Palestine. This is not because I’m worried about controversy, anyone who reads my work will know I am not afraid of speaking my mind.

That is, when I feel well informed on the subject.

As the horrors happening overseas have been increasingly brought to the forefront, I’ve been quietly trying to learn what I can about the history of the decades-long turmoil and unrest which have been a lived reality for Palestinians.

I have never lived in that part of the world and don’t know enough about this conflict to offer a thorough discussion of it, but I strongly recommend seeking out information from experts and those with lived experience.

I am speaking out today on one aspect of the protests which have been popping up on University campuses all over the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere in solidarity and support of Palestinians.

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University of Winnipeg’s statement

I mentioned recently that I have returned to University in order to upgrade my undergraduate degrees and pursue post-graduate studies. As a current student, I am on the University’s mailing list.

Today I, along with all present staff and students, received an email from the Office of the President. I am extremely disappointed in the statement sent out on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg, Dr. Todd Mondor.

The email essentially says (and I paraphrase): 1) “we support your right to peaceful protest, but only if you follow our rules exactly in doing so”, and 2) “we’re going to use the encampment as an excuse to justify excessive screening and invasive measures, making the University an unwelcoming place.”

1. Part of peaceful protest is not following the rules set out by institutions against which a group is protesting. It does not make sense to expect a group protesting against how the university spends its money (public funds from the government and our tuition dollars) to follow the limited and limiting rules set out by that same university which attempts to dictate exactly how they should or should not protest peacefully.

Ridiculous.

Secondly,

2. Universities are supposed to be public spaces, a concept which has long since been lost on most campuses. UW even had public-access computers outside of the library for the public to come in and use. Now they want people to wait in a long line to have someone check their ID, and have to justify their presence on campus to some untrained wannabe mall cop?

Screen shots provided by author

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A short story