Campus Environment and Civility: Time for UTFA to be a part of a solution to a pressing problem, not exacerbate the issue!
Our campus community has found this past year to be very challenging. It is of little comfort that the tensions flowing from war in Israel-Palestine affecting students, staff and faculty U of T exist in many other campus communities.
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Whenever such tensions arise, different parts of the university’s Statement of Freedom of Speech can come into conflict. One paragraph warns, “the values of mutual respect and civility may, on occasion, be superseded by the need to protect lawful freedom of speech”, but also provides a reminder that, “members should not weigh lightly the shock, hurt anger or even the silencing effect that may be caused by use of such speech.”
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It is entirely appropriate that administrators at the university take action to find the right balance during times like this between ensuring that “uncomfortable, even unsettling positions” are heard, as well as making sensible exhortations that we show empathy and consideration to others.
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UTFA members know that there are times as instructors that one may want students to feel uncomfortable when discussing difficult topics in class, but we also know that no student should not be made to feel uncomfortable every day on their way to class. President Gertler’s October 18 message to our community described it well: “We also have an obligation to provide an environment for teaching, learning and research that is free from discrimination, racism, hate or fear. There is no place for antisemitism, Islamophobia or celebrations of violence of any sort.”
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Dean Melanie Woodin said “we must always demonstrate civility and empathy to one another,” yet UTFA demanded that she retract her statement! This was not constructive. Statements by administrators that urge student governments to be mindful of their rhetoric during fraught times can be important. Student politicians are students, and may require reminders that even those duly elected by their student body does not mean they have a license to do whatever they want. Over 200 years ago, Madison warned of majority tyranny in the Federalist Papers, and cautioned that elections are not enough to restrain leaders, but not very many of today’s students have read Madison!
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When administrators remind everyone that, “Antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and discrimination of any kind have no place on our campus. It is the duty of every member of our community to ensure that our campus remains an affirming, respectful, and inclusive place to learn and work,” their comments do not represent threats to academic freedom. Yet, UTFA told the students to ignore the administration because UTFA claimed the administration threatened their right to free expression.
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These circumstances were not a reason for UTFA to tell these administrators how to do their jobs. In looking out for all of its members, UTFA must push back whenever academic freedoms are violated, and when the atmosphere on campus becomes toxic. By speaking out solely with a poorly supported claim that somehow Dean Woodin and Principal Alexandra Gillespie (UTM) violated university rules, UTFA may undermined the central message of inclusion and non-discrimination.
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So, UTMSU ignored their campus principal and decided to overtly discriminate against Jewish students and anyone else who might not share UTMSU’s political views. Long before UTFA sent around its Winter Update complaining that the administration was pushing for a “ban on all but the most banal views,” UTMSU passed a discriminatory resolution at their AGM requiring student groups who wish funding from the student union to adopt a “Pro-Palestine stance.” UTMSU leaders told the Varsity this would mean that student clubs would not be able to receive funding unless they somehow supported Palestine. This is not free speech, this is overt discrimination of Jewish groups, yet UTFA tells the students that they should ignore the administration. Even if this does not affect many faculty members, UTMSU’s actions contribute to a campus environment that can feel tense and hostile to those who might hope for the release of hostages captured by Hamas, let alone defend Israel’s ability to defend itself.
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In the end, this has become yet another example of how UTFA’s first priority is to criticize the university administration, no matter what the consequences.
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It would not be the last. When the administration announced that Randy Boyagoda would try to tackle the issue of civility on campus, UTFA leader responsible for university policy mocked him on social media!
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When the university community needs to tackle difficult problems in challenging times, UTFA needs to offer to collaborate and cooperate, not mock our colleagues. UTFA's hostile approach is ineffective, has not worked, and will not work. It is time for UTFA to change the association's approach and solve problems rather than just causing problems and stirring controversy.
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