Welcome to the new website for the Canadian Institute for Academic Freedom and Rights. Here you’ll find all sorts of information pertaining to the history and current climate of freedom and rights on Canadian campuses and within the Canadian Academy. The site was started in light of a protracted campaign by groups in Canada to shut down activism, dissent and protest on Canadian campuses. From the firing and police-assisted removal of Denis Rancourt at the University of Ottawa to February 15th’s full-page ad in the National Post by B’nai Brith that demonizes student activism – students and academics in Canada are engaged in an incredibly important struggle for their rights and freedoms.
Academic freedom in Canada is being hijacked. Posters are being banned, conferences shut down, events cancelled, positions terminated, bodies removed. And one of the most important things about academic freedom is that it levels the playing the field – this is what the B’nai Brith are seizing on – namely the ‘hurt’ that their students/followers are experiencing. But all of this is detracting from the groups that are most powerless and what is at issue is the power to define – whose experience gets legitimized and whose is so easily marginalized?
Here is the text of the B’nai Brith full page ad on the back of the National post, published Feb. 15/09:
STOP THE HATE-FESTS ON CANADIAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
“Presidents of Canadian universities must demonstrate leadership. They must come forward to prevent Israeli Apartheid Week, an event that has become notorious for promoting hatred against the Jewish State and its student supporters here at home. They must stand up to the daily ongoing anti-Jewish agitation that has taken root on campuses across the country.
Boards of governors, professors, alumni and benefactors must also act now.
A poisoned environment is being fostered where Jewish students are increasingly intimidated and targeted for hate. In recent weeks, there have been documented assaults on Jewish students, threats, on-going harassment, and mob scenes. These incidents are being ignored by university administrations and campus security. Police forces, when called to the scene, all too often turn a blind eye.
The pretense that Canada is well is over. When good people do not act, radicals fill the void.
TAKE A STAND AGAINST ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUS
**How You Can Make a Difference**
-If you are a graduate of a university that refuses to condemn antisemitic hate fests, it is time to register your protest directly with a copy to bnb@bnaibrith.ca
-If you are a donor to such a university, it is time to withhold any future contributions. Inform B’nai Brith of your actions.
-If you are a Canadian taxpayer and want to stop your dollars from promoting hate, voice your public opposition at every opportunity. Work with B’nai Brith to stop the intolerace.
-If you are a concerned Canadian who opposes the hijacking of campus agendas by those promoting hatred, then you are bliged to speak up.
B’nai Brith Canada pledges its ogoing support to Jewish students. We urge students to call the organisation’s toll free 24-7 hotline – 1-800-892-2624 – to report all antisemitic incidents.
Subscribe to http://www.jewishcanada.ca <http://www.jewishcanada.ca> to keep fully informed about ongoing human rights violations on campuses.”
Terror on Campus 
February 19, 2009 at 10:08 pm
[…] move comes on the heels of a B’nai Brith advert in Canada’s National Post calling for an end to “Hate-Fests” festering on Canadian campuses. It seems there may be […]
February 20, 2009 at 12:00 am
B’nai Brith should be ashamed of themselves for trivializing real anti-Semitism with their ad campaign. In fact, they are engaging in it when they attack the many progressive Jews who are active in Palestinian solidarity work.
February 24, 2009 at 4:45 am
It’s true – why aren’t you taking out full page ads about David Ahenakew? Even Israeli Jews use the term apartheid only in Hebrew. They use the word Hafrada to describe the segregationist policies they use in West Bank, building separate roads for Jewish settlers that Palestinians can’t drive on; they militarily control 3.5 million Palestinians who can’t vote in Israeli elections with 600+ checkpoints and tens of thousands of soldiers.
The Jewish community is NOT 100% behind Israel, and Bnai Brith ought to wake up and start to have a human rights oriented discourse on how we can end the occupation of Palestine together.
March 9, 2009 at 3:33 am
When America finds it can no longer fund the insanity of the Israelites, then the Mid-East will begin to heal. I hope that Israel is smart enough to see a curve ball coming and doesn’t think that it can obviate the inevitable. The IDF will not be enough.