CIJA Responds to Report on TMU LASL Open Letter
Toronto, ON – May 31, 2024 – Today, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) released the report of the TMU External Review commissioned to determine whether a letter replete with antisemitic content, which was written, signed, and circulated by students at TMU’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law, breached TMU’s code of conduct.
In response, Judy Zelikovitz, Vice President, University and Local Partner Services, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, issued the following statement:
“The final report by the external evaluator acknowledges that the letter replete with antisemitic content signed by TMU law students was harmful, flawed, aggressive, troubling, offensive, and harsh. However, the reasoning that it does not break the university code – because the letter could be left open to interpretation, or that some hadn’t fully read it, or, worse, that some signed it despite all of that – shakes our confidence in the report and misses the target by failing the students, faculty, staff, and the university itself.
“Moreover, denying the antisemitism these law students signed onto and the egregious claim the backlash these signatories may have experienced due to their actions are equivalent to the backlash experienced by the Jewish campus community for their identity is insulting.
“Our community expects more from future lawyers shaping Canadian society. CIJA expects the university to take immediate action and consult in earnest with the Jewish campus community to create a respectful environment where productive dialogue, well-being, and safety are paramount.
“We consider the findings to support the broader systemic issues we have observed at TMU, which are highlighted in the lawsuit supported by CIJA on behalf of a student. CIJA will continue its advocacy efforts and support for the Jewish campus community with our campus partners as we have done throughout this crisis at the TMU Law School. CIJA will provide a more extensive analysis and response when we’ve had more time to digest the report.”
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