For Immediate Release
Toronto, ON – In late January, York University President Mamdouh Shoukri issued a public message reaffirming the University’s core values of “inclusivity, diversity and respect.” This message was in direct response to Jewish community concerns over the controversial and offensive mural in the York Student Centre.
In reaffirming a commitment to inclusion, President Shoukri announced the formation of a President’s Advisory Committee composed of York faculty to ensure a “respectful exchange of ideas.” A significant proportion of the committee’s membership, which has now been made public, includes individuals who have engaged in anti-Israel activism.
“We are outraged that a sizeable proportion of the ‘inclusion’ committee consists of members who have a clear record of anti-Israel activism. This includes academics who have endorsed Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israelis and publicly accused Israel of imposing ‘apartheid’ or committing ‘genocide’,” said Marc Newburgh, CEO of Hillel Ontario. “These positions are deeply offensive to Jewish students and reflect division rather than inclusivity,” said Newburgh.
“While the intention to enhance campus inclusivity is laudable, without significant changes, this initiative will have the opposite of its intended effect and only serve to further alienate the Jewish community,” said Sara Lefton, Vice President of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) in the GTA. “It is crucial that President Shoukri select committee members with the credibility required to promote civility and unity on campus,” said Lefton.
As the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada, CIJA is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of Jewish life in Canada by advancing the public policy interests of Canada’s organized Jewish community.