uOttawa students hold protests, university warns against encampments

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Protesters at the University of Ottawa began their second day of pro-Palestinian sit-ins Tuesday on the rain-soaked lawn outside Tabaret Hall.

The sit-ins, organized by the Palestinian Students Association, began Monday. The goal is to get the university to “disclose and divest,” said co-organizer Ayham Hakimi, a third year student.

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“We’re here demanding from the university transparency with regards to where our tuition money is going,” Hakimi said. “We demand full disclosure.” 

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About 200 students showed up Monday, according to Hakimi. The Palestinian Students Association plans to hold sit-ins all week with events such as speeches and chants to begin at noon and continue until 9 p.m. each day.

Meanwhile, the University of Ottawa has warned against encampments on its property. 

“While peaceful protest is permitted in appropriate public spaces on campus according to our policies and regulations, encampments and occupations will not be tolerated,” wrote Eric Bercier, the university’s associate vice-president of student affairs, in a statement posted on the university’s website on Sunday. 

Hakimi said that the organizers had plans to meet with university administrators on Monday, but the meeting was cancelled.

The protesters said they will keep on demonstrating and protests may continue past Friday if the students and the university don’t come to an agreement. They are demanding uOttawa divest from Scotiabank, which has attracted media attention because of its investment in an Israeli arms firm known as Elbit Systems Ltd.

“I find it very ironic that talking about occupations won’t be tolerated,” Hakimi said. “But that’s exactly what we’re protesting here — an occupation that’s happening in Palestine.” 

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The University of Ottawa is not the only school to issue a warning to protesters. Sandy Welsh, the vice-provost at the University of Toronto, sent  an email warning to students on Sunday, advising that unauthorized activities such as encampments or the occupation of university buildings are considered trespassing.

“Specifically, our Code of Student Conduct prohibits intentional damage to university property, unauthorized entry and use of university property contrary to instructions, disruptions of university activities, and other offences to property and persons,” said Welsh.

Students at McGill university have set up a pro-Palestinian encampment on McGill’s property, calling on the university to divest from any financial involvement with Israel and setting up tents near the Roddick Gates on Sherbrooke St. They said they will be there indefinitely and have posted signs near the tents in support of Palestinians.

McGill has asked for police assistance to clear the encampment, university president Deep Saini said in an email to the community Tuesday.

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“Having to resort to police authority is a gut-wrenching decision for any university president,” Saini said. “It is, by no means, a decision that I take lightly or quickly. In the present circumstances, however, I judged it necessary.”

While activists at the University of Ottawa acknowledge that student protests are happening throughout Canada, they say the focus must continue to be on the events happening in Gaza. 

“Our ultimate goal is to get the university to divest and we’re hoping that we can negotiate with them in good faith and kind of reach an agreement,” said co-organizer Yara Mahmoud, a third-year student. “We’re hoping we can do that before Friday. If that’s not the case, then we’re going to continue to show up to demand divestment.”

With files from the Canadian Press and the Montreal Gazette

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