Tag: university of guelph

University of Guelph serves trespassing notice to pro-Palestinian encampent

Posted on by Taylor Pipe

The encampment was given until 8 p.m. July 7 to leave Branion Plaza

 

Update: On the evening of July 8, the UoGforPalestine encampment announced they would be dismantling their pro-Palestinian encampment by July 15. 

 

On July 6, the University of Guelph gave a trespass notice to the pro-Palestinian encampment in Branion Plaza. The letter said the encampment must remove themselves and their belongings by 8 p.m. the following day.

“The letter requested a peaceful and voluntary dismantling of the encampment similar to recent activity at the University of Toronto, Western University and the University of Waterloo, by 8 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2024,” reads a statement from the University of Guelph from July 6. “Should the encampment remain, the University will pursue legal action to end and remove it permanently and restore the university as a welcoming space for everyone.”

The group occupying the space, UoGforPalestine, posted on their Instagram on July 7 detailing their opposition to this request, specifically the timeline given to the encampment by the university.

“This escalation does not come to us as a surprise – the University of Guelph has a habit of lying and throwing unreasonable deadlines at us,” the Instagram post said. 

The group alleges that the University has hit them with an unexpected deadline similar to the deadline of them having to move their encampment for fire safety issues. 

“This is not the first time the university has used this tactic against us,” the same Instagram post reads. “On June 3rd, when the admin blatantly lied to its student, staff, and faculty in a mass email about being fined $20,000 per day due to the encampment and repeatedly gave us arbitrary deadlines of removal of our fencing with less than 24 hours notice on May 30th.”

In a press conference on July 8,  the group reiterated their Instagram statements. Other members from community groups like the U of G Muslim Student Association, (MSA), U of G Alumni and Decolonial Solidarity read their statements of solidarity with the encampment. 

The representative from the MSA voiced their concerns and displeasure with the university during the conference.

“The administration’s narrative falsely portrays the participants of the encampment as a source of harassment and discrimination, whereas in reality, it is a response to these very issues,” they said. 

On the evening of July 7, at 8 p.m., when the protesters were instructed to leave, community members rallied at the encampment for an evening of solidarity that included banner painting, and a movie screening.

A community gathering took place at the encampment on July 7 at 8 p.m. (Photo by: Taylor Pipe)

The university released a statement on July 8 letting the public know their intentions to proceed with legal action against the protesters.

“Members of the University community are free to exercise their rights to freedom of expression through peaceful protest, but that does not extend to the indefinite occupation of University property,” the university said. “U of G campus is private property and the unauthorized occupation of Branion Plaza by the encampment is illegal. Per the Notice of Trespass, if the encampment does not disband and vacate Branion Plaza immediately, the University will seek an injunction order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.”

The notice of trespassing says the group is prohibited from occupying, entering or remaining at Branion Plaza, erecting tents or shelters, remaining on campus between 11 a.m. and 6 a.m., and gathering at the university in a way that is inconsistent with university policies. 

The encampment has no plans to leave any time soon.

“If this Administration uses state violence to force the end of the People’s Plaza for Palestine, then our solidarity, our knowledge and our experience and our spirit will forever be everywhere,” an encampment representative said during the conference. “The spirit of the People’s Plaza will haunt them insistently, until they end their complicity in the occupation and genocide in Palestine. Or until the people end it for them.”

 

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as appropriate.

University of Guelph Gryphon statue defaced

Posted on by Taylor Pipe

On June 13 the statue was found with red paint in multiple places

The day before the vandalism, graduates could be seen lining up to take their photo with the statue. (Photo by: Taylor Pipe)

For a decade, the Gryphon statue on the corner of Stone Rd. and Gordon St. has been a staple in the university community.

On June 13, the statue was defaced. Red paint was splattered on the gryphon’s head and the book that the gryphon sits on.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said a community member. 

As of 9 a.m. the University of Guelph’s physical resource team was on scene cleaning up the defacement.

The day before, students celebrating their convocation were seen taking photos posing with the Gryphon to celebrate their graduation.

The defacement comes three weeks after pro-Palestinian protesters began their encampment on campus. 

Pro-Palestinian encampments have been occurring at universities across North America, and many are escalating their protesting tactics.

The Ontarion has reached out to UoGforPalestine for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

 

This is an ongoing story and will be updated. 

Caught in a lie? Negotiations and a fire safety order

Posted on by Taylor Pipe

An update on the People’s Plaza for Palestine

Since May 21, protesters have been using the space in Branion Plaza as an encampment to call for the divestment of university funds that support the war in Gaza.

During this time, the group has hosted Shabbat dinners, a reading group, discussions about colonial oppression and a fiction writing workshop. 

A post on the UofGforPalestine instagram page on May 31 indicated progress toward a resolution between the university and UofGforPalestine, though the resolution has fallen short of what the protesters would accept.

The post on the UofGforPalestine instagram page said that “in exchange for dismantling the encampment and no further disruptions, they offered us disclosure, amnesty, and scholarships and bursaries for students ‘affected by conflict’ and anti-racism ‘training modules’ without a working definition of Palestinian racism.”

The protesters declined the university’s offer.

The post continued, “They offered zero commitment to divestment. They said this would only be handled through the Special Action Policy Act, which was submitted before the encampment was established and before we had updated information on the university’s investments.”

Since then, there has been confusion surrounding the encampment and potential fire safety issues.

On May 31, the encampment was told by Guelph Fire Services to dismantle as one section of the encampment was creating a fire hazard. 

A post on UofGforPalestine’s Instagram shows a fire inspection order. The order states that the inspection occurred on August 25, 2020, although the encampment began in May 2024.

The Ontarion reached out to Guelph Fire Services but did not hear back in time for publication. 

The order is marked up with question marks by the protesters, who gave the inspection a failing grade of F, for “funding genocide.” The order said the encampment must be dismantled within 24 hours.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has determined that South Africa’s application alleging genocide are plausible, but has fallen short of making a ruling determining Israel’s actions genocide, per the definition used by the court. However, the ICJ has issued multiple orders that Israel avoid actions “which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”.

The post accompanying the order alleged that the university is using this tactic on purpose to get them to leave their encampment site. 

“To comply with the order, the University communicated with members of the encampment yesterday to inform them that they will need to move their tents and personal belongings a further 10 feet away from Zavitz Hall,” said a statement by the University on May 31.

More than 72 hours after the inspection order was made, protesters had not moved.

On June 3, the university released a letter from president Charlotte Yates in regards to the encampment, and the order by Guelph Fire Services.

“As of this morning members of the encampment have not moved all the tents and personal belongings that are obstructing the evacuation pathway,” the letter said. “The University is being fined $20,000 per day for non-compliance.”

On June 4, protesters held a press conference in response to the university. Their goal was to communicate specifics about fire safety, negotiations and the university’s disclosure of their investments.

During the conference, the group told the media that the university was not being fined yet. 

“The fire department has confirmed that no fines are currently being issued to the university. We confirmed this with the fire marshal ourselves yesterday,” said Firoza Saroqi, media spokesperson and member of UofGforPalestine. 

“Guelph Fire Services agreed late yesterday to provide an extension to the deadline to comply,” said a release by the University of June 4. “The University has not received any fines to date.”

Protesters moving the edge of their encampment to comply with fire safety code. (Photo by: Patrick Sutherland)

Ultimately, the group moved their encampment to create a walkway alongside Zavitz Hall, in order to maintain fire safety. 

The group also alleged that fencing was strategically placed around their encampment. However, a University of Guelph release from May 27 said these fences are due to summer construction and will be up from late May until August.

UofGforPalestine said the universities “incessant intimidation tactics” prevent the group from their main goal: divestment.

A report published by UofGforPalestine said the university has $50 million in shares in companies that support the Israeli military. 

“We refuse to wait for an intermediary process that makes recommendations to a committee that then makes recommendations to another committee and so on,” said Waida Mirzada, organizer and member of UofGforPalestine. “We demand divestment now.”

Mirzada confirmed they will not be ending the encampment anytime soon.

“Until we get a commitment to divestment, we will be here,” she said. 

Pro-Palestinian encampment arrives at University of Guelph campus

Posted on by Taylor Pipe

The encampment organizers have made several demands, including calling for U of G to divest from 61 companies

Pro-Palestinian encampments have finally made their way to the University of Guelph campus.

On the morning of May 21, Branion Plaza was fenced off and became the site of several tents. Banners have been placed on the perimeter of the encampment, displaying various pro-Palestinian messages. 

Similar encampments have been popping up at universities across North America. Universities such as Columbia University, McGill University, and the University of Manitoba have all had their own encampment over the last month. They all have similar demands – for universities to divest their investments in companies which the protestors allege support the Israeli military, both in the ongoing war in Gaza, and in actions leading up to the war.

Similar encampments have popped up at University of Toronto, McGill University and University of Waterloo. [Photo by: Taylor Pipe]
At the University of Guelph, UoGforPalestine has been protesting and calling for divestment since January, when they put banners on display in various locations around campus. In the following months, there were multiple protests including a sit-in at the University Centre, which was met with a smaller, silent counter-protest from pro-Israel supporters and members of the Jewish community.

“For several months, we have been pushing for divestment and having our voices heard and taking a stand against this genocide all we have experienced is suppression, censorship and structural gaslighting from this institution,” said Waida Mirzada, organizer of the encampment and media representative for UoGforPalestine.

UoGforPalestine is calling for the University to divest from companies that support the Israeli offensive. [Photo by: Taylor Pipe]
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has determined that South Africa’s application alleging genocide are plausible, but has fallen short of making a ruling determining Israel’s actions genocide, per the definition used by the court. However, the ICJ has issued multiple orders that Israel avoid actions “which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”.

A report written by UoGforPalestine was included a press release. The report states that the group had filed an FOI, (Freedom of Information) request. This request asked the university to disclose what equities they are invested in  and to disclose how many shares the university held in each equity.

“After months and months and months of us trying to ask for a freedom of information act on their entitlements portfolio, they not only prolong the process… all that they gave us was a list of companies but they withheld information in regards to the number of shares and how much monetary value was actually invested in these companies that are complicit,” said Mirzada.

Views from The Lookout on campus show the inside of the encampment. [Photo by: Taylor Pipe]
The same report outlined the specifics of UoGforPalestine’s demands. 

The group demands that:

  • The University of Guelph gives complete disclosure of all its investments and how many shares it has in each company in its endowment portfolio, the university divest from all arms, defence, and military contractors. 
  • The University of Guelph divest from all companies directly complicit in the genocide and subsidization efforts of the Israeli occupation.
  • The University of Guelph ends any and all existing partnerships with Israeli universities, institutions and companies and commits to an academic boycott.
  • The University of Guelph end its blatant disregard for students being targeted by anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia and to adopt the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association’s (ACLA) definition of anti-Palestinian racism within its institutional framework, 
  • The University of Guelph reject and end all suppression of pro-Palestinian activities on campus – among students, staff and faculty – including amnesty for the students at the People’s Plaza for Palestine.

The report listed several companies involved in supporting the Israeli military, such as: Ford, Honeywell, Boeing, General Motors, McDonalds, Amazon, Pizza Hut and Cisco Systems Inc., in addition to a number of lesser known companies.

“Why is an academic institution investing in arms manufacturers?” Mirzada asked.

Many members of alumni support the group and their right to protest. [Photo by: Taylor Pipe]
On the same day the encampment began, the University of Guelph released a statement written by President Charlotte Yates. The statement said that the university is monitoring the unauthorized encampment and has been in contact with protesters to remind them of campus policies.

“Encampments go against University policies and are not permitted as they entail health and safety risks for individuals in the encampment and for other members of the community,” the statement reads.

“Safety and security is like our number one protocol here and ensuring that everyone who enters here is following community guidelines and is respectful,” Mirzada said. “We’re also still maintaining COVID guidelines as well.” 

In the same statement, the university said it has a steadfast commitment to freedom of speech on campus. They also mentioned that the university received a divestment submission under its Special Action Policy and that it is being reviewed in accordance with University processes and procedures.

The cannon is painted with pro-Palestine messaging. [Photo by: Taylor Pipe]
Mirzada said that the pro-Palestinian encampment will stay as long as there is a need for it.

“Until our divestment demands are met, we will not stop,” she said. 

This article represents initial reporting and will be followed shortly with more in depth coverage. If you or anyone you know would like to talk to The Ontarion about your experiences or have questions you would like to see answered, please contact our Editor-in-Chief at tpipe@theontarion.com