McGill removes prof from discipline board, not faculty, after pro-Hamas comments
A McGill University professor has been removed from the school’s student discipline committee after publicly calling for “full economic and military support” for Hamas and Hezbollah.
A McGill University professor has been removed from the school’s student discipline committee after publicly calling for “full economic and military support” for Hamas and Hezbollah. Despite being removed from his role at the school’s discipline committee, he remains a professor at the postsecondary school.
“I used to think BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] was a good idea. I've come around, though: nothing short of "full economic and military support for Hamas and Hezbollah" is appropriate,” wrote William Clare Roberts on August 23, an associate professor of political science at McGill.
Two days later, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs outlined concerns around Roberts’ post.
The Jewish advocacy group said that glorifying and calling for funding to officially recognized terrorist groups raised their concern.
“At a time when anti-Semitism is reaching new heights, it is McGill's duty to ensure that its professors do not amplify hatred of Jews, attack our common values, or encourage terrorist groups under Canadian law,” said the group.
The organization and its French counterpart sent a letter to the university’s president.
“The university must denounce its professor's remarks if they are proven to be true. Exemplary disciplinary measures must then be taken. And accountability must be ensured to prevent such potential support for terrorist groups from, it would seem, obtaining a position on a disciplinary committee,” said CIJA.
The professor revealed he faced consequences almost a month later.
“I’ve been removed from my position on the Committee on Student Discipline at McGill, as demanded by CIJA,” said Roberts.
He claimed that the letter informing him of his dismissal said, “we’re not saying you’re biased.” However, he further claimed that the people said during the Senate meeting that “he’s biased,” “he can’t tell right from wrong,” and “he’s anti-Jewish.”
According to the Montreal Gazette, the university’s senate voted unanimously to remove Roberts from his role.
The report of his removal said that his “publicly expressed personal views may reasonably be perceived, by an objective third party, as compromising his ability to exercise impartial judgment.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs celebrated the McGill Senate’s decision to remove Roberts from his role as co-chair of the disciplinary committee.
“For a faculty member in this position of responsibility to publicly advocate ‘full economic and military support’ for Canadian-listed terrorist entities is not only irresponsible but profoundly dangerous,” said the group. “Actively promoting support for terrorist organizations crosses a clear line into incitement and endorsement of violence that goes far beyond what could be considered acceptable speech, even within the context of academic freedom, and contributes to an already hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students at McGill.”
The Jewish advocacy group called for further measures to be taken by McGill’s administration to hold the professor accountable.
 | A guest post by
|