Aug 15, 2007 04:30 AM
Education Reporter
"Toronto Star"
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/246435
The head of Queen's University is being accused of "hypocrisy" on her home campus for condemning a proposed British boycott of Israel's universities over its treatment of Palestinians.
Principal and vice-chancellor Karen Hitchcock was told her anti-boycott position, matched by several other university presidents in Canada and globally, is a "mischaracterization and defamation of Queen's community members ... who strongly oppose your stance," the Queen's Coalition against Racial and Ethnic Discrimination advised her in a letter this week.
Calling her statement "blatantly political," English literature professor Margaret Pappano said yesterday her QCRED group is angry that it was posted on the Queen's website without prior debate, contrary to the principles of healthy academic discourse.
"There's great hypocrisy in all this," said Pappano. "You can't be silent for years about what's gone on to Palestinian academic freedom and suddenly issue a statement of support for Israeli academic freedom without it having political connotations."
Britain's University and College Union decided in May to consider suspending links with Israeli academic institutions, a step that has been urged by Palestinian groups.
The boycott, which trade-union academics are now debating at the local level, could affect such interactions as student exchanges, publishing of research papers and attendance at conferences.
Those favouring a boycott say Israel's intellectuals and academics have been complicit in their nation's oppression of Palestinians.
A Queen's spokesperson said yesterday the campus group's dissenting letter had been received but that Hitchcock is away.
Her July statement will remain on the website, the spokesperson said.
In it, Hitchcock denounces the boycott as "antithetical to the core value of academic freedom, which is cherished by Queen's and other universities around the world."
She said if the U.K. union pursues its "ill-advised course," it should add Queen's to its boycott list.
Ryerson, York and University of Toronto are among numerous Canadian universities also denouncing the proposed boycott.
"We will not stand by as the very nature of university education is being undermined," said Ryerson president Sheldon Levy.
Joel Duff, Ontario organizer with the Canadian Federation of Students, said his group has not taken a position on the boycott. Student unions at the campus level may choose to consider the proposal once the school year starts, he said.
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