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Edited by: TJVNews.com
The Quebec government announced last Tuesday that it would investigate allegations of anti-Semitism at two junior colleges in Montreal—Dawson College and Vanier College—following a series of complaints about campus harassment. Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry emphasized the importance of ensuring a secure and inclusive environment for all students. “The climate on some campuses seems to have deteriorated in recent months,” Déry stated, adding, “We know that the conflict in the Middle East generates its share of emotions. But institutions have an obligation to take all necessary measures to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all students.” According to a recently published report on the Jewish News Syndicate web site, the investigation seeks to address growing concerns over hate speech and student safety.
One of the complaints submitted to the Higher Education Department in June detailed multiple allegations of harassment and anti-Semitism on Dawson College’s campus. According to the report on JNS, the complaint, filed on behalf of a Dawson student, pointed to incidents including the distribution of materials by a faculty group known as “Teachers for Palestine.” These handouts reportedly advocated for an arms embargo on Israel. “Since the month of October 2023, our client and many other students have been faced with numerous incidents of overtly anti-Semitic content, hate speech, harassment, and abuse on the Dawson campus,” the complaint read. The detailed allegations have fueled significant concern among Jewish organizations and community members, as was reported by JNS.
The Dawson Teachers’ Union responded strongly to the investigation, labeling the accusations cited by Déry as “inaccurate.” The union insisted that the college’s educators are adhering to all ministerial and departmental guidelines. “Any suggestion otherwise is false and inappropriate,” the group asserted. Meanwhile, Dawson College’s administration defended its decisions, particularly regarding a controversial campus shutdown on Nov. 21. The closure followed the announcement of city-wide protests against Israel. Jewish organizations criticized the move, accusing the college of yielding to what they described as “extremist voices.” However, Dawson College stated on Dec. 3 that it is confident it has “acted appropriately throughout these challenging times,” according to the information provided in the JNS report.
Vanier College also responded to the investigation announcement with surprise, asserting that no internal complaints had been received that would justify such an inquiry. As the JNS report indicated, Vanier College expressed its commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment but questioned the necessity of the government’s review. The conflicting narratives from the colleges, students, and advocacy groups call attention to the complexity of addressing anti-Semitism on campuses amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
The investigation comes at a time when educational institutions worldwide are grappling with the impacts of the ongoing Middle East conflict on campus discourse. As per the information in the JNS report, the Quebec government’s decision signals a broader recognition of the need to balance freedom of expression with ensuring that campuses remain spaces free from hate and harassment. For Jewish students and organizations, the government’s intervention represents a critical step toward accountability and addressing longstanding concerns about anti-Semitism in academia.
