The union representing academic workers at McMaster University says three students who are also connected to the labour group have been banned from campus activities after they participated in a pro-Palestinian protest earlier this year.
The students are elected leaders with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3906. CUPE 3906 said on social media late last week they each received a notice from the Hamilton university that they have been declared “persona non grata.”
According to McMaster’s Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities, that designation is given to someone who is “denied the privilege” of entering specific parts of the university.
“If PNG individuals are found or seen in the area they are denied, then they will be subject to a charge by Security Services under the Trespass to Property Act,” the policy states.
CUPE 3906 said the status effectively bans the students from participating in campus activities, ranging from extra curriculars to any protests, but they can attend classes. At least one of the students confirmed to CBC Hamilton by email he had received the notice from McMaster.
In its online post, CUPE 3906 said the school is hoping to “use police violence to silence resistance to its complicity in the ongoing genocide in Palestine.”
Status given when person poses ‘potential risk,’ says McMaster
It’s unclear how often McMaster declares students persona non grata.
In an emailed statement to CBC Hamilton, McMaster spokesperson Michelle Donovan said the university would not speak to specific cases of “those who are being brought through the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities” process.
She added that the status applies when a student has been found to violate the code. The code lists activities which constitute a violation, including engaging in threatening behaviours or communications, failing to comply with safety regulations, failing to cooperate with university officials, trespassing and causing disturbances.
“A PNG notice is given if there are concerns, based on the evidence of the case, that an individual poses a potential risk to campus or members of the campus community,” she wrote.
The pro-Palestinian protest at McMaster was one of several similar protest encampments on post-secondary campuses in Canada and the United States earlier this year. They were united in calling on institutions to divest from companies and organizations with ties to Israel. Some saw universities file injunctions on demonstrators, issue trespass notices or police crack down on protesters.
Around the world, students are calling on their universities to ‘disclose and divest’ their investments in companies and organizations linked to Israel. Andrew Chang explains why many universities are rejecting those calls and how past divestment movements have laid the groundwork for today’s protests.
The protest encampment at McMaster formed in response to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, where more than 40,000 people have been killed as of August, according to local health authorities.
The protest grew within a week to have over 100 people and close to 70 tents, with daily activities and speakers. It ended in May after two-and-a-half weeks.
At the time, organizers said they’d come to an agreement with McMaster which included commitments around transparency about its investments and human rights considerations in international agreements that the university is involved in.
Rally planned Tuesday afternoon
One of the students who says he received the notice is Mason Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick is the union’s vice president. He said the other two include the co-chair of a tenant solidarity working group and the chair of a working group on funding for graduate students.
Fitzpatrick told CBC Hamilton he was involved in the encampment as a camper and a union representative. He and others with CUPE 3906 were planning to speak out about the decision Tuesday afternoon at a rally just off campus.
“We will not be intimidated. We will not back down. This move by the university only serves to clarify the need for workers to stand against imperialism,” CUPE 3906 said on Instagram.
“We will use all means available to us to fight for the right to protest and look forward to seeing our members back on campus.”