An external review has indicated that two protests, which resulted in the arrests of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students last year, were indicative of a "deteriorating campus climate" following the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. The report, led by former Ontario Court of Appeal judge Mary Lou Benotto and lawyer Margot Finley, suggested that unless decisive actions are taken by the institution, similar incidents are likely to occur again.
Following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, university campuses in Canada have emerged as significant sites for protests. Many institutions, including TMU, have grappled with how to manage demonstrations while ensuring the safety and rights of all participants. Some universities have even sought legal interventions to clear protest encampments.
According to the review, one of the protests took place on September 19, during a TMU-hosted Democracy Forum event. The event was intended to feature a discussion with the federal minister of artificial intelligence, Evan Solomon, but was disrupted by members of the Students for Justice in Palestine group. Participants in the protest shouted epithets like "war criminal" and "murderer" towards speakers and members of the audience, ultimately leading to the event being rendered ineffective.
After the disruption, a student protester was arrested for assault following a physical altercation with a security guard. The report characterized the arrest as "reasonable and lawful," although it noted the emotional repercussions and concerns regarding the securitization of the campus raised by students and faculty. The social media portrayal of the arrest, which lacked crucial context and depicted it as a severe instance of "brutalization," contributed to heightened hostility against the involved security personnel.
The report also documented a second incident on November 5, where several protesters were arrested during a disruption of an off-campus event organized by the TMU group Students Supporting Israel, which featured speakers affiliated with the Israel Defense Forces. TMU had previously rejected a request to hold the event on campus due to anticipated disruptions and security risks. Nevertheless, lawful events should not be denied merely because of expected opposition, as highlighted in the review.
The document described how demonstrators from the Students for Justice in Palestine engaged in disruptive behavior, including shouting slogans and surrounding attendees, leading to a broken glass door and injuries. This incident likewise resulted in the cancellation of the event.
The nearly 200-page report concluded that while TMU possesses policies capable of addressing many of the issues raised in the review, there has been a consistent failure to apply these policies effectively. This has contributed to escalating tensions on campus. Among the key recommendations outlined in the report, TMU is encouraged to revise its statement on freedom of speech to explicitly prohibit intimidation, harassment, and behaviors that infringe on others' rights to free expression.
Additional recommendations include establishing clear, content-neutral expectations for protests and ensuring that lawful events are not denied due to anticipated opposition. Furthermore, the report advocates for better regulation of online harassment, intimidation, doxxing, and similar conduct.
The report acknowledges that the university cannot resolve the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, nor can it eliminate divergent feelings of grief, anger, or competing historical narratives. However, it emphasizes that TMU has the capacity to set clear behavioral expectations, safeguard the rights of all community members, and enforce its policies with consistency and transparency.
In response to the findings, TMU President Mohamed Lachemi announced the formation of a task force dedicated to campus expression, antisemitism, and community safety. This task force, chaired by former Ontario Premier Bob Rae, is expected to commence its work in the upcoming weeks and provide an implementation blueprint to the university by March of next year.
The context surrounding these protests is significant, as the October 7 attacks on Israel resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the kidnapping of more than 250. In retaliation, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have resulted in deaths exceeding 72,700, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is governed by Hamas.
