LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Queen's principal condemns boycott
of Israeli universities
Aug. 15
The article about Queen's University Principal Karen Hitchcock's statement on a possible boycott of Israeli universities seems to have misled readers about the position of the Queen's Coalition Against Racial and Ethnic Discrimination; QCRED and Margaret Pappano, the member quoted, did not state support of such a boycott.
The harassment and accusations we've received are troubling; they damage the potential for free and open dialogue.
QCRED's letter, from which the reporter quoted, is explicit: We have called for public forums to discuss the issue.
At the present time, our group is neither pro- nor anti-boycott, but we believe that it serves everyone's interest to have an open discussion on campus.
We disagree with the process whereby Hitchcock unilaterally issued a statement that threatened to have Queen's boycotted by British academics.
We do not believe that the principal should jeopardize the academic careers of students, faculty and staff without their consent.
While we commend Hitchcock's support of academic freedom, we ask her to extend it to all groups, including Palestinians, who have suffered numerous university closures and blockades, the exile of faculty and staff, and routine denial of permits to students to attend university.
We feel that these are also grave threats to academic freedom that require addressing.
Darcel Bullen and Amita Bhatia,
Co-ordinators, Queen's Coalition Against Racial and Ethnic
Discrimination, Kingston, Ont.
Aug 25, 2007 04:30 Am
