McGill University President and Vice Chancellor Deep Saini has released an update regarding the ongoing pro-Palestinian encampment on the university’s grounds. This follows recent police action by the SPVM at McGill University’s administrative building in downtown Montreal that was briefly occupied by the protesters, resulting in the arrests of 15 individuals.
In his message, President Saini detailed a new proposal aimed at addressing the concerns of the encampment representatives. Despite the proposal, the protesters have yet to acknowledge it via their usually active accounts on social media sites.
President Saini’s Message to the Encampment Representatives
A New Proposal to Encampment Representatives
Since the encampment began on April 27, McGill University has made multiple attempts to engage in dialogue with the participating students. Although the protesters walked away from discussions some weeks ago, McGill remains committed to an open and transparent dialogue conducted in good faith. Yesterday, the University shared an updated offer with encampment participants who are members of the McGill community, surpassing previous proposals in both substance and detail.
This ongoing effort to reach a peaceful resolution to the encampment, which has been situated on the lower field for over six weeks, is complemented by the University’s renewed suggestion to appoint a neutral third-party mediator to facilitate discussions.
McGill’s Updated Proposal Includes:
1. Exploration of Divestment from Weapons Manufacturers: McGill University will undertake a review of direct equity investments in entities that derive a significant portion of their revenues from the production of military weapons, regardless of the countries in which they operate. After benchmarking with peer institutions and extensive community consultations, including students, the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility will make a divestment recommendation to McGill’s Board of Governors under a specific, accelerated timeline.
2. Increased Investment Disclosures: Currently, McGill discloses all direct equity and fixed income investments above $500,000. Going forward, these disclosures will also include holdings below $500,000 wherever possible, enhancing transparency.
3. Support for Palestinian Scholarship and Displaced Scholars: McGill will support Palestinian scholarship and leverage the Scholars at Risk program to aid scholars and students displaced or affected by crises in Gaza and the Middle East. This initiative will involve extensive consultations within the university community, including students.
4. Amnesty for Encampment Participants: While the encampment violates university policies, McGill will grant disciplinary amnesty to any student or employee who participated in the encampment before June 15, 2024. However, this amnesty does not cover actions currently under investigation, such as forcible entry into the James Administration Building, property destruction, vandalism, and harassment.
Call for Good-Faith Discussions
McGill University’s revised proposal aligns with its core principles and mission. Similar proposals have successfully resolved and led to the voluntary dismantling of encampments at other universities. President Saini emphasized that achieving a peaceful resolution requires good-faith discussions from both parties. While the university has made substantial offers, encampment representatives have previously declared their demands non-negotiable.
“I urge McGill community members in the encampment to discuss this updated proposal in good faith, through a skilled and impartial mediator, in the hope of reaching a peaceful and satisfactory resolution for all,” President Saini stated.
McGill University continues to advocate for a balanced approach that respects the right to protest while maintaining campus safety and order. The administration remains hopeful that this new proposal will pave the way for constructive dialogue and a mutually agreeable resolution.