Last week, two McGill University students faced a disciplinary hearing after allegedly violating the school’s code of conduct during a rally for striking support staff workers.
The two students were initially charged for disturbing traffic during the demonstration, but the charges were dropped Oct. 29 due to a lack of conclusive evidence.
While 30 students participated in this protest, only two students, both of whom are elected members of McGill’s students’ association, were singled out and threatened with disciplinary action.
Many have seen this as an attempt to punish students for supporting the striking McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA) workers.
Although this claim can’t be proven, the way the school targeted two specific students — both involved in student politics — makes the situation appear to be about more than just a code of conduct violation.
This is particularly true since one student claims he wasn’t even at the rally where the alleged violation occurred.
Regardless, it’s a student’s right to support a cause as an individual — especially at universities, which are intended as places of dialogue.
When Aramark employees went on strike in 2010, Carleton students wore stickers supporting their cause without worrying about repercussions. McGill should’ve followed this example.
Although it’s good the charges were dropped, they really shouldn’t have been issued at all.
One of the two students is now demanding a public apology from university officials, according to the Montreal Gazette. This is an apology he certainly deserves.