There are pervasive safety concerns for Palestinian and Arab students on Carleton University’s campus, a recent student association report says.
Respondents cited hate speech, harassment and microaggressions as forms of discrimination they’ve faced, according to the recent Carleton University Students’ Association report. Many respondents expressed concerns about campus safety services, faculty members and students alike.
The report — unveiled on CUSA’s social media on May 27 after compiling 61 undergraduate student responses — also asked the university to divest from companies tied to human rights violations and implement mandatory anti-Arab and Palestinian discrimination training for Carleton staff.
“We’ve heard from Arab students, Palestinian students and students in general of all ethnicities and religions who are affected by this conflict, that there is a serious issue here at Carleton,” said Aidan Kallioinen*, CUSA’s vice-president (student issues).
Of the 61 respondents, 28 students reported being victims of anti-Arab and Palestinian discrimination on campus, with 46 students reporting they have witnessed such behaviour.
More than 65 per cent of respondents agreed that instances of racism and discrimination are growing on campus, particularly towards Muslims and those who wear hijabs.
Around 85 per cent of respondents agreed that pro-Palestinian activists face greater barriers to advocate on campus compared to other human rights campaigns.
“Palestinian students face erasure, they face silencing, and they face hostility,” said Nir Hagigi, a representative for the coalition Carleton 4 Palestine.
Carleton 4 Palestine’s primary goal is to see the university divest from companies tied to human rights violations, Hagigi said.
Hagigi added pressing for divestment is one of the most direct ways students can hold Carleton accountable.
“Our tuition money goes to investments,” he said. “We don’t want our tuition money funding violence.”
Hagigi said he sees the report as a foundation and launch pad to keep organizing, educating and pushing the university to make structural changes.
“Carleton prioritizes the safety and well-being of all members of its community and is committed to providing an inclusive environment free from discrimination, violence and harassment,” the university wrote in a June 4 email statement to the Charlatan.
The statement added that despite not receiving a copy of the publicly-available CUSA report yet, it has “maintained a responsible investing policy for over a decade and is a proud signatory of the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investing.”
The Charlatan previously reported the university has allegedly invested more than $67 million in companies tied to Israeli settlement activity on occupied Palestinian territory, as identified by a United Nations report in 2023 and the international humanitarian organization American Friends Service Committee’s database.
“My hope is that this report starts to foster some productive conversations with the university and opens us up to further discussions,” Kallioinen said.
He added that the report is “ideally” updated annually or semi-annually as CUSA tracks students’ concerns with more surveys and whether the university has acted on its recommendations.
“[Let’s] start getting down to making sure students feel safe on campus and that their advocacy is protected.”
*Aidan Kallioinen has contributed to the Charlatan.
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji
