A member of Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA) has filed an assault complaint with Ottawa police against Carleton’s director of university safety, Allan Burns.
Cody d’Entremont, a second-year public affairs and policy management student, said the complaint was the result of an incident with Burns at Carleton’s Board of Governors meeting April 26.
D’Entremont and his friends had not registered to attend the meeting, in which the board decided against adopting the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, but still gained access to the Senate Room, he said.
Upon making it through security, d’Entremont said he and his friends assumed they were welcome until Jacques Shore, chair of the board, started to yell at them. At this time, president Roseann Runte told them to call in or use webinar to gain access to the meeting, he said.
“Only board members were permitted in the Senate Room,” said Jason MacDonald, Carleton’s director of university communications. “However, the public, members of the Carleton community and other interested parties were able to participate in the meeting by dialing-in by phone to the meeting and by webinar. A small group of students entered the room, were informed that in-person participation was limited to board members, and after discussion, left, presumably to participate by phone and/or webinar.”
As he left, d’Entremont said he saw campus security and Ottawa police officers.
“When I saw police officers in the room I was really shocked and surprised because it [seemed] really excessive,” d’Entremont said.
D’Entremont said he pulled out his camera to “show what lengths the Board of Governors are trying to suppress participation.” According to d’Entremont, Burns then grabbed his hand and his phone, twisted his wrist backwards and asked if he wanted to lose his phone.
He said after replying “no”, Burns pushed him in the back for him to leave and d’Entremont didn’t resist.
Burns said via e-mail that in light of the actions taken by SAIA at the March 29 board meeting and indications that similar actions may be taken again, “the university took appropriate security measures to ensure the board would be able to meet and conduct its business as required.”
The March 29 board meeting was cancelled due to protesters.
D’Entremont said his attendance at the meeting April 26 was not part of a protest. He said he was attending as a student simply looking for transparency.
“I didn’t feel welcome on my own campus where I’m supposed to give back to the Carleton community . . . the campus security in the elevators, doorways — it’s just very excessive,” said d’Entremont.
According to d’Entremont, the ombudsman advised him to go to Ottawa police because internally, there is no current standard to pursue a complaint against the head of security.
D’Entremont said he filed an assault complaint with Ottawa police and they will be investigating Burns in the coming weeks. Ottawa police has not confirmed or denied any complaints, charges, or an investigation.
Burns declined to comment further.
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