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Statement on PGSS Motions to ā€œStand in Solidarity with Palestineā€

Office of the Deputy Provost, Student Life and Learning | 2 Jul 2024

As some of you may know, a member of the Post-Graduate Studentsā€™ Society (PGSS) has filed a lawsuit against the PGSS, naming ±«ÓćÖ±²„ as an interested party, seeking the nullity of certain motions adopted by the PGSS.

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The motions in question are a PGSS Council motion to ā€œstand in solidarity with Palestineā€ (December 6, 2023), and three motions presented at the PGSS Annual General Assembly numbered 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 (February 7, 2024). ±«ÓćÖ±²„ understands Motion 7.2 is not being implemented by the PGSS and Motion 7.3 has been amended.

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The motions all refer to measures the PGSS resolves to take in connection with what it refers to as ā€œsettler-colonial violence and genocide against the Palestinian peopleā€, including measures that ±«ÓćÖ±²„ considers to be outside the PGSSā€™ jurisdiction and contrary to both PGSSā€™ governing documents and ±«ÓćÖ±²„ā€™s policies.

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The relationship between the PGSS and ±«ÓćÖ±²„ is premised on a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The MoA requires PGSS to respect its core governing documents, including its own bylaws, as well as ±«ÓćÖ±²„ā€™s policies. Failure to do so puts the PGSS in default of its commitments under the MoA

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±«ÓćÖ±²„ā€™s position in the litigation is that, in pursuing the motions at issue, PGSS is acting contrary to its purpose as defined within its governing documents. This in turn is inconsistent with PGSSā€™s responsibilities under its MoA with ±«ÓćÖ±²„, which is the basis for PGSSā€™s relationship with ±«ÓćÖ±²„.

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In addition, ±«ÓćÖ±²„ takes the view that the motions in question contravene the Universityā€™s Policy on Harassment and Discrimination, and this would be a further event of default under the MoA.

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For these and other reasons, ±«ÓćÖ±²„ takes the position that the motions are null and void, and that their implementation would trigger a notice to the PGSS of an event of default in accordance with s. 12.1.2 of the MoA.

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The PGSS has been informed of ±«ÓćÖ±²„ā€™s position.

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±«ÓćÖ±²„ believes in the value of the PGSSā€™ representation of all graduate and postdoctoral students at our university. ±«ÓćÖ±²„ā€™s leadership is continuing to dialogue with the PGSS executive in the hopes of reaching an amical resolution through measures that would avoid having ±«ÓćÖ±²„ note the PGSS in default under the MoA.

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±«ÓćÖ±²„ is on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous peoples whose presence marks this territory on which peoples of the world now gather.

,Ģżand commit to taking action to support local Indigenous communities.

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