With less than a month to go before the executive complete their mandate, the Concordia Student Union council of representatives is divided about how to tackle one of the last items on their to-do list before exams start.
At the last regular council of representative’s meeting, held on Nov. 14, VP Internal Laith Marouf asked council to approve funding for a lawsuit against B’nai Brith.
Marouf said that Julius Grey, a prominent human rights lawyer, would take on the case upon being provided with a $2,500 retainer. It is estimated the case would cost the union between $25,000 to $30,000.
Marouf is adamant that legal action commence this Friday, and pressed council to make an immediate decision.
When VP Outreach Benoit Desgreniers asked why it was so urgent, Marouf responded: “You have the election starting next week. Personally, my visa is ending soon and I need to move on this.”
Marouf, who was banned from campus in August, is in Canada on a diplomatic visa that expires in December. His ability to renew his visa is contingent on his regaining student status.
“If we pass this I think we’re violating our own electoral rules,” said councillor and presidential candidate Tom Keefer.
Keefer added that if the upcoming elections are a factor influencing the speed at which a decision is reached, they could be rendered contestable.
The tension became palpable and a difference in priorities became evident as the discussion progressed.
“I don’t think this is just self-interest, [but] I think the key legal battle that has to be resolved is whether or not the university is going to be allowed to expel student union representatives with no trial, with no due process,” said Keefer.
Marouf retaliated. “Personally [I think] it’s more important than you and me back in school, Tom, because that is a personal issue. What I’m fighting for is not a personal issue.”
Council approved the original motion to initiate a lawsuit against B’nai Brith in a special meeting of council held Oct. 24, but was concerned about the size of the legal bills such action could incur.
Interim President Patrice Blais was assigned to investigate the cost. “Somehow I’m really wondering if we’ve [Blais and Marouf] been in the same meeting with the same lawyer at the same time. We definitely have a very different understanding of that meeting,” said Blais. “If we take a final decision tonight, we might shoot ourselves in the foot big time.”
Marouf first introduced the motion to sue B’nai Brith because he says they made racist, libelous, and defamatory remarks about this year’s student handbook and members of the CSU.
Of the handbook, executive director of B’nai Brith Canada, Frank Dimant, asked: “Is this a blueprint for Osama bin Laden’s youth program in North America?”
At the same Oct. 2 press conference, the organization also called for a police investigation into those who “promote violence, hatred, and civil disobedience.”
While many on council support legal action, councillors balked when they were not presented with a hard copy of a specific motion to vote on, or of information regarding the cost.
Marouf hastily penned a motion on a piece of paper, but it was not good enough.
While the original motion passed in October named B’nai Brith as the sole respondent, Marouf wants it amended to include other groups like the university administration and The Suburban newspaper.
Council did not approve of funding the lawsuit for want of more concrete and specific information. The situation has been referred to council’s financial committee and a special meeting of council has been scheduled for Nov. 21, when a final decision is expected.
“If we fast-track the process and we’re not doing it right, then it’s going to hinder our chances of winning, and in such a case against B’nai Brith its going to be a [our] lawyer against 25 lawyers and they’re going to do it pro bono,” said Blais. “I am personally in favour of suing B’nai Brith. I think that we need to do it but we need to do it properly.”
At the last regular council of representative’s meeting, held on Nov. 14, VP Internal Laith Marouf asked council to approve funding for a lawsuit against B’nai Brith.
Marouf said that Julius Grey, a prominent human rights lawyer, would take on the case upon being provided with a $2,500 retainer. It is estimated the case would cost the union between $25,000 to $30,000.
Marouf is adamant that legal action commence this Friday, and pressed council to make an immediate decision.
When VP Outreach Benoit Desgreniers asked why it was so urgent, Marouf responded: “You have the election starting next week. Personally, my visa is ending soon and I need to move on this.”
Marouf, who was banned from campus in August, is in Canada on a diplomatic visa that expires in December. His ability to renew his visa is contingent on his regaining student status.
“If we pass this I think we’re violating our own electoral rules,” said councillor and presidential candidate Tom Keefer.
Keefer added that if the upcoming elections are a factor influencing the speed at which a decision is reached, they could be rendered contestable.
The tension became palpable and a difference in priorities became evident as the discussion progressed.
“I don’t think this is just self-interest, [but] I think the key legal battle that has to be resolved is whether or not the university is going to be allowed to expel student union representatives with no trial, with no due process,” said Keefer.
Marouf retaliated. “Personally [I think] it’s more important than you and me back in school, Tom, because that is a personal issue. What I’m fighting for is not a personal issue.”
Council approved the original motion to initiate a lawsuit against B’nai Brith in a special meeting of council held Oct. 24, but was concerned about the size of the legal bills such action could incur.
Interim President Patrice Blais was assigned to investigate the cost. “Somehow I’m really wondering if we’ve [Blais and Marouf] been in the same meeting with the same lawyer at the same time. We definitely have a very different understanding of that meeting,” said Blais. “If we take a final decision tonight, we might shoot ourselves in the foot big time.”
Marouf first introduced the motion to sue B’nai Brith because he says they made racist, libelous, and defamatory remarks about this year’s student handbook and members of the CSU.
Of the handbook, executive director of B’nai Brith Canada, Frank Dimant, asked: “Is this a blueprint for Osama bin Laden’s youth program in North America?”
At the same Oct. 2 press conference, the organization also called for a police investigation into those who “promote violence, hatred, and civil disobedience.”
While many on council support legal action, councillors balked when they were not presented with a hard copy of a specific motion to vote on, or of information regarding the cost.
Marouf hastily penned a motion on a piece of paper, but it was not good enough.
While the original motion passed in October named B’nai Brith as the sole respondent, Marouf wants it amended to include other groups like the university administration and The Suburban newspaper.
Council did not approve of funding the lawsuit for want of more concrete and specific information. The situation has been referred to council’s financial committee and a special meeting of council has been scheduled for Nov. 21, when a final decision is expected.
“If we fast-track the process and we’re not doing it right, then it’s going to hinder our chances of winning, and in such a case against B’nai Brith its going to be a [our] lawyer against 25 lawyers and they’re going to do it pro bono,” said Blais. “I am personally in favour of suing B’nai Brith. I think that we need to do it but we need to do it properly.”
