Concordia students are being asked to vote upon a referendum question which is a rumour. The question asks students to implore the Canadian government from banning students from Iran, Iraq and Libya from taking chemistry courses at Canadian universities.
When the CSU presented the referendum questions, they did not know that the ban was a rumour that the National Post printed, due to false sources. The Canadian government never proposed such a ban.
Former CSU President Sabrina Stea said that the Canadian Student Federation informed Concordia about the possibility of this policy.
The CSU’s Chief Electoral Officer, Jessica Lajambe, who was involved in phrasing the referendum questions said that her job was only to ensure the clarity of the questions so that it could be easily understood by the student body. Her responsibilities include the grammar and sentence structure of the question, but not its content. “Although the ban is a rumour, the referendum question concerning the ban will stay,” Lajambe added.
Patrice Blais, interim CSU president, said that although the ban is not a current policy in Canada, there is still the possibility of its existence in the future. He added that asking this question will enhance the importance of academic freedom around our campus. He hopes that the government will never consider such a ban because of its discriminatory nature.
In an e-mail, Rector Frederick Lowy wrote, “As I understand it, it is in the United States that the possibility of such a ban has been raised. I am not aware of anyone in Canada proposing such action. In my view, Canadian universities, including Concordia, would not support such a ban.”
“It’s still a great question. We want to warn the government: don’t ever consider passing down such a policy,” said Blais.
“It is our responsibility, as a student, to stand against racism and discrimination,” Stea added.
When the CSU presented the referendum questions, they did not know that the ban was a rumour that the National Post printed, due to false sources. The Canadian government never proposed such a ban.
Former CSU President Sabrina Stea said that the Canadian Student Federation informed Concordia about the possibility of this policy.
The CSU’s Chief Electoral Officer, Jessica Lajambe, who was involved in phrasing the referendum questions said that her job was only to ensure the clarity of the questions so that it could be easily understood by the student body. Her responsibilities include the grammar and sentence structure of the question, but not its content. “Although the ban is a rumour, the referendum question concerning the ban will stay,” Lajambe added.
Patrice Blais, interim CSU president, said that although the ban is not a current policy in Canada, there is still the possibility of its existence in the future. He added that asking this question will enhance the importance of academic freedom around our campus. He hopes that the government will never consider such a ban because of its discriminatory nature.
In an e-mail, Rector Frederick Lowy wrote, “As I understand it, it is in the United States that the possibility of such a ban has been raised. I am not aware of anyone in Canada proposing such action. In my view, Canadian universities, including Concordia, would not support such a ban.”
“It’s still a great question. We want to warn the government: don’t ever consider passing down such a policy,” said Blais.
“It is our responsibility, as a student, to stand against racism and discrimination,” Stea added.
