A Quebec court has ruled that Concordia Hillel can appeal the suspension of its lawsuit against Concordia University and the Concordia Student Union (CSU).
Hillel filed the $100,000 suit over the former CSU’s decision to impose sanctions on the student group after flyers recruiting for the Israeli army were found on one of their information tables last December. The Canadian Foreign Enlistment Act prohibits recruitment for foreign armed services on Canadian campuses.
Hillel has denied any responsibility for the flyers in question, claiming they were placed on one of their tables without their knowledge or consent.
“I’m very confident we will win the appeal,” said Patrice Blais, chair of the legal committee of the CSU, which was set up by the former executive to deal with the suit. “It’s just a request for an appeal, it’s more of a formality than anything else.”
In late April, Superior Court Judge Francois Belanger suspended the lawsuit, ruling that Hillel should exhaust all its avenues within the system at Concordia before turning to the courts.
Belanger also disagreed with Hillel’s contention that it was being targeted because of its Jewish character, pointing out that a majority of the CSU executive at the time were Jewish themselves.
However, Quebec Court of Appeals Judge Marc Beauregard has decided to allow Hillel to appeal Belanger’s ruling.
Hillel, which is seeking the annulment of all sanctions, an apology, and $100,000 in punitive damages, claims that it was treated “unfairly and in breach of [the CSU’s] own policies all in an effort to shut down the only Jewish group on campus,” according to a press release.
Immediately following the imposition of sanctions, and the subsequent outcry from Hillel and its supporters, the CSU offered to rescind the sanctions and reinstate Hillel’s funding on condition that Hillel sign a statement being circulated to student clubs opposing hate and war. Hillel refused to do so, saying they had done nothing wrong, instead demanding an apology from the CSU.
Hillel continues to push forward with the lawsuit despite the change of guard within the CSU. If it’s successful, the CSU, and thus Concordia students, will be on the hook for the bill.
“Any judge with an iota of common sense will recognize how ridiculous this is,” said Aaron Mat
