A clarification from the Office of the Vice-President Services:
Oct. 4, 2004 – During the summer the Office of the Vice-President Services received an initial request from Hillel to hold a public lecture by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in the Henry F. Hall Building on our downtown Sir George Williams Campus. After a security assessment, this request was denied.
A series of exploratory discussions ensued about this request with various parties who take pride in Ehud Barak’s accomplishments and contributions. At Hillel’s request, we looked seriously at alternative solutions, including the possibility of holding the event at one of two possible venues on our Loyola Campus.
Our Director of Security, Mr. Jean Brisebois, oversaw an evaluation of both sites on the Loyola campus, in collaboration with members of the security forces that would be involved in such an event. It was their collective, professional assessment that the security of the guest speaker, the attendees and faculty and students could not be guaranteed at either location.
The reasons for concluding that the event could not take place at either venue included traffic control on the Loyola campus, the proximity of a residential neighbourhood for which we have a certain institutional consideration to keep in mind, and the location of four separate educational and health and social service facilities, other than the University itself, adjacent to the sites originally proposed.
We at Concordia are cognizant of our responsibility as an institution of higher education to foster free speech and debate on a multitude of issues. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s pioneering record as an international figure standing for conciliation, understanding and negotiation precedes him. These qualities indeed are central to any university’s academic mission.
It is unfortunate, but a reality nonetheless, that the safety of its community members and guests must occupy a central position in planning events at an institution dedicated to free speech. For this reason, the University has proposed to look at a form of co-sponsorship of this event which could be held at one of several appropriate off-campus venues in Montreal that correspond to the security needs that such an event would entail.
Michael Di Grappa
Vice-President, Services
