When I first applied to Toronto Metropolitan University, I was ecstatic to start a new chapter. I knew that university was life-changing, marking the beginning of a transformative time for me. I quickly pressed the acceptance to my application without a second thought. I was shocked to find out that there were so many on campus who perceived me as second-class as a Jew and as a Zionist. A school filled with people's constant harassment opened my eyes to truly experience fear as a university student.
One particular egregious example was what I saw on May 2021, when the School of Disability Studies issued a their "Statement of Solidarity with the Palestinian People." It was so filled with falsehoods, blood libels, and absurd allegations against Israel that it looked like a paint-by-numbers UNRWA classroom assignment.
The authors accuse Israel of "indiscriminate bombing of Gaza" and "brutalizing Palestinians" – neither of which is anywhere true. They write that "Israeli law systematically discriminates against Palestinian citizens of Israel," which, of course, has no basis in truth since the law is applied equally across the board. Most bafflingly, they "assert that Palestine is a feminist, queer, and disability justice issue." Trust me when I say this, but this is the most upside-down thing I've ever read. Feminists and queers certainly would be free to express their identities and views openly in the Palestinian territories but would count themselves lucky if they safely made it back to Canada.
The article's portrayal of Israel as engaging in "brutal settler colonial violence and ethnic cleansing" echoes classic antisemitic tropes. This, again, was clearly meant to do what human rights advocate Natan Sharansky describes as the 3Ds: delegitimize, demonize, and hold Israel to a double standard.
In my view, there were not only strong undertones of antisemitism, but this made me feel alienated from the very university I decided to spend four years of my life in. This rhetoric contributes to the hostile environment Jewish students experience daily. For Jewish students attending Toronto Metropolitan, the thought of an entire program calling for the disappearance of your existence is quite unsettling.
It is clearly stated in the article no two sides exist – only theirs. The university claims to support inclusivity and acceptance for all, but it is impossible to ignore the glaring inconsistency between its stated ideals and the opinions in the article.
Such divisive rhetoric is heartbreaking to see in a university setting, where conversation and critical thinking are meant to be encouraged. The program's position increases animosity rather than promoting understanding and empathy.
Toronto Metropolitan University must reaffirm its commitment to promoting an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually diverse environment where all students, regardless of their background in culture or religion, feel respected, and this especially includes a vulnerable population under threat: Jewish students. It's time for the university administration and the student body at large to speak loudly and clearly and show its support for Jewish students on campus.
