Campus Climate Resources
MESA has created a new Campus Climate resource page for our members in response to academic freedom-related developments on campuses across North America and beyond.
Pinned Story
- Canada
Summer Qur’anic Arabic
University of Toronto Mississauga Language Academy
The university invites applications for the intensive Summer Qur'anic Arabic program offered by Prof. Walid Saleh.
Call for Applications: MESA/ACSS/OIB Summer 2025 Workshop
MESA
The Middle East Studies Association, the Arab Council for the Social Sciences, the Orient Institute in Beirut are organizing a five-day workshop at the American University of Cairo, June 29-July 3. The workshop, which is co-sponsored by AUC, will bring together a select group of doctoral students from North American, German, and Arab universities to discuss the possibilities, critical approaches, epistemological, and practical challenges of undertaking archival and/or ethnographic research in the Arab region.
Letter to York University regarding police disruption of a lecture on campus
Our letter to the president and provost of York University expressing concern about a recent incident involving police disruption of an academic lecture.
Documenting Shifts in Campus Climate in North America
Form for Reporting Changes in Campus Climate and Incidents of Harassment, Intimidation, and Discrimination in North America
Letter to the provost of McGill University
Letter to the provost of McGill University protesting the threat to sanction the Students' Society of McGill University.
MESA Members Vote to Advance BDS Resolution to Full Membership Vote in Early 2022
MESA members vote to put BDS resolution to a referendum by the full membership in early 2022, endorsing Palestinian civil society’s call for solidarity in support of human rights, including the right to education and academic freedom.
Letter to the University of Toronto concerning outside interference in hiring
Letter to the president of the University of Toronto protesting the rescinding of the offer of employment to Dr. Valentina Azarova.
Canadian government’s definition of antisemitism
Letter to Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and Heritage Minister Rodriguez objecting to the flawed definition of antisemitism used by the government's antiracism strategy.
Canadian Government Rejects BDS
Letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and parliamentary leaders regarding the motion passed by Canada's parliament denouncing the BDS movement.
Concern about Response to On-campus Political Advocacy at York University
Letter to York University President Mamdouh Shukri expressing concern about the response to on-campus political advocacy including sanctioning a student by banning him from being on York University property until April 2014.
Concern Over Evaluation of Research Proposal by University of Toronto Professor to Social Science and Humanities Research Council
Letter to Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada President Chad Gaffield expressing concern about his organization's use of a politicized referee's report to evaluate a research proposal submitted by University of Toronto Professor Jens Hanssen.
Pressure on Faculty Expressing Solidarity with McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association Strike
Letter to McGill University administrators for pressure put on members of its faculty who have expressed solidarity with the strike called by the McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA).
Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism July 2011 Report that Loosely Defines Antisemitism
Response to the July 7, 2011, Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA) report whose loose and overly broad definition of antisemitism may threaten freedom of speech and violate the principles of academic freedom by defining criticism of Israeli policies, of Zionism or of Israel as a self-defined Jewish state as inherently antisemitic.
Canadian Legislators’ Remarks over Masters Thesis Disregarding Academic Freedom
Remarks by two members of Ontario’s Legislative Assembly, and by Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, with regard to the contents of a thesis accepted by a master’s program at the University of Toronto. These assertions inappropriately conflate criticism of Zionism and Israel with anti-Semitism. They also evince a disregard for the principles of academic freedom and threaten the autonomy of Canadian universities.
Response from the Office of the Hon. Gary Goodyear to June 19, 2009 letter
Response from the Office of the Hon. Gary Goodyear to June 19, 2009 letter regarding a second review of the grant-in-aid secured from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Gary Goodyear request for a second review of the grant-in-aid
Three letters sent regarding the request by the Minister of State (Technology and Science) Gary Goodyear for a second review of the grant-in-aid secured from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The grant helped fund the York University conference, Israel/Palestine: Mapping Models of Statehood and Paths to Peace. The three letters were sent to Minister Gary Goodyear, SSHRC President Chad Gaffield, and York University President Mamdouh Shoukri. [A reply from Minister Goodyear’s office received June 22, 2009.]