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McGill’s administration says the university’s convocation ceremonies for graduating students, many of which are usually held in an outdoor area of campus currently occupied by pro-Palestinian protesters, will go on as planned.
“Convocation is a joyous time when McGill students mark their accomplishments with family and friends,” McGill’s external relations department wrote in an email to The Gazette. “The university will proceed with its ceremonies, so that our graduates have the opportunity they deserve to celebrate this festive occasion. Ceremonies will take place from May 28 to June 5, as planned. Additional information will follow.”
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A pro-Palestinian encampment seeking McGill’s divestment from investment in Israel entered its 12th day on Wednesday. Set up on April 27 and comprising about 100 tents, the protest has become so ensconced on McGill’s grounds next to the Roddick Gates on Sherbrooke St. that full-time inhabitants have developed daily activity schedules that include poetry readings and quilting.
McGill did not say whether the convocation ceremonies would be held in the field next to the encampment, or at another location.
Montreal police continue to monitor the camp but have made it clear any intervention on their part will be based on the camp’s legal situation — an attempt to obtain an injunction barring protesters from being within 100 metres of any of the school’s buildings was refused — and the maintenance of the security for the public and the protesters.
McGill’s administration has offered to meet with the protesters to discuss their demands on the condition they dismantle the encampment, an offer the protesters have refused.
In response to queries about whether McGill intended to act on the fact that the encampment has grown considerably in size over the last two days, if it was pursuing a legal injunction to have the protesters removed, or if it had had talks with the protesters in the last days, the university responded: “We are currently not commenting to media, out of respect for the ongoing discussions.”
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