Entering mediation with protest encampment
A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.
June 28, 2024
Since it emerged on May 13, the University has continually sought to seek an amicable and peaceful end to the protest encampment on the Grad House Green.
As part of our ongoing commitment to continue productive and respectful dialogue we are pleased that we have an agreement to start confidential discussions with members of the encampment facilitated by a mediator.
As the process is confidential the University will only provide further updates that are agreed upon between both parties.
Legal documents
June 25, 2024
In line with our commitment to be transparent in our interactions with encampment protesters, the University is making the legal documents filed today available for our community to read.
Subject to the court’s approval, further documents related to the legal process will be made available publicly through our legal counsel’s website.
Read the Statement of Claim
Read the Notice of Motion
University starts legal process to end encampment
A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.
June 25, 2024
At the end of last week the University of Waterloo issued a legal Trespass Notice to members of the protest encampment on the Grad House Green. The Trespass Notice required the encampment to leave immediately or face consequences in accordance with the Trespass to Property Act.
Unfortunately, the encampment remains in place in violation of Waterloo policies, and the law.
Today, lawyers representing the University served court documents to start a legal process to enforce the Trespass Notice and end the encampment.
The University is seeking an interlocutory injunction to end the encampment. Subject to the court’s approval, documents related to the legal process will be made available publicly through our legal counsel’s website.
University issues legal Trespass Notice
June 21, 2024
Today (Friday, June 21, 2024), the University of Waterloo issued a legal Trespass Notice to members of the OccupyUW encampment that has been in place since May 13 on the Grad House Green.
This notice means that members of the encampment must leave the Grad House Green immediately and must not return the encampment to University property. If they fail to comply, they risk facing consequences consistent with the Trespass to Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. T. 21.
Notice of Trespass
June 21, 2024
To All Encampment Participants,
This is a notice under the Trespass to Property Act, R.S.O.1990, c. T. 21. You are hereby given notice that you are immediately prohibited from:
- Occupying and remaining in the field in front of the Graduate House on the University of Waterloo campus in Waterloo, Ontario (the "Encampment");
- Erecting, installing, or maintaining unauthorized tents, shelters, equipment, or other structures on University of Waterloo property, including in the Encampment;
- Occupying, gathering, or remaining at the University of Waterloo property, including at the Encampment between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. unless specifically authorized; and,
- Gathering for the purpose of an Encampment at the University of Waterloo or in a manner inconsistent with our policies.
Disruption at today’s Board of Governors meeting
A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.
June 18, 2024
At the University’s regularly scheduled Board of Governors meeting earlier today, a sit-in and demonstration by protesters who have set up an encampment on the University's main campus resulted in safety concerns for the staff and Board members present in the senate room. As a result, we requested and received assistance from the Waterloo Regional Police Service.
Today’s action crossed the line from protest to intimidating behaviour and harassment of individuals. This limits our ability to have further constructive dialogue.
Update on dialogue with protest encampment
June 15, 2024
Last week, members of the OccupyUW encampment asked to resume dialogue with University senior administrators after rejecting our most recent invitation to dialogue (on June 5, 2024). Throughout our interactions since the encampment began, the University has aimed to engage with members of the protest movement to:
- productively discuss the concerns that they have raised,
- reach an amicable and peaceful conclusion to the encampment, and
- continue productive and respectful dialogue on the substantive issues long after the encampment ends.
Members of the encampment made it clear that their intention is to continue to demand that the University acts to sever ties with Technion and to divest from and boycott all Israeli organizations. Late this afternoon (Saturday, June 15, 2024) members of the encampment asked us to provide an agenda for the next meeting with senior administrators with a deadline of 12 a.m. on Sunday, June 16, 2024. In response we have provided a message outlining what that University is willing to discuss. So that we remain transparent in our dealings, we are outlining our message below.
Update on our approach to the encampment
A message from James W.E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic and Provost and Jacinda Reitsma, Vice-President, Administration and Finance
June 5, 2024
We last wrote to the community to share an update on the University’s engagements with the members of the protest encampment on May 21. In this update, we continue to provide information to our community in line with our commitment to be transparent in our interactions with encampment protesters.
Sharing our plans on investments and partnerships
A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.
June 3, 2024
For several months, members of the University community have raised and discussed issues related to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The University acknowledges the pain that members of this community are experiencing about what is happening in Gaza and Israel, and victims of armed conflict everywhere. Help resources for people in our community who are struggling are available at the end of this message.
MEMO: Report to Senate on Actions to Address Issues Raised on Investments and Partnerships
May 31, 2024
Dear Senators,
What follows was going to be part of the President’s report scheduled for the June 10th Senate meeting as a follow up to the May Senate questions raised about how Waterloo approaches investments and partnerships.
In light of issues raised with respect to the Special Senate meeting, it is presented here.
For several months, members of the University community have raised and discussed issues related to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The University acknowledges the pain that members of this community are experiencing about what is happening in Gaza and Israel, and victims of armed conflict everywhere.
Update on protest encampment
Statement from Jacinda Reitsma, Vice-President, Administration and Finance and James W.E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic and Provost
May 21, 2024
More than a week ago, we let you know that members of our University and the wider community had come together to form an encampment to protest issues related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. We updated you on our approach to the encampment on Friday, May 17. We remain committed to communicating with the University community transparently as we engage in work on the issues the protestors are raising and as we seek an end to their encampment.
We continue to reiterate our commitment to supporting the right to speak and assemble freely on our campuses. This right requires everyone at Waterloo to act responsibly, to reject intolerance and to remain open to dialogue at all times.
Formal notice to end encampment and remove all structures
May 20, 2024
The encampment located on Grad House Green and associated events (including the May 20 community BBQ event) violate several items listed on our list of prohibited activities (published online and on signs around the campus on Tuesday, May 14, 2024) and also violate various University of Waterloo policies. The following is a non-exhaustive list of University policies of which members of the encampment are, or may be, in violation.
Sharing our approach to the protest encampment
A statement from President Goel
May 17, 2024
I’m writing today to share more information about the University’s approach to communicating with the members of our community who have come together to form an encampment outside the Grad House on main campus.
This group of students and community members has questions related to how the University manages its institutional investments and how we evaluate international partnerships related specifically to Israeli institutions and companies.
I’d like to reiterate our commitment to supporting the right to speak and assemble freely on our campuses. The mission of any University is to advance learning and knowledge through teaching, research, and scholarship. This is not possible unless there is an environment of free expression and free inquiry.
Protest encampment on Grad House green
A message from James W.E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic and Provost and Jacinda Reitsma, Vice-President, Administration and Finance
May 13, 2024
Earlier today, the University became aware that members of our community have come together to form an encampment to protest issues related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. The encampment is on Waterloo’s main campus, on the green space next to the Grad House.
This University strongly supports individual rights to freedom of expression and assembly – this includes the right to demonstrate or protest. The freedom to speak or express yourself and to examine, question, teach and learn are central to our purpose – and we all have a responsibility to uphold these freedoms. We have shared more information on our policies on free expression online.
The gravity of the current conflict weighs heavily on us all, and we must remember that members of our community are affected in many different ways.
How our university responds to world events
A statement from President Goel
October 24, 2023
Our main priority when considering if, when and how the University should respond is our community. We try to centre you, our faculty, staff and students, in everything we do – including responding to world events. But I know that processes or standard practices can always be made better. With this in mind, we will undertake a review of how we make decisions about commenting on world events.
I believe it is essential that we revisit our principles that guide academic freedom, freedom of expression, and the issuing of statements.
Open and constructive dialogue
A memo from President Goel to the campus community about respect and civility
May 4, 2022
Anyone involved in public discourse, novel research, even just opening their email or scrolling their social media feed, has experienced big changes in the level of civility in the conversations we are hearing or observing. This isn’t a new phenomenon, either. Many have written about the growth of cyberbullying, online harassment, and abuse. It’s simply too easy for any of us to write an email, compose a tweet or tap a text message that can harm the recipient.
The consequences of these kinds of behaviours are serious, and real. When the abuse emerges from outside the University, we have a range of supports available to help people manage unwanted and harassing attention.
Waterloo at 100
Throughout 2022, the University set out to develop a vision that would steer our long-term evolution and help us answer: What do we as an institution aspire to be known for by our 100th anniversary in 2057? That vision became the Waterloo at 100 vision paper.
Central to that vision is a commitment to be bold and unconventional as we help shape a better future for humanity and the planet. Free expression is critical in that journey. How we navigate that in a A changing PSE Landscape on Our journey to 2057 will help define our success.