This story was updated on Dec. 12 at 1:43 p.m.
The Board of Trustees held its final meeting of the calendar year on Dec. 6 in Richardson Hall.
While inside were addressing financial issues and campus geopolitical tensions, students gathered outside following a sit-in at Gordon Hall earlier that day, demanding updates from the Responsible Investment Committee.
READ MORE: Students stage protest at Registrar’s Office demanding divestment updates
The meeting opened with remarks from the new Chair of the Board of Trustees, David Court, Comm ’79, who addressed two significant events.
Court reflected on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, commemorating the tragic events of Dec. 6, 1989, when an armed man, targeting female engineering students, killed 14 women and injured 13 others at Polytechnique Montréal. Court also paid tribute to Chancellor Emeritus Murray Sinclair who ed away on Nov. 4, recognizing his lifelong contributions to reconciliation through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. A moment of silence was observed to honour both.
READ MORE: Queen’s re Chancellor Emeritus Murray Sinclair
The Board took a moment to celebrate Deputy Provost Teri Shearer, who’s retiring at the end of 2024 after 27 years of working at the University.
Principal’s Reports
Echoing Court’s words, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane argued that universities often perceive themselves as privileged spaces, operating separately from the turbulence of the broader world. However, events such as the Montréal Massacre and Chancellor Murray Sinclair’s work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission remind us of the deep entanglement of educational institutions with societal structures.
Deane addressed the Board, noting that local and global political upheavals have rocked universities worldwide in recent years. Many institutions, including Queen’s earlier this year, have adopted a stance of institutional neutrality. While this neutrality assumes a privileged detachment from societal conflicts, it has been “rightly” criticized, according to Deane.
READ MORE: Patrick Deane establishes guidelines on institutional responses to global events
“Earlier this fall, Queen’s indicated we wouldn’t take a position on political issues, not because we are, or could ever be, properly speaking, neutral on issues that affect humanity in the world. I hope we’re never neutral on those things, but because our values articulate themselves in respect for the plurality of perspectives and positions that must express themselves as the institution as a whole works to advance the greater good,” Deane said.
He emphasized upholding this mission requires careful consideration, urging trustees to remain mindful of the role and sensitivity of higher education. Deane warned that misinterpretation of this mission could have lasting consequences for the institution’s long-term viability.
Student Reports
Rector Niki Boytchuk-Hale began her report by reflecting on her seven months in office, describing her role as filled with both joy and challenges. She expressed gratitude to University counsellors for their contributions toward addressing food insecurity on campus. She highlighted a student leader she participated in this fall, which raised over $2,200 for the AMS Food Bank.
“Their contributions that afternoon amounted to $2,228 and this not only helps the food bank buy more groceries, but importantly, I think, is that when students can see that alumni are looking out for them in this way, it makes them feel more ed and less alone,” Boytchuk-Hale said.
Boytchuk-Hale expressed confidence that the University will successfully implement its institutional vision in the next 15 years, emerging stronger. However, she raised concerns about the process of achieving this vision, particularly regarding whose voices are included and valued in shaping the University’s future.
In his report, AMS President Owen Rocchi provided an update on the delayed move-in date for the JDUC building, which has faced multiple construction setbacks. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, he stated the AMS is working with Queen’s marketing and communications to announce the building’s availability once ready.
READ MORE: Another JDUC move-in delay causes AMS to withhold setting a firm timeline
“One thing I’d like to remind you all, one thing I always like to bring up when speaking about the JDUC, is that this is the result of almost a decade of student advocacy—many people have come before me to advocate for this to happen,” Rocchi said.
Later in the meeting, Vice-Principal (Finance and istration) Donna Janiec updated Rocchi, noting that the previously existing areas in the JDUC had gained occupancy as of the Board meeting date. However, the new-build areas—including the Agora and retail spaces—remain without a definitive timeline for occupancy.
Queen’s Coalition Against Anti-Semitism Report
Professors Michael Greenspan and Samuel Silver addressed the Board of Trustees to highlight antisemitism on campus. They described the increasing harassment and threats faced by Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
Greenspan, who has been at Queen’s for over two decades, described the experience of confronting antisemitism on campus as deeply troubling.
“In my wildest imagination, I never would have thought that 23 years later, I would be addressing the Board of Trustees on the subject of antisemitism on campus,” Greenspan said.
Silver shared examples of exclusion, harassment, and bullying within the academic environment, recounting personal experiences of panic and trauma while navigating the campus. He mentioned having a panic attack on his way to the meeting and highlighted the University’s failure to provide security to ensure safe entry into the building. He cited this as one of many exclusionary practices in the workplace, further emphasizing the physical and emotional toll on Jewish faculty .
Court later apologized on behalf of the Board for their oversight in ensuring member’s safety when entering the building.
READ MORE: Antisemitic incidents occur on and off Queen’s campus
Greenspan and Silver proposed specific actions to address the issue, urging the Board to consider improving security and reporting processes for antisemitic incidents.
They also called for the appointment of a special advisor on antisemitism to work directly with University istration and recommended an external review of current policies—similar to the Henry Report, a 2004 report highlighting systemic racism towards faculty of colour and Indigenous faculty at Queen’s—to better understand and combat antisemitism on campus.
The professors concluded by calling for a zero-tolerance policy towards antisemitism, underlining the urgency of addressing this issue to create a safe and welcoming environment for all of the Queen’s community.
Sheila Murray, Law ’82, thanked Greenspan and Silver for attending the Board of Trustees meeting, acknowledging their efforts to address difficult issues and propose solutions for improvement.
Corrections
A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that Chancellor Rogers thanked Professors Greenspan and Silver instead of Sheila Murray.
The Journal regrets the error
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