UOSU Motion

Palestinian activism at universities is not only directed at the students, but is also aimed at organizations and administrative authorities who can make an institutional impact in support of the cause. In practice, this would include doing things like putting out a statement of solidarity with Palestine, or divesting from Israeli investments (i.e BDS). The latter tends to be an important goal for clubs such as our own.

While acts such as these might not have a massive direct impact on the occupation, the symbolic power of taking such a stance cannot be underestimated. It sends a message to Israel that the world is watching and will not stand idle as it illegally and brutally continues to occupy Palestine. 

uOttawa has historically been one of the more difficult and uncooperative Canadian universities when it comes to a discussion on the occupation. While even the BDS motion has been passed altogether at McMaster University, uOttawa not only remains stubbornly silent on the oppression of Palestinians despite the voice of the students, but the president even put out a statement making his position clear, the University of Ottawa WILL NOT divest from Israel and that he does not support BDS.

Photo of statement

That being said however, uOttawa students do have some cause to rejoice. The student counterpart to the uOttawa administration, the UOSU, decided to take matters into its own hands. Consisting of members from the student community itself, the union recently passed a symbolic but comprehensive motion adopting a firm position squarely in support of Palestine after the events of the past months. In its position paper, the UOSU skathingly calls out Israel for its role in the recent campaign of forced expulsion of the residents Sheikh Jarrah, for the unpresented attack on protestors and forced entering of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and most importantly, for the murdering of over 200 people in Gaza. The motion does not hold back and calls out the Israeli regime for what it really is, apartheid. 

Not only does it call out Israel, but the motion goes further and even asks the university to divest from Israeli companies complicit in the occupation. While this stops short of endorsing a full boycott of Israeli products and exchanges, nevertheless it sends a strong message to uOttawa that he students will not stand by its silence and complacency. We appreciate and welcome the UOSU's resolve to show solidarity, but this is only just the beginning. As long as the uOttawa administration remains pro-Israel rather than pro-human rights, we will continue to raise our voices.