On October 31, demonstrators at the University of Calgary (UofC) disrupted a lecture by Israel’s former spokesperson, Eylon Levy. The event, organized by StandWithUs Canada, was attended by about 15 students, including non-Jewish participants. However, it quickly descended into chaos as anti-Israel protesters, chanting slogans like “From the River to the Sea” and “Eylon, you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide,” blocked the main entrance to the classroom. Protesters forced attendees to evacuate the building through a back entrance, and Levy was harassed on his way to the car. This marks a troubling moment for academic discourse and safety on Canadian campuses.
Levy, who has spoken on numerous campuses around the globe, described this as a uniquely hostile experience unlike anything he had encountered before. Such behavior is a red flag, not just for the University of Calgary, but for academic institutions across Canada. The normalization of hostility and intimidation on campuses undermines the very principles of intellectual diversity and free expression, making it imperative for universities to take concrete action to prevent such incidents in the future.
While the university has stated its commitment to academic freedom and its policies on hosting private events, its actions fell far short of ensuring the safety and security of attendees. Despite prior awareness of the potential for disruption, the university relied on limited security measures that proved insufficient to prevent demonstrators from infiltrating the building or harassing participants. The failure to take stronger precautions, such as securing an undisclosed location or implementing more robust protections, underscores a lack of preparedness and prioritization of student and speaker safety.
Canadian campuses are increasingly becoming battlegrounds where intimidation silences free expression, and this incident is emblematic of a broader, troubling trend. The University of Calgary’s response, citing adherence to academic freedom, fails to address the core issue: the university had both the capacity and the responsibility to prevent this from happening.
Universities are meant to be bastions of free thought and rigorous debate, not places where threats and disruption drown out ideas. The administration must be held accountable for this failure, and concrete measures must be implemented to prevent a recurrence. From improving security to establishing clearer protocols for hosting sensitive events, there are tangible steps that can and should be taken to protect the right to speak freely while ensuring the safety of all participants.
This incident should serve as a red flag not only for the University of Calgary but for all Canadian academic institutions. The normalization of such hostility on campuses is unacceptable. Academic institutions must reaffirm their commitment to intellectual diversity and inclusivity while holding those who disrupt this mandate accountable. Only then can they maintain their role as spaces for constructive dialogue and the exchange of ideas.
Following the incident, a letter was sent to the University of Calgary’s President, Dr. Edward McCauley, requesting details on actions to hold those responsible accountable and to prevent future occurrences.
Concern Regarding Disruption of Academic Freedom at the University of Calgary by True North on Scribd
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Dr. Dotan Rousso was born and raised in Israel and holds a Ph.D. in Law—he is a former criminal prosecutor in Israel. He lives in Alberta and teaches Philosophy at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
