McGill University says it will terminate its formal agreement with the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) following a recent anti-Israel protest and student strike that included vandalism and left students and staff feeling unsafe.
In a message to students, Angela Campbell, interim deputy provost for student life and learning, cited concerns about the student union’s failure to distance itself from protest tactics that violated university policies
“I write today to inform you that the university has made the difficult decision to terminate its current contractual relationship with the Students’ Society of McGill University,” Campbell said in an announcement made April 7.
“Protest is indeed part of university life—our policies and the law protect peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. But vandalism, obstruction, threats and violence do not fall within these protections. They violate our collective values and our policies, and they damage the trust and safety of our community.”
The move comes after a three-day strike from April 2 to 4, organized in response to McGill’s financial investments linked to Israel. During the strike, a protester smashed a glass office door with a fire extinguisher filled with red paint, which was sprayed throughout the space. One staff member was hit directly, and the incident is under police investigation.
“No one at McGill—no student, no staff member, no instructor or faculty member—should ever have to experience this at their place of work or study,” Campbell wrote. “This behaviour is unacceptable, and I denounce it in the strongest possible terms.”
Campbell said SSMU leadership had not been “unanimous nor explicit” in rejecting groups involved in intimidation or vandalism and allowed the strike motion to move forward despite concerns about its legality under the union’s governing documents.
While McGill moves toward dissolving the agreement, a mediation process will begin and is expected to last until June. In the meantime, all SSMU operations—including clubs, services, employment, and University Centre bookings—will continue as normal, the union said in a statement to students.
Elia Nissan, an Emerson Fellow with StandWithUs Canada and co-president of Israel on Campus McGill, says the university’s decision reflects long-standing concerns from Jewish students.
“For months, Jewish students have been raising concerns about the unsafe climate on campus, about the violent antisemitism, and SSMU’s complete failure to uphold its responsibility to represent all students equitably,” Nissan told The Canadian Jewish News.
“So this is a step in the right direction, but one that is definitely, definitely long overdue,” she added. “We do hope, though, that McGill takes this decision not as only a symbolic gesture, but as an opportunity to create meaningful, lasting change.”
SSMU president Dymetri Taylor told the Montreal Gazette that McGill’s termination of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) was unjustified, arguing the student union did not endorse the protest violence and that it followed proper procedures in approving the strike motion.
“When people, students or otherwise, decide to do things on campus, such as break the code of student conduct, vandalism, acts of violence, spraying or hitting someone with a fire extinguisher, those are things that are well beyond our control,” Taylor told the Gazette.
On April 2, an SSMU statement sent to undergraduate students said the student union “strongly encourages students and all members of the community to participate.”
Taylor noted the union is a separate legal entity under federal law and warned that terminating the MOA could result in SSMU vacating the University Centre. That could impact multiple student-run services and organizations, including the Legal Information Clinic, Gerts Bar and Café, and student newspapers.
Jewish organizations, such as B’nai Brith Canada, Federation CJA and Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, denounced the violence on campus last week, which led to students being trapped in classrooms. McGill confirmed that more than 12 classes were cancelled.
“Protest is a protected right—intimidation is not,” wrote B’nai Brith Canada in a social media post, prior to announcing its support of a class-action lawsuit against McGill University, whose prospective representative plaintiff was physically assaulted during a protest at the Bronfman Building in February 2024.
“McGill has failed to hold anyone accountable for the assault—even though it was reported to McGill security and the police—but acknowledged that it constituted a violation of its policies. As a result of this incident and others, the student felt unsafe participating in Jewish life at McGill,” B’nai Brith explained in its statement.
B’nai Brith Canada is supporting a class action lawsuit just initiated against McGill University for failing to adequately protect its students — one of the most significant legal actions ever taken against a Canadian university.
— B'nai Brith Canada (@bnaibrithcanada) April 8, 2025
Since October 7, 2023, @mcgillu has allowed a… pic.twitter.com/Qb4ZND8IPN
Federation CJA and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs pointed to SSMU’s enablement of the campus disruptions. “The SSMU stood by as yet another toxic demonstration overtook McGill’s campus,” the statement read.
Campbell, in her letter to students, said the university’s goal is not to silence dissent but to ensure a safe and inclusive campus environment.
“All students—whatever their identity or politics—deserve to live, learn, and express themselves on a campus free of fear, harassment or violence, where their dignity is respected,” she said.
