An Open Letter to the St. Francis Xavier University Administration:

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” - Desmond Tutu (Prominent South African figure who fought against apartheid) 

As students, we’ve become increasingly concerned by the lack of response from the St. Francis Xavier University Administration concerning the genocide occurring in Palestine. Remaining neutral and choosing not to acknowledge the role of Israel as a violent colonial state engaged in genocide in this situation puts St. Francis Xavier University on the side of the oppressor.

If we as a campus community choose to take stances against colonialism, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia and xenophobia, then we as a campus community should stand publicly in solidarity with Palestine and Palestinians against the genocide. 

To illustrate our point that St. Francis University Xavier is currently holding a double standard when it comes to our stance on settler colonialism, let’s look at an excerpt from the “Why do we Recognize the Land” section of the St. Francis Xavier University website (https://tinyurl.com/2fszk27c).

• Under the title “Things to remember when delivering a land acknowledgement”, we are instructed to use “appropriate language” that does not “sugarcoat”. The examples given are “genocide, stolen land, forced removal of Mi’kmaq people”: is this not reminiscent of the vocabulary we have been encouraged to use as an international community in the context of Palestine? How is the situation in Palestine not deserving of this response? Palestinians need us to speak truth to power and we are not answering that call appropriately. We need to change that. St.FX University’s land acknowledgements and anti-colonial statements are nothing but performative if we can’t apply a decolonization lens to this issue.
• Thus, the St.FX Students for Palestine ask: How can we take this important stance against settler-colonialism in Canada when we can’t even speak truth to power in solidarity with Palestine? This is a question we should be asking ourselves as a campus community and as a university administration. 

Additionally, in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, St. Francis Xavier University immediately released a statement through email on February 24, 2022 (only days later). Let’s look at some excerpts from this email sent by President Andy Hakin: 

• He stated that “Russia’s invasion [...] represents an attack on all democratic nations around the world”: Dr. Hakin, is the colonial occupation of Palestine not representative of an attack on all democratic nations around the world too? If it isn’t, then why not?
• Despite having no knowledge of any students from Ukraine at St.FX in February 2022, Hakin emphasized the importance of expressing “our support for all Ukrainians”. Regardless of whether or not we have Palestinian students, staff and community members here in Antigonish (which we DO), it is similarly important for us as a campus community to express our support for all Palestinians, just as Dr. Hakin urged us all to do with Ukraine. 

Moreover, there was also a virtual ceremony and flag-raising held on March 4th in support of Ukraine, the exterior lights of Morrison Hall were set to blue and yellow and the University put ribbons out for students to wear in solidarity with Ukraine. This is a clear double standard. 

It makes me wonder… what’s so different to the St. FX administration about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s invasion of Palestine? Is it because the victims are not European? Is it because the victims are not white? Is it because some of the victims are Muslim? It is because we have political interests as a country and school in supporting Israel? Is it because we as Canadians know we play an active role in this and that makes us uncomfortable? 

At this moment, St.FX Students for Palestine urges all readers to remember the history of international pressure on South Africa in the form of sanctions, divestments and boycotts in the 80s. These things can work! Although it took time and effort, this action did result in change for South African apartheid. We as students in Canada CAN make a difference and we MUST stand in solidarity with Palestine, or we cannot claim as a university to be against colonialism, racism, violence and xenophobia. We must keep putting pressure on St. Francis Xavier University.

This petition is asking the St. Francis Xavier University Administration to: 

1. Release a public statement acknowledging the genocide in Palestine, the effect of this ongoing event on community members and condemn Israel's actions. 
2. Allow and organize a ceremony and flag raising, like the university held in honour of Ukraine in March.
3. Respond to this open letter publicly to the entire campus community. Lack of a response by March 25th, 2024 will result in the St.FX Students for Palestine reaching out to the CBC and to wider social media to raise awareness about St. Francis Xavier University’s lack of integrity when it comes to its commitments against settler-colonialism and genocide. No more bureaucratic delays. 

Finally, the last thing I want to ask you, both as the University Administration and as human beings in this world, is this: 

Do we as St. Francis Xavier University want to be a part of the International fight for justice? Or do we want to remain ‘neutral’ and support the side of the oppressor?

*Please be aware that as students, we acknowledge that this situation is incredibly complex: we believe that it is essential for us as a university community to educate ourselves in a meaningful way about this topic. The university experience is about developing critical thinking skills, so we encourage anyone reading this to consult trustworthy academic sources on the genocide occurring in Palestine, to go to lectures and talks by experts in the field, to hear first-hand accounts from displaced Palestinians, and to educate yourself above all. We, as an academic community, believe it is not only our duty to educate ourselves on this topic but also our privilege as those not currently directly affected by the war. 

Here is a clickable list of resources on Palestine we compiled:

• https://tinyurl.com/rk662kak

→ If you’re interested in learning more about student action for Palestine at St.Francis Xavier University, please go to @stfxforpalestine (https://tinyurl.com/mph7eb25) on Instagram 

→ If you’re interested in learning more about general action in Antigonish for Palestine, please go to @antigonish4gaza (https://tinyurl.com/yc5c6zwt) on Instagram and Antigonish4Gaza (https://tinyurl.com/knhhmcwz) on Facebook

Thank you for your action. Please share. 

Unapologetically, 

St.FX Students for Palestine