Convocation ceremonies for graduating University of Toronto students are set to begin amid a pro-Palestinian encampment that has been on campus for weeks despite a trespass notice and legal action. The university filed for an urgent court injunction to remove the protesters, but a hearing is not scheduled until June 19 and 20. This means that attendees of the convocation ceremonies will likely pass by the camp, which is filled with tents, placards, and flags. The encampment was set up on May 2 after students breached a temporary fence around King’s College Circle.
The university has filed exhibits and affidavits in court outlining concerns from students and family members about the impact of the protest on convocation. Protesters, however, do not see how their presence would disrupt the graduation events. They argue that fences have been present at King’s College Circle during convocation for years, with the only difference this year being the addition of Palestinian flags. The university claims that the encampment poses health and safety risks and has led to reports of harassment, hateful speech, antisemitic incidents, and violence. Protest organizers deny these claims.
Some students and family members have expressed concerns about attending convocation due to the presence of the encampment. One student wrote to the university stating that they would not attend their graduation dinner because campus was no longer a safe place for Jews. A parent of a graduating student, who is a Holocaust survivor, asked if the convocation ceremony could be moved to a safer location. The university has stated that it takes the safety of graduating students and their guests seriously and has implemented extra precautions, such as requiring graduating students to show identification when collecting their gowns.
The encampment protesters have vowed to stay until the university meets their demands, which include disclosing investments in companies profiting from Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Similar encampments have appeared on other Canadian university campuses, with some schools considering or taking legal action against the protesters. For example, McGill University had to move graduation ceremonies off-campus due to an encampment that had been in place for over a month. The university’s president expressed frustration with encampment representatives walking away from meetings aimed at ending the protest.
Despite the ongoing encampment and legal proceedings, the University of Toronto says that all convocation ceremonies will proceed as planned with extra precautions in place. The university is committed to ensuring a safe and celebratory environment for graduating students and their guests. They have received support for the encampment as well, including from a student who urged the administration to listen to protester demands and avoid using police force to clear the camp. The situation remains ongoing, with no resolution in sight as convocation ceremonies begin.
