The Students’ Society of ɬÀï·¬ (SSMU) and ɬÀï·¬ jointly organized a Municipal Election debate on October 27. Unfortunately, shortly after the event began, a coordinated effort to disrupt and shut it down - through shouting, chanting, and insults - prevented it from proceeding.
Regardless of the motivations behind advocacy, methods matter. This action silenced an important opportunity for students to meaningfully exchange about the democratic process. ɬÀï·¬ and SSMU sincerely apologize to representatives from Ensemble Montréal, Futur Montréal, Projet Montréal, and Transition Montréal for this regrettable incident.
ɬÀï·¬ and SSMU will both be responding to this incident through the application of their policies. Universities exist to host difficult conversations, not to avoid them. ɬÀï·¬ and SSMU reaffirm that students’ right to peaceful protest must be robustly protected, but stops short of vandalism, violence and intimidation.