The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and McGill University 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. McGill University and SSMU sincerely apologize to representatives from Ensemble Montréal, Futur Montréal, Projet Montréal, and Transition Montréal for this regrettable incident.
McGill University 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. McGill University and SSMU reaffirm that students’ right to peaceful protest must be robustly protected, but stops short of vandalism, violence and intimidation.