Today, student representatives met with senior administration officials at Western University, including Provost and Vice President Dr. Florentine Strzelczyk, Vice Provost Dr. John Doerksen (Director of Operations), and Opiyo Oloya, AVP EDI.
This meeting focused on presenting our urgent demands outlined in our letter: Disclose, Divest, and Boycott. These demands reflect the concerns of many students and faculty members, and it is the university’s moral and ethical duty to address them promptly.
Although this meeting is a necessary first step, the administration is yet to offer a concrete action plan to enact the demands.
Provost Strzelczyk and other key decision-makers present have the authority to enact the necessary changes. Holding them accountable is crucial to upholding the humane values that are at the core of the university’s code of conduct.
As the genocide in Gaza worsens and more are killed daily, prompt action is the only humane response. It is disappointing that we were not guaranteed any further discussions to actively advance this process, as we emphasized the urgency of immediate progress.
Our community demands action, and we are dedicated to ensuring Western University fulfills its moral obligations towards students, faculty, and the wider community. We will continue practicing our right to protest until the university takes concrete action to meet our demands.