Students, faculty condemn McMaster ban of 3 activists from campus except for classes pending investigation

Three McMaster University students say a lengthy ban from campus activities — except to attend class — amid an investigation over a pro-Palestinian protest is hurting their academics and employment.

Standing just off campus on Aug. 27, Mason Fitzpatrick, Rand Clayton and Connor Galloway told reporters they think the ban is unjust. 

"People love to talk about innocent until proven guilty, but then why am I facing such harsh punishments when I don't even know what's going on," Clayton said. "I was unable to even access my own office for the entirety of this summer. PhD students don't get a summer break. This has seriously dinged my productivity."

Clayton told CBC Hamilton that McMaster initially told them they could not work as a teaching assistant, but they were able to negotiate to keep their job.

Fitzpatrick said he was placed on leave as a teaching assistant. 

In an email, McMaster spokesperson Wade Hemsworth told CBC Hamilton the university will not comment on individual cases.

"People have the right to protest and to freely express their opinions, but such actions must be taken within the university's codes and policies."

Hemsworth added that a persona non-grata (PNG) notice "is given if there are concerns, based on the evidence of the case, that an individual poses a potential risk to campus or members of the campus community," and said one can be issued while a case is being investigated. 

That's what's happened here, the students said. 

Fitzpatrick, Clayton and Galloway hold positions in Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3906, which represents academic workers at McMaster. 

The union announced the bans in August, but the students said they received notice about the interim designations in the spring.

"This is an interim measure, although it sure doesn't feel like it. It's been about three months and there hasn't been the investigation that was promised," Fitzpatrick said, accusing the university of dragging its heels.

On Aug. 25, a group of McMaster faculty members who belong to the advocacy group Faculty4Palestine wrote an open letter to the university's leadership, condemning the issuance of PNG notices.

"We are strongly opposed to these efforts to limit freedom of speech and freedom of assembly," the letter reads.