Concordia University has a long history with heightened tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Protests, including the Netanyahu riot in 2002, had marked the campus with intense activism and divisions. Since October 7th, 2023, Concordia University has been engulfed in even greater tensions following the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Concordia University’s student-led newspapers, The Link and The Concordian, persistent failure to present an unbiased perspective on the Israel-Hamas conflict regarding campus escalations has allowed antisemitic rhetoric to spread like wildfire on campus.
By focusing almost exclusively on one side of the issue, these publications have helped shape a narrative that overlooks the complexity of the ongoing war, ultimately creating an environment on campus where Jewish students have faced verbal abuse, harassment, and threats. Student-led newspapers should serve as platforms for open, diverse, and thoughtful dialogue, instead they have become spaces where one-sided narratives thrive. A one sided narrative contributes to a hostile, antisemitic campus atmosphere, where Jews, Israelis, and allies face hate because of their opinion.
The role of student-led newspapers is to engage with difficult topics in a thoughtful, responsible, and fair way. They hold a unique position in shaping campus culture, particularly on issues related to race, religion, and identity. The same goes for The Concordian, as they state “Accuracy is the moral imperative of journalists and news organizations,” yet they publish inaccurate information in their articles. For instance, one article claims that Israel was created in 1948, ignoring the history of Israel which dates back over 5,000 years.
The Link goes against its own stated values: “[The Link] recognizes the importance of an equity, diversity and inclusivity-informed work environment,” and “Instances of harassment or discrimination based on a community member’s race, sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender, age, physical or mental ability, socio-economic standing, status, religion, nationality or any other identity or experience-based form of exclusionary practices are not tolerated to any degree in the society,” which are both obligations that they do not commit to.
When the only articles in the newspapers’ related to Judaism are antisemitic in nature, it’s clear there’s a serious problem. Whether it is calls for “getting Zionists off campus” or internalized antisemitism expressed as, “I find it frustrating since I know some Jewish students are too scared to go to school. I get it, but at the same time it plays into the whole factor that we’re scary people to be around,” posting or sharing such articles only spreads antisemitism—and that, in itself, is antisemitic.
Majority of the Jewish voices represented in the newspapers are those affiliated with Independent Jewish Voices, an anti-Zionist Jewish organization which has endorsed Holocaust denial, supported the anti-Jewish Al-Quds Day Hatefest where calls for “all Israelis to be shot” were made, and backed violence against Zionists, such as when they defended a McGill student who urged his followers on Twitter to “punch a Zionist”. This creates a troubling and skewed representation of Jewish perspectives. To ensure a balanced and accurate portrayal, it is crucial that more diverse Jewish voices are included in the conversation.
Regarding the ongoing war in Israel, the failure of these newspapers to present a variety of views has contributed to a culture of exclusion, where certain perspectives are silenced and others dominate. The result has been an increasingly polarized environment, where Jewish students, who are already vulnerable to rising antisemitism, feel further alienated and unsafe.
Both student-led newspapers highlighted the pride surrounding the “over 900 Concordia University undergraduate students gathered in the Hall building to vote at the Concordia Student Union’s (CSU) Special General Meeting (SGM) on Jan. 29,” where both motions for Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) passed by a vote of 885 to 58. They featured quotes from students like, “I feel extremely happy; I feel that, as a whole, we are making progress, and we are laying down change for a better future.” However, they refused to mention the hatred directed at the 58 students—Jewish students and their allies—who voted against the motions, or the fact that a standing ovation followed a student’s praise of Yahya Al-Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, as a “hero.”
The Link inaccurately labels the StartUp Nation, the sole Israeli club at Concordia, as a “political club.” However, in its coverage of Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR), The Link cites a statement from one of the organization’s fundraising executives, which claims, “an important pillar of SPHR is creating safe spaces for Palestinians on campus.” Soon after October 7, 2023, the SPHR, a CSU funded organization, released a statement in support of Hamas fighters, stating “we… support the Palestinian people and their right to liberation.” Since then, the organization has held multiple riots, including the November 8th Hall Building Riot where 3 individuals were left injured, and has vandalized school property on countless occasions. These instances have led to campus lockdowns and cancelled classes.
When student-led newspapers focus solely on the hate directed at the pro-Palestinian side, such as when an outsider assaulted a Concordia student wearing a keffiyeh outside the school, yet completely overlook incidents where Concordia students promote hate and assault Jews on campus, it creates a one-sided narrative. The picture painted when the assaults of Jewish students are ignored, it further contributes to the bias within The Link.
Jewish students at Concordia have repeatedly raised concerns about the increasing antisemitism on campus, and their calls for more balanced and respectful coverage have been largely ignored. It is crucial that student-led newspapers uphold their journalistic integrity by presenting a variety of perspectives and giving voice to those who are often marginalized. For Jewish students, the failure of The Link and The Concordian to provide balanced coverage has not just been an academic oversight; it has been a failure of basic journalistic responsibility, one that has directly impacted their sense of safety on campus.
To create a campus environment where all students feel safe, heard, and respected, The Link and The Concordian must strive for more balanced and inclusive reporting. This includes giving a platform to Jewish students and acknowledging the reality of rising antisemitism on campus. Journalistic integrity demands that all voices be heard and that no group is silenced or ignored, especially when their safety is at risk.
This article was originally published in The Times of Israel.
