September 16, 2009

Carleton Professors ask University President to waive fees for information on treatment of Israeli-Palestinian issues


OTTAWA, Sept 16, 2009 – Sixty four Carleton Professors have called on University President Roseann Runte to waive the fees demanded from a student for his information request to investigate Carleton's treatment of the Israel-Palestine issue under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)

Ben Saifer, a graduate student and member of Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA) Carleton, was charged the prohibitive fee of $4,910.00 for his FIPPA request, half of which must be paid upfront before the University will process the request. Under FIPPA legislation, President Runte has the right to waive this fee when doing so would serve the public interest.

The signatories to this open letter are professors from twelve departments including; English, Social Work, Sociology, and Law. The list also includes a number of Departments' Chairs.

The letter calls on the President to waive these exorbitant fees, in the name of institutional accountability: “Openness and transparency are in Carleton's (and the public's) best interest when there are concerns about the suppression of free speech, the targeting of students according to their political beliefs, and the detrimental impact of lobby groups on core university values.”

The letter also notes that the Ontario Human Rights tribunal has accepted a complaint by SAIA Carleton alleging discriminatory treatment by Carleton's administration, and that charging a student such a prohibitive fee “creates a financial barrier to SAIA receiving a fair hearing, which in turn has serious ramifications for the integrity of our institution.”

“The Carleton Senior administration has taken too many questionable decisions over the past year around the issue of Palestinian rights” says Saifer, who is hopeful that the solidarity shown by Carleton faculty will convince President Runte that transparency is in the University's best interest. “The Carleton community wants accountability.”


The open letter may be viewed here:
http://carleton.saia.ca/component/content/article/78.html

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