Concordia withdraws Code of Rights and Responsibilities complaints

After consulting with students, faculty, staff and administrative colleagues, I have decided that Concordia will not proceed with complaints it made under the university’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities stemming from student behaviour during protests earlier this year.

During the student protests, the university administration filed a number of complaints against certain individuals under the code. Other members of the university community made similar complaints. The university can withdraw only those complaints it made.

I am not passing judgment on the complaints themselves. As I have said publicly, I think the university appropriately handled the disruptions that arose during the protests. 

The protests were an unprecedented situation for our university and its community.

As president of the university, I also believe it is time for our community to turn the page and focus on the future together. I acknowledge that some members of the community will not agree with this approach, and I respect their point of view on the matter.

Concordia’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities provides that members of our community are free to engage in peaceful and orderly protest that does not disrupt the functions of the university or infringe on the rights of others. Respecting the code in our daily conduct is vital for the safety of our students, faculty, staff and guests and for the proper functioning of the university.

We all have a shared purpose in working for a great university. I look forward to working with all members of the Concordia community on ensuring that our university continues to move forward.

The university will be communicating with all students who had charges laid against them in connection with the protests to notify them of the status of their file.

Alan Shepard
President and Vice-Chancellor