On December 1, students at Concordia University held a walkout and rally in the Hall Building atrium following the university’s decision to bar CSU Campaigns Coordinator Julianna Smith from campus. The protest drew several dozen participants and centered on concerns about Concordia’s approach to student protest, political activity and campus safety policies.
Smith, who has worked with the CSU on various advocacy initiatives, was issued an indefinite campus ban in late October. Concordia alleges she played a role in organizing actions that contributed to disruptions during the October 6 student strike related to Palestine. Students contest the university’s characterization of the events, and argue the ban sets a concerning precedent for future organizing.
