During a public presentation on November 18, 2024, as part of Memorial University’s Provost search process, a Palestinian student clashed with candidate and Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Jennifer Lokash, as well as President Neil Bose regarding bursaries for Palestinian and Israeli students.
The student referred to Lokash’s mention of her commitment to students in her presentation, where she stated that she is honest and follows through on her commitments. The student then pointed out that the university administration, over the past year, has claimed that they are committing to bursaries and scholarships for Palestinian and Israeli students.
Bose cut off the student and stated, “I’m going to have to interrupt. We’re not going into that space. This is an interview for a candidate.
The student responded, “The question involves the statements that Dr. Lokash and yourself have stated in the past year.”
Bose said, “Get to your question quickly.”
The student said as a Palestinian, they had been promised bursaries and scholarships, but when they asked the Provost’s office and the student support office since August, both offices dismissed their request. Recently, they received news that these bursaries did not exist and that there are no bursaries for Palestinian and Israeli students.
The student asked, “So how, as a student, can I trust the university administration when they haven’t followed through with the commitments they’ve made in the past?”
Lokash responded that the university has a bursary program specifically for students at risk who come from various countries experiencing turmoil and conflict. She said that this year, the focus of the bursary has been on Palestinian and Israeli students. Lokash said the instructions on accessing the bursaries have been communicated to the student union several times and released publicly. She invited the student to have a conversation with the university Registrar about how to access them and said that the bursaries do, in fact, exist.
While the background conversation continued, Bose stated, “Please do not butt in. This is not a protest session. This is an interview session, a very serious interview session for a candidate, and I will not see as the chair of the search committee a candidate being heckled.”
As more talking ensured, Bose stated, “It’s enough. If you continue this behaviour, I will shut the session down. The truth is what Dr. Lokash has said. I vouch for that. This is not a protest session.”
Matt Barter is a graduate of the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, holding a degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, taking walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.
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