The Art of Protest

By Kirpass Kaur 

Edited by: Connor Fraser and Emu Devine

The Student Organized Collective (SOC) is a student-led group with the overarching goal to build collective power and to advocate for the student interests at University of New Brunswick (UNB). 

Colin Cyr is a student at the University of New Brunswick, the Vice Chair of the Student Organized Collective, and on top of all that is a talented musician. Cyr recently released a single titled “Doctor Paul” , an open critique of UNB’s president Dr. Paul Mazerolleand his resistance to the SOCs request for UNB to divest from Israeli companies.  

Cyr begins the song by acknowledging that UNB students have been paying a large amount of tuition to attend classes and pursue their education, and that our “classrooms [are] built on stolen land.” University of New Brunswick is consistent with their land acknowledgement: 

“We respectfully acknowledge that UNB stands on the unsurrendered and unceded traditional Wolastoqey (WOOL-US-TOOK-WAY) land.”

Cry highlights the hypocrisy on display, mentioning that although actively acknowledging that UNB is built upon unsurrendered and unceded traditional Wolastoqey land, the University continues to maintain their neutral stance.

As Cyr points out, us as students at UNB are taught about “colonial expansion”, and “recognizing systems of oppression”, but to the contrary, the University refuses to divest in Israeli companies. 

Moreover, The United Nations has declared that Israel has and is continuing to commit war crimes against the people of Palestine, leaving even more reason to divest¹. 

President Paul Mazerolle has maintained a position of “political neutrality” on the horrific acts committed by Israel towards Palestine. 

In doing so, Mazerole released a statement on May 31, 2024, 

“As a University we must remain focused on our core functions – teaching, research, engagement and service. We are not a political entity and we will refrain from making political statements on this or other matters.”

Cyr raises an important question in his song — isn’t the purpose of education to recognize what is wrong from right? By continuing to invest in Israeli companies, are we, UNB, not picking a side? 

Is it not disgraceful to watch OUR diverse, forward-thinking, and inclusive educational institution actively choose the side of the oppressor? 

The question still lies,

UNB, if you can recognize the harmful impacts of the invasion by Russia, and have stood in solidarity with Ukraine, then, why is Palestine not shown that same courtesy? 

1. https://www.icc-cpi.int/palestine ↩︎