[antiwar-van] FW: Press release

[hanna]

Following is a press release from Solidarity with Palestinian Human
Rights-York (SPHR-York) www.sphr.org/, regarding media distortions of their
position regarding Professor David Noble and his exposé of the York
University affiliation with Zionist organizations.

See the Toronto Star Article
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Artic
le_Type1&c=Article&cid=1100992208621&call_pageid=968332188492&col=9687939721
54&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes

And, the Globe and Mail article

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20041120/YORK
20/National/Idx

Hanna

---------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-execs_forum at sphr.org [mailto:owner-execs_forum at sphr.org]On
Behalf Of Shadi Hajjara
Sent: November 24, 2004 10:04 AM
To: execs_forum at sphr.org
Subject: Press release


Below you'll find a copy of SPHR-York's press release regarding the
misunderstanding with Prof. Noble and the misrepresentation of the issue
in the media. You'll also find a copy of Prof. David Noble's handout which
was the question of all the scrunity you saw in the media. Both are posted
on www.sphr.org


Shadi


-----------------
Academic Freedom and Dissent Under Attack

SPHR @ York is unequivocally committed to the principles of freedom of
expression, in all its forms and functions, and in accordance with the
principles enshrined in the Charter.

We emphatically support Professor Noble and other like-minded and
open-minded professors who individually and collectively elicit critical
thought from students on campuses everywhere.

We agree with Professor David Noble’s statements regarding the York
University President and Board of Governors “clamp[ing] down on campus
protests,” particularly with respect to disciplinary measures targeting
pro-Palestinian activism.

The administration’s attempt to bully individuals that stand in support of
Palestinian human rights was again made clear in its dealings with two of
SPHR’s spokespersons. The administration asked SPHR to condemn allegedly
“anti-Semitic” material that was neither provided to the spokespersons nor
distributed by SPHR or its members. The material was distributed by
Professor Noble in his own capacity, and SPHR reaffirms his right to do
so.

Pro-Zionist and anti-Palestinian materials are consistently distributed by
agitators at SPHR events. The administration has never before asked SPHR
to comment on the contents of materials distributed by others.

Whereas the administration attempted to silence Professor Nobel by
brandishing him an anti-Semite, despite Nobel’s identification as a Jew,
SPHR condemns the continuing and dangerous attempts to conflate opposition
to Zionism and Israeli policies with unqualified anti-Semitism. SPHR
spokespersons last week stated our opposition to all forms of racism, with
anti-Semitism being one of many denounced by SPHR.

We persist in our efforts to combat anti-Palestinian activities on campus.
SPHR is accustomed to being targeted by powerful interests, and to having
its members strong-armed by the administration. Recently, 5 campus
activists received warning letters and were threatened with punishment for
participation in an on-campus vigil (regarding the Israeli assault on the
Gaza Strip).

The issues raised by Professor David Noble are serious ones that people
who value campus democracy can ill-afford to dismiss. They should be taken
seriously as we investigate why Palestine solidarity activists are
targeted for such "crimes" as holding on-campus vigils without a permit.

We thank Professor Noble for investigating potential explanations for the
administration’s treatment of Palestine solidarity activists, and for his
critical evaluation of the administration’s political loyalties.

For further information with regards to this matter, please contact the
below:

Randa B. Mouammar
rmouamma at uwo.ca
(905) 508 – 0562

Shadi Hajjara
shady at sphr.org
(416) 893 – 2915

______________________________________________________________

THE YORK UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: THE TAIL THAT WAGS THE DOG
(Suggestions for further research)

Dr. David Noble

(1) The York University Foundation (YUF), which was established in 2002,
is the tail that wags the dog that is York University (YU). The
administration of YU, like every other university administration, is
guided foremost by fundraising considerations. York's fundraising affairs
are directly by Paul Marcus, who runs both the YUF and the York
development office. Contributions to YU now come through YUF. Both the YU
chair of the board of governors, Marshall Cohen, and the YU President,
Lorna Marsden, sit also on the YUF Board. The YUF has a staff of 34
people.

(2) The YUF is biased by the presence and influence of staunch pro-Israel
lobbyists, activists, and fundraising agencies (see page 2).

(3) The recent decisions by the YU President and Board of Governors to
discipline pro-Palestinian activists (notably the suspension of Daniel
Freeman-Maloy) and otherwise to clamp down on campus protests, appear to
reflect the strongly pro-Israel orientation of the YUF.

(4) The recent transformation of the York Federation of Students in this
same political direction was spearheaded by Young Zionist Partnership
members Paul Cooper and Yaakov Roth (with the help of Josh Cooper,
Thornhill Conservative Party candidate and UJA fundraiser) Note: The
United Israel Appeal’s National Jewish Campus Life initiative was
established in the spring of 2003 to train pro-Israel activists and
cultivate campus “influentials”.

(5) The recent decision to locate the Argonaut football stadium at YU was
engineered by Argonaut owner and YUF director Howard Sokolowski together
with his partner David Cynamon, likely with help from his former business
partner Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara (whose brother Joseph is
also on the YUF board, chairs the York University Development Corporation
and sits ex officio on the Land Use Committee of the Board of Governors),
and MP Joe Vlope, whose riding constitutes the center of the UJA
community. The direct taxpayer contribution to the stadium ($27 million
from the federal government and $ million from the provincial) will flow
through the YUF. Another $15 million will come from YU and, thus,
indirectly from the taxpayer.

(6) Transactions of the YUF and YU, such as the Argonaut stadium deal, are
not publicly accessible. YUF is deemed a private entity. YU, like all
Ontario Universities, is not covered by the Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). The decision to leave the universities
out of FIPPA was made in 1987, when FIPPA was introduced, by the then
Liberal government. At the time the Minister of Colleges and Universities
was Greg Sorbara.

[Abbreviations: York University Foundation (YUF), York University (YU),
United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), United Israel
Appeal of Canada (UIA) Mt. Sinai Hospital Foundation (MSHF)]

YORK UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS members include:

PAUL E. MARCUS, President and CEO, YUF, and Vice President, Development YU
(director of all university fund-raising)
Formerly director of development at both UJA and MSHF

H. BARRY GALES, director, MSHF; Midland Group, business partner and
brother (?) of Leslie Gales, chair of the board, UJA

ALONNA GOLDFARB, partner, Intelligence Marketing (family business, with
father Martin Goldfarb), one of whose major clients in State of Israel
Bonds, the development corporation for Israel

MAXWELL GOTLIEB, UJA, MSHF, Cassels Brock

JULIA KOSCHITZKY, chair, Israel NOW consortium, board member, UJA, UIA, CCIJ
(Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy), Jewish Agency for Israel;
cabinet, National Jewish Campus Life (with Leslie Gales, Heather Riesman,
and the late Israel Asper)

HONEY SHERMAN, UJA, MSHF, co-chair, UJA 2005 Top Gifts campaign (with David
Cynamon); wife of Barry Sherman, CEO of Apotex (the pharmaceutical company
involved in the case of Nancy Olivieri)

HOWARD SOKOLOWSKI, co-chair 2003 campaign, UJA, with wife Linda Frum
(sister of David Frum), vice-chair, UJA; Israel Emergency Fund; CEO,
Tribute Homes (which bought land from YU for housing development);
co-owner Argonauts football team (for which YU is now building a stadium,
at public expense). [Note: the other owner is David Cynamon]

JOSEPH D. SORBARA, Sorbara Group, brother of Greg Sorbara, Ontario
Minister of Finance. Ontario is contributing $8 million for Argos stadium.
Greg Sorbara is former business partner of Howard Sokolowski.

MARSHALL A. COHEN, chair of Board of Governors, YU, former Molson CEO,
former director, MSHF, Cassels Brock law firm

JUDITH COHEN, chair of YU Fiftieth Anniversary Committee, wife of Marshall

LORNA MARSDEN, President and Vice Chancellor, YU