The Camosun College Faculty Association stands in solidarity with the University of Victoria students peacefully demonstrating in opposition to Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank.
While we uphold these students’ right to freedom of assembly and expression, as post-secondary instructors and facilitators we also recognize the vital role of college and university campuses in testing the rigours of civil society and imagining alternatives to a future that looks increasingly unjust. These students are not only holding their communities to account through their demands for ethical investment that reflect the stated values and strategic plan of their institution, they are reminding us what social justice looks like in a world that needs it.
The CCFA stands for free expression and academic freedom; it stands for peace.
The CCFA stands against oppression in all its forms and will always oppose war and colonial violence.
We thank the students at the encampment for their courage and conviction, and for encouraging us to think deeply about the intersections between post-secondary institutions and a world at risk. We urge the administration at UVic to support these students, prioritize their safety, and engage carefully and robustly with their demands.
Read the Students’ Statement and find out how you can help. Read the UVic Statement to find out how they are responding.
Lynelle Yutani, President, On behalf of the Executive Committee
Lynelle Yutani (she/they)
ac.ytlucafnusomac@tnediserp
President, Camosun College Faculty Association
Lynelle is a queer, leftist rabble-rouser galvanized to guard the rights of union members and is on a crusade to convince you that you get out of your Union what you put into it. Lynelle serves on Presidents Council of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) and was elected to FPSE Executive as a Member-at-Large. She is on a number of FPSE affiliate committees, including the 2SLGBTQIA+ and Racialized Workers Caucuses for the BC Fed, and is active in the Victoria Labour Congress. Lynelle volunteers for a rooftop community garden, which partners with Harvest & Share Food Aid Society to grow fresh produce for local food banks and community food security programs.
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