By: Zach Paikin

In last week’s entry, we briefly discussed the theoretical basis of leftist ideology using the example of Gideon Levy’s recent visit to McGill. We explained that leftists, unlike liberals and conservatives, do not judge international affairs through the lens of clear morality (i.e. right vs. wrong), but instead through the lens of solidarity for whom they deem to be powerless.

This week, we’ll see how such an ideology manifests itself practically on a university campus. Our example: QPIRG McGill.

The Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG) was established in the McGill community in the late 1980s to operate as “a student-funded organization pursuing the interests of students on issues of public concern”. Over the course of the past two decades or so, QPIRG McGill has distanced itself considerably from its original mandate.

QPIRG McGill receives $200,000 directly through student fees. With these funds, they have funded campus groups with fringe ideologies. They fund anti-capitalist groups such as “QTeam” and “Reclaim!”, anarchist movements such as “Chaotic Insurrection Ensemble”, groups that promote destroying private property on campus such as “School Schmool”, groups that accuse Canada of being an apartheid state, and of course, a number of groups that accuse Israel of being an apartheid state. Of the latter, one of the most infamous is “Tadamon!”, a group that advocates for removing Hezbollah from the list of organizations recognized as terrorist groups by the government of Canada.

These groups represent movements that are completely antithetical to Canadian values as well as to the values of McGill students. Most students at McGill believe in democracy, not anarchy. Most do not believe that Canada is a racist or apartheid state.

The response: a coalition of campus clubs known as the “QPIRG: Opt-Out!” campaign banded together to inform students of their right to opt-out of their $3.75 fee to QPIRG each semester during a special opt-out period. QPIRG McGill’s response this year, however, was frightening.

This year, members of the QPIRG McGill board went so far as to violently attack a table belonging to the Opt-Out campaign in order to stifle free speech and debate on campus. Despite these cowardly actions, the Opt-Out campaign was extremely successful. Estimates have it that at least 15% of McGill students went online and got their money back in last year’s campaign. This year’s campaign appeared to be even more successful.

The issue of radical PIRGs on campus isn’t only present at McGill. But thanks to the work of students such as Jess Weiser, a Hasbara fellow, students have seen that battling these leftist groups is very much in the realm of possibility.

In other news this week, Yaakov Katz spoke both at McGill and at the University of Ottawa. At the top of the agenda was Iran’s nuclear program as well as their state-sponsored terrorism. Both events ran very smoothly and the students in attendance took advantage of a distinct opportunity to hear from one of Israel’s most intriguing journalists.

Finally, Gil Hoffman of the Jerusalem Post is confirmed to be speaking about “peace, politics and plutonium” at Carleton on November 8^th as well as at McGill and Concordia on November 11^th. Stay tuned for more details!

Have a great week everyone!