University of Toronto law professor Peter Biro has resigned his fellowship from Massey College after alleging that the institution demanded an advisory committee to vet an antisemitism conference he was organizing. In his resignation letter dated May 31, Biro wrote that a significant portion of Canadian society remains oblivious to the current resurgence of Jew-hatred, emphasizing the critical importance of the conference.
Conference Details and Resignation
The one-day conference, titled Antisemitism in Our 'Free and Democratic Society': A Canary's Song, was scheduled for September 15 at Massey College, which is affiliated with but independent of the University of Toronto. The event was set to feature prominent speakers, including Canada's former special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism Deborah Lyons, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights founder Irwin Cotler, and American Holocaust historian and diplomat Deborah Lipstadt. Biro's resignation letter stated that Massey's concerns revolved around a lack of coordination and questions regarding the appropriateness of partner organizations, specifically the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, which was co-hosting the conference.
Biro's Response
Biro dismissed the concerns raised by Massey College Principal James Orbinski as absolutely false, asserting that everything was developed with full cooperation and contemporaneous knowledge of the Principal from mid-January through May 27. He noted that he had previously chaired and participated in other conferences at Massey without any issues. Biro characterized the institution's concerns as being about substance rather than process, stemming from undisclosed senior members questioning whether the subject of antisemitism was being curated appropriately.
Orbinski's Statement
Principal Orbinski expressed regret over Biro's resignation and reaffirmed Massey College's condemnation of antisemitism. He stated that when Biro first approached him with a draft conference proposal, he agreed to hold a programmed conference on antisemitism but emphasized the need for consultation and collaboration in defining the agenda and speakers. Orbinski claimed that Biro did not check back on the consultation process, and that he was informed via email that all speakers had been invited, including the Prime Minister of Canada, and that a partnership with another organization had been established. Orbinski noted that much of the collaborative process was ignored, leading to Biro's decision to move the conference to another venue and resign.
Biro's resignation has sparked discussions about academic freedom and censorship, with some commentators suggesting that Massey College's actions represent an attempt to censor a major conference on antisemitism.
