Confrontation at Concordia

            "Confrontation at Concordia", a documentary which analyzes the events surrounding Benjamin Netanyahu's planned visit to Concordia University, gives the audience a first hand look at the violent conflicts which take place in the "safe" confines of Concordia University. After viewing this presentation, I found that two unsettling issues were left in my mind. The first of these issues is the power of the student body on campus, and the second issue, which roots from the first issue, being freedom of speech.
             First and foremost, the student body's role in forcing Netanyahu to cancel his speech was a key issue in the documentary. The video shows that Clean Slate, a student run organization that denounces racism, rises up to claim student council, and ironically enforces that very bigotry. Most certainly, Montreal's prime university should not become the host of such unruly events as riots, yet in the movie, Clean Slate holds various protests and riots. Included in these horrific protests are the shattering of glass, the destruction of school property, and even violent acts on students of the University. Voter apathy, a smaller issue that caused Clean Slate to come into power (since only 20 percent of the students voted), should also be monitored and dealt with. This can be seen in the later part of the documentary, after violent acts have been condemned and student awareness has taken a rise, students vote for the opposing organization to Clean Slate, proving the majority of the campus believed Clean Slate had incorrect values, yet their apathy during the first voting caused Clean Slate to take control. Due to the fact that Netanyahu was intimidated enough by Clean Slates presence to cancel his speech at Concordia, it becomes clear to me that the student body has far too much power on campus, and campus authorities should be far more precarious in monitoring the activity of their student organizations.