TORONTO, July 9 /CNW/ – Sheldon Levy, president of Ryerson University, made the following statement today regarding the proposed academic boycott of Israeli universities by Britain’s University and College Union:

Ryerson University is a scholarly community whose academic mission is for ideas, teaching and research to have an impact on the world around us. This mission cannot be carried out without unequivocal support for the underlying values of academic freedom and freedom of speech, which are the hallmarks of all great universities worldwide.

It is with this context that I must add my voice to those who have urged the British University and College Union to reject any call for a boycott of Israeli universities. We will not stand by as the very nature of university education is being undermined.

As a University we embrace understanding, exchange of ideas, empathy and intellectual engagement. We do not shy away from controversy, difficult ideas, or disagreements over deeply held views. We do not hinge our belief in academic freedom and freedom of expression on political disagreements or diverging views on government policy. Current events do not distract us from our core values.

Ryerson University is Canada’s leader in career-focused education, offering more than 95 PhD, master’s, and undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Arts; the Faculty of Communication & Design; the Faculty of Community Services; the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science; and the Ted Rogers School of Management. Ryerson University has graduate and undergraduate enrolment of 24,000 students. With more than 64,000 registrations annually, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada’s leading provider of university-based adult education.