The conduct of a referendum earlier this semester on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel failed to adhere to the rules set out by the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance, the University has concluded after receiving the results of an investigation into the matter, UWindsor president Alan Wildeman wrote in an open letter to full-time undergraduate students Thursday.

The investigation by Raj Anand, a partner at the law firm WeirFoulds LLP and former chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, substantiated five major allegations:

• the petition to hold the referendum did not meet the standard of 500 valid signatures;
• changes to the structure of the UWSA executive violated its bylaws;
• some members of the executive and council have not met the constitutional criteria for membership;
• the motion approving the referendum lacked quorum;
• the referendum question was unclear and ambiguous.

Dr. Wildeman stated that the University is committed to working with students to help them achieve effective student governance and promised further communication about possible next steps in that regard.

Read the entire letter on the presidential communications website.