Université de Sherbrooke

University Policies

The Université de Sherbrooke includes “intellectual freedom” as part of its Values.

“[L’Université de Sherbrooke privilégie les valeurs suivantes :] la liberté intellectuelle; (…)”^[1]

Sherbrooke’s mission statement reads as follows:

Being an open, responsible and engaged community, the University of Sherbrooke responds to society’s needs and contributes to its development through teaching, research and creation, through the supply of a diversified learning experience, by producing and transferring knowledge et through promotion of critical thinking.

Communauté ouverte, engagée et responsable, l’Université de Sherbrooke répond aux besoins de la société et contribue à son développement en se consacrant à l’enseignement, à la recherche et à la création, par l’offre diversifiée d’expériences d’apprentissage, par la production et le transfert des connaissances et par la promotion de la pensée critique.^[2]

Université de Sherbrooke prohibits disruption of university-sanctioned activities:

[An infraction is considered as the following:] to restrict or compromise, without right and gravely, any university activity, the operation of a service or the day-to-day management of the university;

[Un délit est considéré comme suit :] le fait d’entraver ou de compromettre, sans droit et de façon importante, la tenue d’une activité universitaire, le fonctionnement d’un service ou encore la gestion de l’université ;^[3]

Sherbrooke has no policies that expressly empower administrators to charge security fees based on the nature of the event, the level of controversy, or the subject matter being discussed.

University practices

During the Quebec student strikes in 2015, the University did not enforce its own anti-disruption policy to stop the student union from unlawfully blocking access to classrooms, such an initiative had to come from students themselves through the courts.^[4]

Student union policies

The student union at Université de Sherbrooke (AGEFLESH), includes “defence of people’s rights” in its mission statement:

“AGEFLESH is a militant association. It plays the role of a union and is active in the fields of education, defense of people’s rights, representation, information and training.”

“L’AGEFLESH est une association militante. Elle a un role syndical et oeuvre dans les champs d’actions de l’éducation, de la défense des droits, de la représentation, de l’information et de la formation.”^[5]

AGELFLESH takes stances on numerous issues, not all of which are directly within its mandate :

AGEFLESH is based on the following principles:

1. Access for each and every person to a public, laic, free, quality and non-discriminatory education system at all levels, through an adequate level of public financing;
2. End of student indebtedness;
3. Democratizing educational establishments;
4. Union solidarity with progressive causes around the world;
5. Environmentalism;
6. Respect of the French language;
7. Opposition to all forms of discrimination.”

L’AGEFLESH repose sur les principes suivants:

1. L’accessibilité à toutes et à tous à un système d’éducation public, laïc, gratuit, de qualité et non discriminatoire, et ce, à tous les niveaux, par un financement public adéquat;

2. L’élimination de l’endettement étudiant;

3. La démocratisation des institutions scolaires;

4. La solidarité syndicale avec les luttes progressistes d’ici et d’ailleurs;

5. La participation respectueuse de l’humanité aux dynamiques environnementales;

6. Le respect de la langue française;

7. L’opposition à toutes formes de discrimination.^[6]

Student union practices

During the Quebec “anti-austerity” student strikes of 2012 and 2015, AGELFLESH, in support of the strikes, directed its executives and members to block fellow students from entering classes, and to prevent normal access of university property, which were ongoing despite the student strikes, in violation of the University’s anti-disruption policy.  Despite numerous injunctions ordering AGEFLESH to stop the disruption, this student union continues to propose and direct class boycotts.

[1] “Mission et valeurs de l’organisation” – Université de Sherbrooke, consulted on 2016-08-06 at (https://www.usherbrooke.ca/srh/emplois/milieu-et-conditions-de-travail/mission-et-valeurs/)

[2] “Mission et valeurs de l’organisation” – Université de Sherbrooke, consulted on 2016-08-06 at (https://www.usherbrooke.ca/srh/emplois/milieu-et-conditions-de-travail/mission-et-valeurs/)

[3] “Règlement des études”, 8.1.3 – Université de Sherbrooke, consulted on 2016-08-06 at (http://www.usherbrooke.ca/programmes/fileadmin/sites/programmes/documents/Reglement_des_etudes/reglement_2016_04_12.pdf)

[4] “Demande d’injonction contre l’Université de Sherbrooke afin de mettre fin aux piquets de grève” – Journal de Québec, consulted on 2016-08-06 at (http://www.journaldequebec.com/2015/03/30/demande-dinjonction-contre-luniversite-de-sherbrooke)

[5] “À Propos de l’AGEFLESH”, Mission – AGEFLESH, consulted on 2016-08-06 at (http://www.ageflesh.com/agrave-propos.html)

[6] “Règlements généraux”, Article 6 – Principes, AGEFLESH consulted on 2016-08-06 at (http://www.ageflesh.com/archives.html)