IHRP Director Hiring Controversy: Resource Page

Editor-in-Chief

Disclaimer: The views in these resources do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ultra Vires editorial board. Members of the Ultra Vires editorial board have been and continue to be involved with the IHRP.

This is a developing and non-exhaustive list of resources about the IHRP director hiring controversy unfolding at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. This list has been divided into four sections (click to navigate):

Initial Controversy

Independent Reviews (Cromwell Report & CJC) and Responses

CAUT Censure and Responses

The Future of the IHRP Program

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The following resources should allow a reader with no knowledge of the controversy to quickly get up-to-date. The resources here should be supplemented by the other resources on this page:

Ultra Vires, “IHRP Director Hiring Allegedly Thwarted by Donor Influence” (October 1, 2020)

The New Yorker, Did a University of Toronto Donor Block the Hiring of a Scholar for Her Writing on Palestine?” (May 8, 2021)

Ultra Vires, “Criticisms over the Cromwell Report Erupt with CAUT Censuring U of T” (May 17, 2021) 

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If you have content you believe is missing from this page, please contact [email protected].

Last updated October 21, 2022.

Initial Controversy

Official Statements:

Former Dean Iacobucci and VP Human Resources & Equity Statements

VP Human Resources & Equity Statement on a review (October 14, 2020)

Dean’s Office Email to Faculty (October 14, 2020)

Dean’s Office Email to Faculty (October 15, 2020)

President Gertler’s Statement (October 29, 2020)

President Gertler’s Statement (re: updates to the external review) (December 7, 2020)

Canadian Judicial Council Press Release re: ordering a review of the matter involving Justice Spiro (January 11, 2020)

Letters:

IHRP Students and Alumni Open Letter with Signatures (Access denied as of May 16, 2021. Ultra Vires has contacted the letter’s organizers for more details).

Statement on Palestine Speech Suppression and University of Toronto Faculty of Law (open letter organized by Azeezah Kanji, Dania Majid, and David Palumbo-Liu)

Open letter to University of Toronto President Meric Gertler regarding Dr. Valentina Azarova

Letter to Dean Iacobucci from former IHRP Directors (September 12, 2020)

Letters from IHRP Alumni Network Steering Committee Members (September 13 and 23, 2020)

Reem Bahdi Letter to Iacobucci (September 15, 2020)

Letter from Arab Canadian Lawyers Association (September 15, 2020)

Students’ Law Society Open Letter (September 17, 2020)

Leslie Green Letter to Canadian Judicial Council (September 17, 2020) and Letter to Chief Justice Wagner (September 29, 2020)

Craig Scott Letter to Chief Justice Wagner (September 20, 2020) and Note on status update (September 25, 2020)

Amnesty International Canada Letter to Dean’s Office (September 21, 2020)

Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) Letter to President Gertler (September 22, 2020)

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) Press Release (September 23, 2020) and Letter to Dean Iacobucci (September 25, 2020)

Letter from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (September 30, 2020)

Invitation to a dialogue by Joseph H. Carens (October 3, 2020)

Letter to University of Toronto from International Human Rights Clinics and Scholars (October 5, 2020)

Letter to University of Toronto Vice-President & Provost from Faculty of Law Professors (October 7, 2020)

Letter to President Gertler on IHRP Review Process from Faculty of Law Professors (October 29, 2020) and President Gertler’s response (November 2, 2020)

Protest Letter by Administrative Law Scholars to President Gertler (November 11, 2020) and President Gertler’s reponse (November 16, 2020)

Letter from Faculty of Law Professors to Hon. Thomas A Cromwell (January 22, 2021)

Letter from University of Toronto Faculty and Librarians to: Right Honourable Thomas A. Cromwell, CC (February 15, 2021)

Letter from National Lawyers Guild (undated)

Rights Review Magazine Editorial Comments on the IHRP’s Future (undated)

News Articles:

Globe and Mail, “U of T law school under fire for opting not to hire human-rights scholar after pressure from sitting judge” (September 17, 2020) 

Toronto Star, “Search for new director of U of T law faculty’s International Human Rights Program leads to resignations, allegations of interference” (September 17, 2020) 

Globe and Mail, “U of T law dean denies offering scholar job, caving to Tax Court judge’s pressure” (September 18, 2020) 

Toronto Star, “Scandal-hit U of T law school internal emails contradict dean’s new email to staff over key hiring decision” (September 18, 2020) 

Globe and Mail, “Canadian Judicial Council urged to investigate judge accused of blocking senior U of T appointment” (September 19, 2020) 

Aljazeera, “‘Anti-Palestinian racism’: Appointment row at Toronto university” (September 20, 2020) 

Canadian Association of University Teachers, “U of T facing scrutiny over academic freedom controversy” (September 21, 2020)

The Promise Human Rights Blog, “University of Toronto Faculty of Law Drops International Human Rights Program Director under Alleged Pressure from Anti-Palestine Influences” (September 21, 2020)

Toronto Star, “Pressure mounts on U of T law faculty as Amnesty, National Council of Canadian Muslims seek investigations into alleged inappropriate influence” (September 22, 2020) 

Globe and Mail, “Tax Court judge accused of pressuring U of T law school not to hire human-rights scholar identified” (September 23, 2020) 

The Varsity, “U of T law students ‘deeply concerned’ by allegations of judicial interference in hiring process of IHRP director” (September 27, 2020)

Human Rights Watch, “A human rights controversy at the University of Toronto” (September 29, 2020)

Toronto Star, “‘I was very, very mad’: U of T law school students feel powerless amid hiring fiasco” (September 29, 2020)

Toronto Star, “U of T Law School failed minorities in hiring scandal” (September 30, 2020)

Ultra Vires, “IHRP Director Hiring Allegedly Thwarted by Donor Influence” (October 1, 2020)

Law Times, “Law prof who made complaint against judge at centre of U of T hiring scandal awaits action from CJC” (October 1, 2020)

Aljazeera, “Repression of speech and scholarship on Palestine needs to end” (October 1, 2020)

The Intercept, “The real cancel culture: pro-Israel blacklists” (October 4, 2020)

The Varsity, “Opinion: Law faculty’s response to hiring scandal allegations must do better by Palestinian cause” (October 4, 2020)

Ultra Vires, “IHRP Hiring Controversy: U of T Announces Review after Persistent Pressure” (November 2, 2020)

Globe and Mail, “University of Toronto dean shuts down questions over rescinded job offer” (October 7, 2020)

Toronto Star, “What the U of T Law dean is not telling about the school’s hiring fiasco is very telling” (October 8, 2020)

Canadian Jewish Record, “What Do We Mean When We Talk About Free Speech?” (October 9, 2020)

Globe and Mail, “U of T law professors blame dean Edward Iacobucci’s ‘rule by fiat’ for Azarova controversy” (October 13, 2020)

Toronto Star, “U of T orders ‘impartial’ review of human rights program hiring fiasco” (October 14, 2020)

Globe and Mail, “University of Toronto launches inquiry into Valentina Azarova hiring controversy” (October 14, 2020)

Toronto Star, “University teachers’ association calls for rare censure of U of T administration over law faculty hiring scandal” (October 15, 2020)

Globe and Mail, “Canadian university teachers begin process to censure U of T over the Azarova law school affair” (October 15, 2020)

Toronto Star, “Lobbying universities over their hiring decisions is shameful and unethical” (October 16, 2020)

The Varsity, “U of T’s “impartial review” of IHRP hiring controversy draws concerns about transparency, independence, effectiveness” (October 18, 2020)

Times Higher Education, “Toronto accepts probe of job offer ‘rescinded over Israel views’” (October 19, 2020)

Toronto Star, “Controversies at U of T Law, York University highlight escalating suppression of moderate voices criticizing Israel” (October 25, 2020)

The Varsity, “CAUT begins censure process against U of T over IHRP hiring controversy” (October 25, 2020)

Independent Jewish Voices Canada, “Rights Groups File Complaint Against Sitting Judge Accused of Meddling in UofT Hiring, Cite Anti-Palestinian Racism” (October 27, 2020)

Globe and Mail, “University of Toronto commits to increased transparency in Valentina Azarova hiring inquiry” (October 29, 2020)

The Varsity, “U of T modifies review of IHRP hiring controversy following impartiality, transparency concerns” (November 1, 2020)

The J, “The Matter Of Valentina Azarova And The University Of Toronto” (November 5, 2020)

Canadian Association of University Teachers, “CAUT Council passes motion of censure against the University of Toronto” (November 30, 2020)

Globe and Mail, “University of Toronto’s new law dean Jutta Brunnée to arrive amid Valentina Azarova controversy” (December 3, 2020)

Globe and Mail, “Leader of inquiry into aborted hiring at University of Toronto law school resigns” (December 7, 2020)

The Varsity, “Bonnie Patterson resigns as lead reviewer of IHRP hiring controversy following concerns surrounding impartiality” (January 10, 2021)

Toronto Star, “Federal judge faces possible removal over accusations he interfered in U of T hiring for international human rights position” (January 11, 2021)

Globe and Mail, “Tax Court judge accused of pressuring university to rescind job offer faces disciplinary review” (January 11. 2021)

Law Times, “Canadian Judicial Council forms review panel for judge allegedly involved in U of T hiring scandal” (January 13, 2021)

The Lawyer’s Daily, “New dean sees stronger University of Toronto law faculty emerging from pandemic” (February 3, 2021)

Other Media:

Itamar Mann’s Twitter Thread (referee for Valentina Azarova)

This Matters on Apple Podcasts and on Toronto Star (September 28, 2020)

Louis Century’s Twitter Thread (IHRP Alumni Network Committee member)

Higher Education Strategy Associates Blog Post (October 20, 2020)

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Independent Reviews (Cromwell Report & CJC) and Responses

Official Statements:

Independent Review Report of The Honourable Thomas A. Cromwell C.C. (March 15, 2021)

President Gertler’s Response to the Report of the Honourable Thomas A. Cromwell C.C. (March 29, 2021)

Dean Jutta Brunnée’s Email to Students re: Cromwell Report (March 29, 2021)

President Gertler’s Letter to Faculty and Librarians (April 20, 2021)

Canadian Judicial Council Press Release re: completing its review of the matter involving the Honourable D.E. Spiro (May 21, 2021)

Professor Emerita Rebecca Cook’s Review of the International Human Rights Program (April 19, 2021)

Letters and Reviews of the Report:

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) Press Release (March 31, 2021)

Letter from Faculty of Law Professors to President Gertler on the Cromwell Report and President’s Response to the Report on March 29; President’s Response to the letter (April 20, 2021)

Joint Letter to U of T: Reject Censorship on Palestine, Hire Dr. Azarova (April 21, 2021)

Ariel Katz, “Confidentiality and Privacy in Justice Cromwell’s Report: Uses and Misuses” (blogpost on https://arielkatz.org, April 21, 2021)

Joseph H. Carens, “Academic Freedom and the Power of University Donors: Dogs that Don’t Bark and Other Reflections on the Cromwell Report at the University of Toronto” (Executive Summary and Full Essay) (April 23, 2021)

Joseph H. Carens, “Comments on the Cromwell Report” (April 23, 2021)

Jeffrey G. MacIntosh, “Some Reflections on the Cromwell Report” (April 30, 2021)

Denise Réaume, “An Analysis of the Cromwell Report” (Executive Summary and Full Essay) (undated)

Anver M. Emon, “On the Cromwell Report: Spiro and External Influence” (undated)

Emon et al., “Academic Freedom Remains an Urgent Matter at the University of Toronto” (blogpost by Professors Emon, Fadel, Katz, Lemmens, MacIntosh, Reaume, and Schneiderman, published in https://uoftlawprofs.medium.com/, undated)

Alex Usher, “What You Have to Believe to Believe the Cromwell Report” (May 25, 2021)

Jeffrey G. MacIntosh, “Freedom of Expression and the Cromwell Report” (Memo and Appendix) (May 31, 2021)

Faisal Kutty, “The Palestinian exception to free speech” (June 3, 2021)

News Articles:

Globe and Mail, “University of Toronto hiring decision not affected by judge: report” (March 30, 2021)

Toronto Star, “External review exonerates U of T in faculty hiring fiasco, but exposes what critic calls a ‘gold mine of impropriety’” (March 31, 2021)

Globe and Mail, “U of T report underlines troubling relationship between donors and academia” (April 1, 2021)

Toronto Star, “U of T could right the wrong — by hiring the ‘highly qualified’ human rights scholar whose appointment it scuttled” (April 1, 2021)

Alan Freeman, “The hiring scandal at the University of Toronto that was supposed to die” (published in iPolitics, April 1, 2021)

The Varsity, “IHRP controversy report concludes external pressure did not influence hiring decision” (April 4, 2021)

Vincent Wong, “What the IHRP Hiring Scandal Tells us About Intersectional Privilege in Canadian Legal Institutions” (published in OpinioJuris, April 6, 2021)

Ultra Vires, “Independent Review of the IHRP Hiring Controversy Concludes No Wrongdoing” (April 7, 2021)

Richard Moon, “Bad Times at a Great University and Its Law School” (blogpost on https://cfe.ryerson.ca/blog, April 21, 2021)

Toronto Star, “Tax Court judge committed a ‘serious error’ in University of Toronto hiring fiasco, a judicial review finds. But it won’t remove him” (May 21, 2021)

Globe and Mail, “Canadian Judicial Council finds judge’s intervention in university hiring process was ‘an error’ but should not cost him his job” (May 21, 2021)

Law Times, “Canadian Judicial Council closes complaint against Justice David Spiro” (May 24, 2021)

Globe and Mail, “Groups challenge decision allowing judge involved in U of T controversy to keep job” (June 24, 2021)

Other Media:

Louis Century’s Twitter Thread on the Independent Review (April 1, 2021)

Mohammad Fadel’s Twitter Thread on the Procedural Posture of the Cromwell Review (April 22, 2021)

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CAUT Censure and Responses

Official Statements:

President Gertler’s Letter to CAUT re: Cromwell Report (March 29, 2021)

President Gertler’s Letter to CAUT (April 20, 2021)

Canadian Association of University Teachers, “CAUT Council imposes rare censure against University of Toronto over Azarova hiring controversy” (April 22, 2021)

President Gertler’s Letter to the Community re: CAUT vote (April 23, 2021)

The University of Toronto’s Response to the CAUT censure (from the Division of Human Resources and Equity) (May 13, 2021)

Provost and the Vice President Human Resources and Equity Memo to Principals, Deans, Academic Directors, and Chairs (PDAD&C) members re: CAUT Censure (May 27, 2021)

Letters:

The University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA) on CAUT Censure (re: abstaining to vote on the CAUT motion) (April 22, 2021)

Professor Kent Roach’s Resignation Letter as Faculty Chair of the Advisory Group for David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights (April 23, 2021)

Letter from Butterfly (Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network) to President Gertler and Dean Brunnée (April 23, 2021)

Letter from Raed Hawa to Faculty of Medicine Dean Trevor Young re: CAUT motion and my Professorial Rounds (April 26, 2021)

Request from Black intellectuals and students asking Michaëlle Jean to respect censure of the University of Toronto (May 3, 2021)

University of Toronto Law Union (UTLU) Statement of Support for CAUT Censure (May 5, 2021)

The Shift’s Letter to President Gertler and Dean Brunnée (May 5, 2021)

The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean’s Statement on her Decision to Postpone her Lecture on Systemic Racial Discrimination at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto (May 6, 2021)

Indigenous Education Network Response to CAUT Censure of University of Toronto (May 6, 2021)

HIV Legal Network’s Letter to President Gertler and Dean Brunnée (May 6, 2021)

Jameel Jaffer’s Letter to President Gertler (May 8, 2021)

Jewish Law Students’ Association on Antisemitism in the Wake of the IHRP Scandal (May 10, 2021)

The UK’s University and College Union (UCU) Support for CAUT censure (May 11, 2021)

Open Letter from the Equity & Solidarity Studies Student Union (May 13, 2021)

Letter from Janani Shanmuganathan to Dean Jutta Brunnée (May 14, 2021)

The University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA) re: Update on CAUT Censure (May 14, 2021)

Amnesty International Letter to President Gertler and Dean Brunnée (May 18, 2021)

Arts and Science Students’ Union Statement on Academic Freedom and Palestine (May 18, 2021)

School of the Environment at the University of Toronto Statement in Support of the CAUT Censure (May 18, 2021)

CUPE 3902 Statement in Support of the CAUT Censure (May 18, 2021)

Jewish Faculty at the University of Toronto in Support of the CAUT Censure (May 19, 2021)

CUPE 3907 Executive Committee’s Statement in Support of the CAUT Censure (May 19, 2021)

Open Letter by Jewish, Palestinian, Black, Indigenous and Racialized Faculty to “Defend Academic Freedom and Support a Free Palestine” (May 19, 2021)

Student Unions (Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students at the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus Students’ Union at the University of Toronto, University of Toronto Graduate Students Union, University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union, Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, Continuing Education Students’ Association of Ryerson, Ontario College of Art and Design Students’ Union, York Federation of Students (YFS) at York University, York University Graduate Student’s Association) Letter in Support of CAUT Censure (May 19, 2021)

Students’ Law Society Letter to President Gertler re: Academic Freedom and the CAUT Censure (May 20, 2021)

The Varsity’s Editorial Board: In light of censure, U of T must take action to support free speech — particularly speech about Palestine” (May 23, 2021)

Faisal Kutty’s Letter to CBC re: Lack of Coverage of CAUT Censure of the University of Toronto (May 24, 2021)

Mélina Lévesque’s OpEd in the Varsity: CAUT censure holds U of T accountable (June 2, 2021)

Department of Geography and Planning Statement on the CAUT Censure (June 10, 2021)

University of Toronto Faculty Association Letter to President Gertler re: Town Hall on the CAUT Censure of the University of Toronto Administration (June 10, 2021)

American Association of University Professors NYU Chapter Statement on the Censure of the University of Toronto (June 16, 2021)

News Articles:

Toronto Star, “University teachers body issues rare censure against U of T law school for ‘serious violations of academic freedom’” (April 22, 2021)

Globe and Mail, “CAUT votes to censure University of Toronto over hiring dispute” (April 22, 2021)

Times Higher Education, “Union censures Toronto after job ‘rescinded over Israel views’” (April 23, 2021)

The Varsity, “CAUT council votes to censure U of T over Faculty of Law hiring scandal” (April 23, 2021)

University World News, “Do donors have too much influence over universities?” (April 25, 2021)

The Varsity, “U of T law professor resigns as advisory group chair in response to IHRP hiring scandal” (April 26, 2021)

Human Rights Watch, “University of Toronto’s Leadership Draws Fire Over Academic Freedom” (April 28, 2021)

The Varsity, “CAUT censure of U of T leads to slew of cancelled events across campus” (May 2, 2021)

Toronto Star, “Michaëlle Jean faces mounting pressure to boycott U of T after law school’s hiring fiasco” (May 5, 2021)

Toronto Star, “Michaëlle Jean pulls out of planned lecture at U of T over law school hiring fiasco” (May 6, 2021)

Globe and Mail, “Cancelled speech, resignation are latest fallout from Azarova affair at University of Toronto” (May 6, 2021)

The New Yorker, “Did a University of Toronto Donor Block the Hiring of a Scholar for Her Writing on Palestine?” (May 8, 2021)

The Forward, “The Azarova Affair: Did the University of Toronto pass on a professor for being critical of Israel?” (May 14, 2021)

The Varsity, “Boycotts of U of T move beyond initial CAUT censure mandate as movement heats up” (May 15, 2021)

Ultra Vires, “Criticisms over the Cromwell Report Erupt with CAUT Censuring U of T” (May 17, 2021) 

The Varsity, “Amnesty International suspends relationship with U of T over CAUT censure” (May 18, 2021)

The Toronto Star, “Amnesty International suspends ties with University of Toronto law program” (May 19, 2021)

CTV News, “Amnesty International suspends relationship with U of T over decision to rescind job offer to human rights scholar” (May 19, 2021)

CityNews, “Boycott of U of T growing amid hiring scandal” (May 20, 2021)

Barbara Bedont, “Why is anyone shocked that a donor can influence the hiring decisions at an elite Law School? That’s what it’s all about.” (May 28, 2021)

The Varsity, ““A last resort”: Scholar Strike Canada holds panel on CAUT censure of U of T over IHRP hiring scandal” (June 2, 2021)

Ultra Vires, “CAUT Censure of U of T Deemed Not to Impact Students’ Employability” (June 28, 2021)

Other Media:

Ongoing List of Cancelled Events and Resignations in Response to the CAUT Censure (via www.censureuoft.ca)

FAQ on Censure (via CAUT)

FAQ on Censure by U of T Faculty (via www.censureuoft.ca)

@initialvw Twitter Thread on Citizen Lab Ending Collaboration with U of T Law (May 8)

Sandy and Nora talk politics: Fighting to save higher education (Apple Podcast)

Censuring the Neo Liberal University: Academic Freedom, Donors and Equity: A Panel (May 20, 2021)

Naomi Klein’s Video Statement of Support for CAUT Censure (May 21, 2021)

Mohammed Fadel’s Twitter Thread on the University of Toronto’s Response to the CAUT Censure (May 27, 2021)

CAUT presentation to University of Toronto Faculty Association re: Why did CAUT Council censure the U of T administration? (May 27, 2021)

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The Future of the IHRP Program

Official Statements:

Faculty of Law resumes the hiring process for the Director of the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) (June 7, 2021)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Hiring Process for the Director of the International Human Rights Program in the Faculty of Law (June 7, 2021)

News Articles:

The Varsity, “Faculty of Law resumes search for new IHRP director amidst ongoing controversy over original hiring process” (June 7, 2021)

CBC, “Following controversy, U of T resumes search for International Human Rights Program director” (June 7, 2021)

Toronto Star, “University of Toronto hiring fiasco shows reliance on donors limits university’s role in challenging ‘cherished beliefs’” (July 1, 2021)

Ultra Vires, “Governing Council Discusses the Future of the IHRP” (July 2, 2021)

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