Controversial deal with anti-Israel protesters has big donors deserting University of Windsor

Large donors are abandoning the University of Windsor following its controversial deal with pro-Palestinian protesters — including business magnate and philanthropist Barry Zekelman, who withdrew a $1-million gift and future support.

The Star has learned that once-faithful donors have withdrawn pledges to help, or stopped donating to, various initiatives, ranging from addressing the housing crisis to renovating the university’s law school. 

Jay Kellerman, a prominent Toronto lawyer and UWindsor alumnus, has withdrawn a pledge to donate “tens of thousands of dollars” over time to the law school.  

“I have become disenchanted and uncomfortable, and appalled, by the direction on this matter by the University of Windsor. And significantly concerned by the direction of the law school and the experience of the Jewish students in the faculty of law.”

Kellerman, who earned undergraduate and law degrees at UWindsor, added that, “while there might be a notion of academic freedom, I have a personal notion of my financial freedom to give and donate money to causes that I believe in.” 

In an email responding to the Star’s request for comment, the university did not address questions about how losing such donations will affect the institution or specific projects.  

“The University of Windsor upholds the highest standards of respect and confidentiality for our valued donors,” UWindsor said. “We do not disclose information about their contributions, support for research contracts, or investments unless explicitly directed to do so.” 

The university said these are “challenging times, with complex global issues affecting communities everywhere, including ours.” 

“Our country, province, community, and university are made up of people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives,” UWindsor stated. “Understandably, responses to global events and university decisions differ widely among individuals and groups. 

“The University of Windsor is focused on providing an inclusive, safe, and respectful environment for all. We are dedicated to serving our students, advancing our educational mission, and driving impactful research both locally and globally. Support from donors remains deeply appreciated and integral to helping us achieve these goals.” 

UWindsor signed an agreement July 10 to meet multiple demands from pro-Palestinian protesters to end the “Liberation Zone” encampment they set up on campus on May 9. Similar protests appeared at universities across Canada with rising tensions as the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas escalated. 

The administration of president Robert Gordon also struck a separate but similar agreement with the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA).  

“It’s obviously a national movement,” Jamiel Nasser, with the Windsor Divest group that set up the encampment, said in July. “We’re looking at how some of the other schools ended it. Unfortunately, some of them did not end peacefully. 

“We are very grateful that we are able to come to a peaceful agreement with the university, and also that the agreement is very good.” 

Among the contentious features of the agreements was a university promise not to pursue any academic agreements with Israeli universities “until the right of Palestinian self-determination has been realized,” unless supported by its senate.  

The university also committed to more “responsible investing” and better screening of where it makes investments.  

Regarding responsible investment, UWindsor recognized that the United Nations “has found Israel, the occupying power, to be in serious violation of international law and human rights in the conduct of its occupation of Palestinian territory.” 

The agreement also states the university recognizes that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights “has established an active database of companies whom it has identified are engaged with the illegal Israeli settlement enterprise in the occupied Palestinian territory.”  

B’nai Brith Canada, the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Hillel Ontario, and the Windsor Jewish Federation were among the organizations to condemn the University of Windsor deal.  

B’nai Brith, one of Canada’s largest Jewish human rights organizations, launched an “official letter of complaint,” alleging violations of Ontario’s Discriminatory Business Practice Act (DBPA). 

In the midst of the backlash, the university said it would also work on agreements with Jewish stakeholders. But that has done little to satisfy many critics and some considerable donors. 

Zekelman, who has given generously to many different causes over the years, is among the largest donors to pull support. He declined to comment.  

But a source close to the situation told the Star that Zekelman will no longer financially support the university.  

A $1-million pledge that Zekelman Industries made in June, to set up a new UWindsor centre focused on innovative construction solutions to the housing crisis, is also off the table. 

The donation would have seen creation of an industrial research chair position and establishment of the Zekelman Centre of Modular Innovation and Sustainable Construction.

Stephen Cheifetz, a Windsor lawyer and president of the Windsor Jewish Federation, also pulled funding for a law school bursary over the university’s encampment deal. 

He said the bursary, meant to support students in the Canadian & American Dual Juris Doctor program, began with a government-matched $5,000 donation. Going forward, the plan was to provide a couple thousand dollars a year, which also would have been government-matched. 

“From my perspective, the agreement was just outrageous,” said Cheifetz. “I think the law school is going to be significantly affected because there are a lot of angry lawyers.” 

The Star could not reach two other donors who reportedly withdrew donations. 

Two months after the university struck the deal with protesters, Kellerman said it’s “still shocking.” 

“The terms of the settlement are shocking and disturbing to me, as to many in, not only the Jewish community, but our Canadian community more broadly,” he said.

“Combine that with the experience of Jewish students, primarily in the law school. Based on all of that I took the view that I no longer want to fund this.

“I have requested that my family’s name come off its place anywhere in the law school.”

Israel launched a military invasion of the Gaza Strip in response to members of Hamas, the Palestinian political and militant group that governs Gaza, attacking Israel on Oct. 7. The group, which Canada considers a terrorist organization, killed 1,139 people and took 252 hostages.

About 40,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, have since been killed, according to Gaza health authorities. 

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