Uncovering a university network spying on pro-Palestine activism
Summary
Host Simon Desai interviews journalists Ewan Thompson and David Slater about their investigation into a secret network of Canadian universities coordinating with police and government officials to suppress pro-Palestine encampments. The reporters reveal how institutions like MacEwan University facilitated this collaboration while destroying records to evade accountability. They discuss the "delay, delete, and deny" tactics used by universities, the involvement of Alberta government officials, and the importance of freedom of information requests in exposing these coordinated crackdowns on s…
Topics discussed
Introduction: Secret university network investigation
Origins of the investigation and personal stakes
Using FOIPs to uncover institutional coordination
Universities' strategy of delay, delete, and deny
Smoking gun: Alberta government official in network
McEwan University's central role and student impact
Remaining gaps and the importance of independent journalism
Reader reactions and broader implications for accountability
Listen ad-free on Castria