Profs Protest Heather Reisman's Degree

Businesswoman and philanthropist Heather Reisman is scheduled to receive an honorary degree from Mount Allison University on Monday. But a group of professors are taking steps to stop the event.

The teachers at the liberal arts university in New Brunswick are unhappy with a foundation Reisman and her husband Gerry Schwartz created. The Heseg Foundation was launched by the Indigo Books couple to provide full scholarships to non-Israeli-born students who travel to Israel to join the military.

Mount Allison professor David Thomas said Reisman does not deserve the honorary degree because of “her direct ties to the Israeli military.” He told the CBC, “This is a military that has been accused and found guilty on several occasions of gross violations of international humanitarian law.”

Thomas and 18 other retired and current professors at the university have reportedly signed a petition protesting Reisman’s degree. Thomas also put forward a motion to the university senate to rethink the matter but it was dismissed by Mount Allison president Robert Campbell.

Campbell stands by the university’s decision and believes Reisman has vastly contributed to the world of business as well as to other charities abroad.

It was also revealed by the CBC that about 100 e-mails have been received from people across the country opposing Mount Allison’s decision. But Tony Frost, a spokesperson for the university, told the CBC, “While 100 may seem like a lot, but there are a great number of people out there that are very supportive of this. Ms. Reisman is a very celebrated person. She has impeccable credentials in terms of her business and her philanthropy.”

Reisman has previously received honorary doctorates from post-secondary institutions such as Ryerson University and Wilfrid Laurier University.