Honorary Doctorates for Hamas’s Favorite “Fig Leaves”? Universities Have Officially Lost the Plot

Oh, academia, you never cease to amaze. Just when you think the ivory tower couldn’t sink any lower into the swamp of performative virtue, along comes Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) in Halifax, gleefully tossing honorary doctorates at Judy and Larry Haiven like confetti at a woke wedding. Why, you ask? For their “pro-Palestine work” through Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV), a group that’s less about Jewish voices and more about providing a flimsy fig leaf for some of the most unsavory characters in the anti-Israel circus. Buckle up, folks—this one’s a masterclass in how to make your university look pathetic while exposing a deeper rot in education.

Let’s start with the Haivens, shall we? Judy, a retired professor with a knack for stirring the pot, and Larry, her partner in activism, have been hailed as champions of “justice” by IJV, a group that’s about as representative of Jewish Canadians as a vegan is of cattle ranchers. According to Judy’s own blog, the couple was “deeply honored” to receive MSVU’s nod for their tireless efforts to “educate Canadians on the reality of Israeli apartheid” and, presumably, to keep the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement’s tires pumped. Sounds noble, right? Until you peel back the layers and find a rancid core of affiliations that should make any self-respecting academic gag.

See, IJV isn’t just your garden-variety anti-Zionist outfit. Back in 2015, B’nai Brith Canada exposed IJV for promoting Holocaust denial—yes, Holocaust denial—by linking to articles on Veterans Today, a white supremacist hate site that claims no more than a million Jews died in the Shoah and blames Israel for, well, everything from 9-11 to your Wi-Fi dropping. This wasn’t a one-off oopsie, either. IJV’s co-chair at the time, Sid Shniad, was personally sharing these links, and when called out, the group’s response was a half-hearted “whoops, our bad” while leaving the posts up on Shniad’s personal feed. Classy. And yet, MSVU thought it fitting to drape the Haivens, proud IJV stalwarts, in academic regalia for their “humanitarian” work. Because nothing screams “honorary doctorate” like cozying up to a group that flirts with neo-Nazis under the guise of “anti-Zionism.”

But let’s not just pick on Judy and Larry. They’re merely the Muppets stealing the spotlight in this absurd puppet show. The real scandal is MSVU and the broader academic machine that’s so desperate to signal its progressive cred it’ll fawn over anyone waving a “justice” flag, no matter how tattered. Universities used to be places where critical thinking reigned supreme, where ideas were dissected with surgical precision. Now? They’re TikTok algorithms in mortarboards, chasing clout by rewarding activists who peddle divisive narratives while ignoring their baggage. The Haivens’ doctorates aren’t just a slap in the face to academic integrity; they’re a symptom of a system that’s traded rigor for applause lines.

And oh, the irony. IJV, the Haivens’ beloved platform, has a history of headlining Toronto’s al-Quds Day rallies, events so toxic even some anti-Israel groups steer clear. These are the gatherings where speakers have called for Israelis to be shot and praised terrorists, all while IJV’s Ken Stone rants about Jewish “social parasites” and cozies up to Iran’s theocratic regime. This is the company MSVU is indirectly endorsing by elevating the Haivens. Pro-Hamas fig leaves? More like a whole fig tree of moral bankruptcy, with Judy and Larry as its ripest fruit.

The larger problem here isn’t just one university’s tone-deaf decision. It’s the creeping rot in higher education, where nuance is dead, and “activism” is a golden ticket to prestige, no matter how toxic the associations. Universities like MSVU are so busy polishing their progressive halos they’ve forgotten how to vet their heroes. Want an honorary degree? Just shout “apartheid” loud enough, and never mind if your allies include Holocaust deniers or terror apologists. It’s a farce that cheapens the very degrees students are breaking their backs to earn.

So, congratulations, MSVU, for turning your commencement into a circus and your honorary doctorates into participation trophies for divisive figures. And to Judy and Larry Haiven, enjoy your moment in the spotlight—just don’t be surprised when people start noticing the shadows cast by your “honor.” As for the rest of us, let’s keep calling out this academic clown show until universities remember what they’re supposed to stand for: truth, not trendy fig leaves.

Sources…

Related Posts