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The Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union (TMSU) has retained a lawyer to investigate a series of complaints from last semester, the group said in a statement posted to its website earlier this month.
In the Jan. 20 statement, TMSU said it has retained Emily Lam, to investigate complaints related to two TMSU recognized student groups, Students Supporting Israel and Students for Justice in Palestine.
Lam will be looking into multiple reports, including the events that took place on Nov. 5, where multiple student protestors were arrested at an off-campus event where Israeli soldiers were present.
While the groups are not directly overseen by the TMSU, the statement noted that all TMSU recognized groups are expected to comply with TMSU policies. Possible consequences include revocation of TMSU recognition.
“TMSU takes the underlying complaints seriously, and has retained a third party investigator to ensure that there is a thorough, fair, and independent review of the complaints that have been submitted. We want to ensure all students and groups involved have a full opportunity to be heard and that any findings are based on evidence,” said Sally Lee and Scott Miller Berry, the interim co-executive directors at TMSU, in an email to OTR.
The announcement comes as the TMSU remains in the midst of by-elections following previous compromised election results, with many questioning who called for the investigation. The union’s activities this year have been overseen by full-time and part-time staff, as well as a student board of directors and the two interim executive directors.
According to Miller Berry and Lee, the decision to initiate an independent investigation was made by the board upon recommendations from staff. The TMSU first announced it was seeking an independent investigator on Nov. 12, 2025.
The TMSU investigation is running separately from the inquiry being held by Toronto Metropolitan University. The university’s review will focus on the Nov. 5 event, as well as one that took place on Sept. 19 on campus, after a video circulated of a campus security guard assaulting a student protester.
Meanwhile, TMU appointed the Honourable Mary Lou Benotto on Nov. 4, 2025, a retired justice from the Court of Appeal for Ontario. President Mohamed Lachemi discussed the review in an interview with OTR.
“Justice Benotto’s review will focus on the events in question, how TMU manages protests, events, and demonstrations, and how we can manage freedom of expression, campus safety and security, and the orderly functioning of our university,” Lachemi said.
“At the conclusion of Justice Benotto’s review, reports and recommendations will be submitted to TMU leadership, and we promise that we will share those recommendations with the rest of our community.”
Because TMSU’s investigation is still in its early stages, Lee and Miller Berry said that TMSU is unable to provide a timeline. Meanwhile Benotto told OTR in a statement that it would be premature for her to comment.
Otter A.I. was used to in the production of this piece.
