U of O antisemitism adviser apologizes, resigns for posts on device explosions
The University of Ottawa's special adviser on antisemitism has resigned after fewer than three months in the role, saying his social media posts about the deadly device explosions across Lebanon had hurt people and affected his ability to do that job.
Artur Wilczynski, a senior adviser at the university's graduate school of public and international affairs and a decorated former senior public servant, posted and replied several times on X, formerly known as Twitter, as the attacks broke out Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday, at least 12 people were killed, including two children, with some 2,800 people wounded when hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members began detonating wherever they happened to be — in homes, cars, at grocery stores and in cafés.
The following day, in a second wave of attacks, at least 20 people were killed and 450 were wounded when walkie-talkies and solar equipment used by Hezbollah exploded in Beirut and multiple parts of Lebanon.
Although Israel has neither confirmed or denied its involvement, it's widely believed that intelligence officials from the country were responsible for the attacks.
Wilczynski drew anger online for characterizing what happened as "brilliant," posting, "today's targeting of Hezbollah operatives was brilliant. It struck a major blow against a terror group that has fired thousands of rockets against civilians all while the useless UN mission in Lebanon stands by."
He later said Wednesday evening that by "brilliant" he meant the sophistication involved in planning, adding that "the loss of innocent lives in any conflict is abhorrent and must be avoided."
Wilczynski also posted a clapping GIF in reply to a post about both the planning involved in the attacks and the widespread injuries, and a GIF from Looney Tunes of the Road Runner scaring Wile E. Coyote with the caption "Beep beep" a few hours after the explosions began.
He later posted that the Road Runner reference was about "persistent attempts to kill Jews over the centuries that fail" and said other accounts were making "morbid projections" by saying he was joking about killing children.
Adviser role created earlier in summer
His first post Wednesday was to say he resigned as adviser.
"I believe in accountability. My posts on the Hezbollah/Israel war caused harm and affected my ability to help combat antisemitism at U of Ottawa," he said.
"My intent in sharing is irrelevant when it is clear many were hurt by them. I apologize. I resigned as Special Advisor on Antisemitism."
Wilczynski declined to comment further.
In an emailed statement, a university spokesperson said Wilczynski informed them of his decision to resign and that the school remains committed to confronting antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination in order to "make our campuses safer and more secure for the Jewish community."
The university announced they'd created this part-time special advisor position and that Wilczynski would fill it at the end of June. It said he'd be "studying antisemitism and advising the University's senior leadership on strategies to combat it and other forms of racism, discrimination and harassment to promote a safer campus for all."
