McGill University Bans Convicted Killer Enrolled in Law School, Sparking Student Outcry

McGill University has banned Jeffrey George Ewert, a convicted murderer and sex offender, from its law school campus, a decision that has ignited outrage among more than 120 students and alumni who have signed a petition calling for his reinstatement.

Ewert, now in his 60s, was admitted to McGill's Law School in August. However, the university's administration moved to ban him from campus this month. McGill Provost Angela Campbell stated that the university had taken "measured, decisive action" in response to the situation. The exclusion prompted a petition from current and former law students, who argued for Ewert's return and suggested that his case be viewed through the lens of colonialism, claiming his incarceration was "inextricable from the colonial institutions in which he was born."

The petition asserts that "Jeff’s situation is where our collective commitments to reconciliation and rehabilitation are tested." Raymond Johnson-Brown, a law student involved in organizing the petition, said that he and others had befriended Ewert and witnessed his removal from campus by security guards. Johnson-Brown emphasized that Ewert had faced no allegations of wrongdoing at McGill and expressed disbelief that Ewert, who is on day parole, posed a threat to student well-being.

Ewert's criminal history dates back to 1984. He murdered a young woman after offering her a ride home, strangling and sexually assaulting her. In a separate incident, he brutally beat and strangled a 15-year-old girl who refused his advances, leaving her blind and quadriplegic. He was in his 20s at the time of these offenses. In 2025, while on day parole, Ewert violated his release conditions multiple times, including restrictions on his contact with women.

According to CBC, various clinical assessments have ranked Ewert's risk of reoffending as moderate to high, though parole documents suggest this risk could fall into the moderate category with supervision. Johnson-Brown acknowledged that concerns from women on campus were understandable but reiterated his belief that Ewert's past, when considered alongside the context of colonialism, should inform the university's approach.

Provost Campbell addressed student concerns in a memo, acknowledging the legitimacy of worries about transparency and safety. She stated that McGill is "committed to dignity and to second chances" and believes in the transformative power of education. Campbell added that a past conviction does not automatically bar individuals from studying at the university, but this commitment must be balanced against the university's duty of care to its community. The university is currently reviewing its protocols for handling such cases.