Victoria Silman | Staff Writer
Featured image: The website so far appears as useful as the counter at the bottom of the web page. | Basma Elbahnasawy
A new website has been created that reveals the extensive spending and questionable practices behind the use of student tuition by York’s President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, under the address “lenton.cn.”
It is unclear who the website’s creator is; however, an IP address suggests involvement from an individual in the YFS’ (York Federation of Students) office.
The YFS President was unable to be reached for comment, however a spokesperson from their office explains: “A lot of these expenses were made two or three years ago. Many members of YFS were in high school then. There is no way they were involved.”
The site includes links to photocopied receipts allegedly revealing Lenton’s use of tuition on various unnecessary materials, including—but not limited to—an expensive lawyer for the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 3903 negotiations, bribes with Chinese officials on an expensive trip to Shanghai, and what the site claims as “hospitality, including adult entertainment, and a performance by [redacted] with an unlimited supply of Virginia Black Whiskey.”
The receipts list hospitality at a total of $4,000 for the month the event was held.
A third-year Accounting student, Sati Redition, comments: “If Rhonda wants to use my money to show her guests a good time, who am I to stop her? The way I see it, it benefits all York students if our president wants to create a feeling of a fun-loving, progressive, and modern school.
“If she feels it’s necessary to also support local artists and their business endeavors, I think that reflects greatly on the York community.”
It has also been noted that York’s previous President, Mamdouh Shoukri, had made similar claims during his presidency, including $5,000 per month on entertainment.
A spokesperson for Lenton’s office explains: “President Shoukri spent $5,000 per month on entertainment, which President Lenton has yet to do so. She hasn’t even spent that much. All her expenses are really important.”
Dr. Ed Stringer, a Satanist Studies professor, explains: “Shoukri spent a great deal each month on entertaining people. Now that a woman is in office, it’s obvious that people are coming down on her harder than they were with Shoukri. Although, she is a woman after all, so she probably spends all her money uselessly anyways. If anyone in my class disagrees, I’ll fail them.”
Reddit users in the r/yorku thread have been expressing their views about the legitimacy of the website, and the claims it is making against York’s president.
Red D’ittor, a Critical Thinking student, comments: “YFS is likely involved. This has to be organized by the YFS President to maintain to her status as the ineptest woman at York.”
Concerning the legitimacy of the claims, D’ittor continues: “100 per cent of the website is 100 per cent fake, and I have like 100 per cent proof. Their (sic) making spellig (sic) mistakes in every other sentence.”
When asked for the proof, D’ittor explains: “A ‘journalist’ of your calibur (sic) wouldn’t understand the complexity of the proof. In fact, it’s so advanced that I don’t even understand it. It’s just fake. Okay?”
An anonymous Reddit user comments: “The website provides sufficient evidence to prove the spending is legitimate. It couldn’t be clearer than that. If anyone says the website is anything but real, they need to take a class in logic.”
Lance Free, an Osgoode Hall Law professor, adds: “The website is obviously so totally legit. They have pictures and stuff. Just look at the evidence, man.”
A timer at the bottom of the website counts down until the next reveal of information regarding Lenton. One anonymous student suggests: “Could be Russian prostitutes. Who knows? I guess we’ll see!”
