Professors and union representatives speak out in fight for student rights

Prominent York faculty and community members spoke in the Student Centre on March 25 to publicize alleged violations of student rights and civil liberties by York’s administration.
Professors David McNally, John Greyson, and Penni Stewart, as well as CUPE 3903 Chairperson Faiz Ahmed and alumnus Hamman Farah all spoke at the event.

Farah, who was banned from campus in the spring of 2013 following a rally held by Students Against Israeli Apartheid, says administrators cannot be allowed to continue to intimidate and harass students in unrestrained manner. 

Farah also points to York’s revocation of SAIA’s club status on March 27, 2013, as an example of this harassment and intimidation from York’s administration.
Despite being banned from campus, Farah still spoke at the event.
Joanne Rider of York media responded to Excalibur’s request for comment via email, stating that freedom of expressions is one of York’s guiding principles.

“Members of the York community have the right to express their views and to test and challenge ideas, provided they do so within the law, and in a peaceful and non-threatening manner that does not disrupt academic activity,” Rider continues. 

She also adds that York’s responsibility is to protect the academic environment, while ensuring all community members abide by agreed upon standards of conduct, which allow students to pursue their studies “free from unwelcome disruptions.”

“York has and will continue to ensure these policies are communicated, understood, and adhered to in a consistent manner,” says Rider.
The event was not prevented by York administration, as it was approved by the Student Centre board and included participation from the York Federation of Students.
Farah is pushing for York to amend their Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, the Senate Policy on Disruptive and/or Harassing Behaviour in Academic Situations, and the Temporary Use of University Space policy to reflect Canadian values of freedom of expression.

“Free speech and free assembly are important to students,” he says. “This is where we learn the most about these basic democratic values, and where the most opportunities arise to exercise them.”

David McNally, a political science professor, spoke out in support of SAIA and Farah. Hereferenced a letter signed by 150 faculty members urging the administration to recognize civil rights violations and begin amending policies on the use of student space and the student code of conduct.
“You cannot maintain any of kind of democratic culture in a society unless basic rights to express opinions and assemble on behalf of those opinions is secure,” says McNally.
He cites the treatment of SAIA and Farah as a specific problem within York’s democratic culture. McNally also believes the York administration is attempting to “roll back the gains that student and social movements have made in regards to free speech and free assembly, particularly those with dissenting opinions.”
“Speaking as a political scientist, I don’t see how I can go into my classes and try to transmit to students the importance of basic civil rights in a democratic society, and then not speak out when I see my own administration violating them,” he says.
McNally says the event will only have been successful if it contributes to increasing pressure on the York administration to “get serious about civil rights and student rights.”
Michael Burton
Executive Editor (Online)
With files from Ryan Moore