CUPE 3903, the union representing teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants organized a successful rally challenging the administration crackdown on Freedom of speech and the right to dissent at York University

On Thursday, November 25, 300 Students, faculty, workers, and others from the York University community assembled to oppose the York administration’s clampdown on the basic rights of political dissent. Students and Faculty spoke, including Professor David Noble who the administration has publicly defamed for disseminating information regarding ties between the York administration and the politics of its financial contributors. Professor David McNally, a long-time political activist and supporter of minority and worker rights on and off campus, also spoke.

After the demonstration, 150 people marched to York president Lorna Marsden’s office to urge the administration to live up to its commitment to “academic freedom and social justice” (York Mission Statement) and to deliver a letter and list of demands. Crowded in the hallway and stairwell outside the locked office door, the York community members demanded that the administration cease punishing students for exercising their rights to free speech, assembly in public halls, and political engagement.

The demonstrators demanded that the administration acknowledge the rights of students and workers to use York space for political activity.

Further, they demanded a public apology to the students who have recently been threatened with discipline for their participation in political activity on campus. They also urged York to apologize to Professor David Noble for accusing him of anti-Semitism.

The event was organized by the CUPE 3903 Stewards Council

* * *

Last year, the administration tried to expel an undergraduate student activist
for using a megaphone at a campus demonstration. This student has since been reinstated following a judicial review in which the actions of the President’s office were deemed unwarranted.

More recently, the administration sent warning letters to 5 students who participated in a vigil commemorating Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip. The students were forced to meet with the administration, and threatened with potential sanctions for political assembly without a “permit”.

Below is the open letter that was submitted to Lorna Marsden


Open Letter to York's President

Dear President Marsden,

At 1 PM on Thursday, November 25, the Stewards’ Council of CUPE 3903 organized a rally in the Vari Hall Rotunda in defense of campus democracy at York University. This rally was held in opposition to the trend of harassment and intimidation of social justice activists by your administration.

Last year, your administration tried to expel an undergraduate student activist who was using a megaphone at a campus demonstration. This expulsion happened in the context of the increasing imposition of restrictions on student access to space.

More recently, 5 students who participated in a vigil, held outside the university, regarding Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip were sent warning letters, forced to meet with the administration, and threatened with potential sanctions for political assembly without a “permit”.

And now, as of last week, York Professor David Noble is being publicly defamed by your administration for handing out a small number of leaflets suggesting that the political conduct of York University’s administration is in large part influenced by the politics of your financial contributors.

Over the past two years, your administration has charged exorbitant security fees to progressive student groups bringing speakers on to campus, denied progressive students access to public space for leafleting and tabling, had students arrested for their opposition to the war in Iraq, and introduced draconian policies designed to prevent students from organizing political events on campus. At the same your administration welcomed Daniel Pipes, an overt racist and opponent of academic freedom, to speak on our campus.

Campus activism is a vital component of what makes York a unique and progressive University that, to quote from York’s mission statement, is "committed to academic freedom [and] social justice". This clamp-down on basic rights of political dissent will not be tolerated. This is our university and we will defend our right to free speech and political assembly here.

We Demand that:

1) Your administration cease punishing students for exercising their rights to free speech, assembly in public halls, and political engagement,
2) You publicly apologize to those students who have been threatened with discipline for their participation in political activity on campus,
3) You publicly apologize to David Noble for accusing him of anti-semitism,
4) Your administration acknowledge the rights of students, workers, and other community members to use York space for political activity.

We thank you for your time, and hope that you will help to put this situation behind us as soon as possible. Please get back to us at you first convenience.

Sincerely,

The CUPE 3903 Steward's Council and concerned faculty, students, and other members of the York Community

PS: Are you aware that your $35000 salary increase this year could have paid for 3 T.A.s or course directorships, one tenure stream faculty position, or the tuition of 6 undergraduate students. Thanks.

[article.homepage.prefix]: http://www.cupe3903.tao.ca

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