We, the undersigned from the community call upon York Universitys faculty to provide a campus (without delay) that is free from hate and intimidation for their Jewish students.

There have been very disturbing events on Yorks campus including a situation where a coalition of students tried to hold a news conference regarding their campaign to replace the student government for supporting the recent strike by CUPE. Some York Federation of Students forced their way in, prevented the doors from being closed and delayed the start of the news conference. After the news conference finally began, the protesters resorted to yelling racists off campus and Zionists out outside the doors. Because of the hate and intimidation, the organizers called the police and the news conference ended.

After the news conference many Jewish students decided to make their way to the Hillel lounge. They were met there by approximately 100 members of Students Against Israeli Apartheid and York Federation Students (YFS) shouting anti-Jewish and anti-Israel slogans. Ultimately, the Toronto police and campus security felt it was necessary to escort the Jewish students out of the lounge for their own safety.

In addition to this horrific event, anti-Jewish and anti-Israel graffiti is common at York University as are verbal threats of physical harm to Jewish students.

This virulent hate and intimidation toward Jewish students on campus must stop now.

We demand that York University enforce their official campus policy on disruptive and /or harassing behaviour which is as follows:


Senate Policy on Disruptive and/or Harassing Behaviour in Academic Situations

Policy

Senate affirms that no individual or group of individuals shall cause by action, threat or otherwise, a disturbance that obstructs any academic activity organized by the university or its units.
York is committed to policies that support the teaching and learning of controversial subject matter. Students and instructors are, however, expected to maintain a teaching and learning environment that is physically safe and conducive to effective teaching and learning for all concerned, and to be civil and respectful at all times within the learning environment, including within classrooms, laboratories, libraries, study halls and other places where academic activities are conducted and in areas proximate to those where academic activities are taking place.
It shall be the responsibility of the course director or other supervisor to determine the appropriate academic response and follow-up resulting from a disruption.

Procedures

Associated Procedures
If activities cannot continue because of a disruption within or in the vicinity of a classroom or other area where academic activities are conducted, course directors or other supervisors shall determine the appropriate immediate response. Bearing in mind the safety and security of all individuals, instructors shall take such steps as the following:

requesting that the disruption stop;

briefly suspending activities;

calling campus security.

Course directors or other supervisors shall inform the Associate Dean of their Faculty and chair of the applicable unit of any incident which has disrupted academic activities.

These principles and guidelines are intended to be remedial, rather than punitive, in nature. To the extent possible, disruptive behaviour should be addressed through mediation rather than adversarial procedures. However, depending on the behaviour, all members of the York community have recourse to University regulations (such as the Student Code of Conduct), the Criminal Code of Canada or other federal, provincial and municipal statutes.