MelissaSundardas
Staff Writer
@excalweb
Recent statistics show York is losing its popularity amongst Ontario secondary school students applying to university for the upcoming fall 2012 year.
According to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre’s (OUAC) January 2012 report on preliminary undergraduate applications, the number of students picking York as their first choice has dropped 5.2 per cent since 2011. Total applications, including all picks, are down 1.8 per cent over the same period.
Madison Shields is currently in grade 12 at King City Secondary School. She says the recent crimes and safety incidents at York played a part in her decision not to include York as one of her picks. Instead, she applied to Ryerson, U of T, UOIT, U of Ottawa, and Laurier.
“The campus location is not ideal; it is not an area that I would be interested in spending and potentially living for four-plus years,” says Shields. “The recent events on campus have just further led me to believe that York and the surrounding area is not safe for students.”
Shields’ mother, Ilga Shields, says if Madison did want to attend York, she would only allow it after investigating to ensure acceptable security measures have been put into place since the recent incidents.
“She would live at home, not on campus,” says Ilga. “[Madison] would have to avoid late classes and need to drive. This would limit her university experience, so she would probably not want to go to York.”
Melissa Siu-Chong, a grade 12 student from St. Elizabeth Catholic School, says she only chose York as a backup option because she was unsure at the time if she wanted to attend a school close to home or away.
However, she will not be attending York, even after receiving an early acceptance with a scholarship.
“The recent crimes at York have most definitely affected my decision, but I applied regardless, picking York as my last choice,” says Siu-Chong. “I’ve been told by previous graduates and current students of York that it’s not the safest university.
The recent washroom voyeur incidents are also unsettling enough to put her off York, she adds. Siu-Chong is “almost certain” she will be attending Ryerson instead.
“Even though York University was the first to give me an early acceptance with a scholarship, it is most definitely out of the question for me,” she says. “The crime adds without any doubt a factor to my decision in not attending York next year.”
However, grade 12 Vaughan Secondary School student Dakshan Krishnapalan selected York as one of his university choices and feels the recent crimes and safety incidents have nothing to do with the integrity of the school’s learning environment.
“Crimes happen everywhere and media attention is so high here just because this area is usually so safe that when something does come up, it gets a lot of media attention,” says Krishnapalan. “York is one of the safest universities with a great set of people, a good environment, and a highly intelligent staff. I applied because it’s conveniently close to home and still has good programs,” he says.
Even so, female students seem far more reluctant to consider York as a viable option. Emily Inderjeit, a grade 12 student at Louise Arbour Secondary School in Brampton, applied to York.
While she thinks York is a good choice for her studies, her safety concerns about the campus could easily sway her mind, she says.
“I have to say that given the events that have happened at York the past few years, I would not feel safe living, let alone walk around alone on campus,” says Inderjeit.
“York is an option because of a scholarship opportunity, but if these events keep up, that won’t keep me.”
York officials declined to comment until final application numbers come in. The next application statistics report from the OUAC is scheduled to be posted by February 8, 2012.
