York will be implementing several new security measures in response to the shooting that occurred in the Student Centre last week.
Security staff will be placed at the Student Centre food court, and York is in talks about installing security cameras in and around the building, according to a statement released by the President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri on March 10. Currently, there are no security cameras at the Student Centre.
Senior university officials will also meet with the Toronto Police to review the March 6 incident and to provide joint recommendations to improve campus safety and security.
Arrangements for this meeting have not been made yet, according to Janice Walls of York media.
“Two security officials will be dedicated to the Student Centre from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily until it has been determined how best to improve security there,” says Walls. In addition to this, two Toronto Police officers patrolling campus for two weeks, after which time the university will re-evaluate the situation.
[su_pullquote align=”right”]”Senior university officials will also meet with the Toronto Police to review the March 6 incident and to provide joint recommendations to improve campus safety and security.”[/su_pullquote]
Six months ago, the Toronto Police Service established a community response team of about six officers who are dedicated to York and the surrounding neighbourhood, including the Village.
As the university has enhanced security across the campus, the Student Centre was a location where the student community asked that the university balance the need for security, with the need for a space where they can gather without monitoring, explains Walls.
“This has been an ongoing discussion, and the University is working collaboratively with the Student Centre to enhance safety measures in this gathering point, including the need for CCTV cameras,” says Walls.
“We are working closely with our York University Community Safety Council to ensure that our plans, policies and procedures continue to be reviewed and enhanced, and to build on the major enhancements achieved over the last few years,” wrote Shoukri in his statement.
Police are still searching for a suspect in the shooting, which occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, and left two York students in the hospital.
[su_pullquote]“This has been an ongoing discussion, and the University is working collaboratively with the Student Centre to enhance safety measures in this gathering point, including the need for CCTV cameras,” says Walls.[/su_pullquote]
Both victims, Annie Malik and Namra Malik, are expected to make a full recovery.
The two were playing cards at the food court in the Student Centre, when a shot was fired in their direction. Annie was shot in the leg, while shrapnel went through a chair, and entered Namra’s thigh.
Annie is still in the hospital recovering, while Namra was discharged on Friday.
Police do not believe the victims were the intended targets.
The shooter is described as a black male, 5’8 to 6’ in height, and was wearing a black hoodie and black coat at the time, according to police. He fled the scene, and there are no further details at the moment, as the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information on the shooting should call Toronto Police at 416-222-TIPS.
Tamara Khandaker
Editor-In-Chief
Photo by Michael Burton
