A stabbing in the Village over the weekend has people asking a series of questions, which largely remain unanswered. Toronto police told Excalibur that all they can say at this time is no charges have been laid.
A 19-year-old man was taken to the hospital after being stabbed in the stomach at a house party near Cook Road and Leitch Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. Teresa Park, a second-year arts and science student from Queen’s University, was hiding in the basement of the house where the stabbing occurred when police arrived.
“It was only maybe an hour after the police entered the house that we heard that someone was stabbed,” she says.
“At first, I thought it was a joke because you always hear about people getting hurt at parties, but I never imagined it would happen when I was there.”
“But after that I was pretty concerned, because there was no word on who it was and how they were doing. After that though I knew the person who assaulted the guy was gone. I am still pretty shaken because it makes you realize things can go sour without any warning.”
Arrest made in sexual assault
Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Lorne Sossin recently sent an email to law students about York’s January 9 bulletin about an arrest made in sexual assaults. On Friday, York security received reports from two York students who said they’d been sexually assaulted by a male student earlier in the fall of 2015. On Friday, an arrest was made.
“This incident involves Osgoode students and is deeply troubling,” writes Sossin.
“I want to assure community members that the students who have come forward have received and are receiving support through a range of services, support, and resources at Osgoode and centrally from the university.”
Mandi Gray, a doctoral student who was sexually assaulted last year, says the incident demonstrates how deeply flawed York’s response remains despite the implementation of a sexual assault policy nearly one year ago.
Gray remains concerned about potentially having to share space with a man charged with multiple sexual assaults. Gray experienced difficulties trying to get information when she called York security on Saturday morning.
“Why is York more interested in protecting the identities of men who have been charged by the police with sexual assault than providing information to the York community? How can we trust York to take the appropriate steps to ensure our safety on campus when they have refused to take seriously the informational needs of survivors on campus?”
York security at a loss to explain string of robberies
A non-community member was injured in an alleged armed robbery on the weekend in the Village. The robbery is the ninth reported of the 2015-2016 school year.
According to a security bulletin issued January 10, an armed robbery occurred in the Village near Cook Road and Leitch Avenue, where the stabbing also subsequently occurred early Saturday morning.
The victim was reported to have sustained a “serious, but non-life threatening injury.” York did not elaborate on the nature of the injury.
Melissa Calanza, a fourth-year public policy and administration student, says constantly issuing bulletins desensitizes students. “What, another one? I just delete that,” she says.
“It’s just kind of like the norm and it shouldn’t be.”
Fourth-year history and international development studies student Harleigh Lindsay appreciates the security updates York issues, but remains concerned as to the emotional impact repeated bulletins might have on students.
“It’s good that they are giving us an updated bulletin,” says Lindsay. “But the more bulletins they are giving us, I think, for a woman, it makes you feel more insecure on campus because these things are happening in the middle of the day.”
“The bulletins create a high-alert culture, where you’re always hearing something negative,” he adds.
York notes that security bulletins are issued when a serious incident has occurred or when there is a pattern of recurring incidents. York posts security bulletins in the interest of transparency.
With files from Alexia Lawson
Ryan Moore, News Editor
Alex Kvaskov, Assistant News Editor
Featured image courtesy of Michael Zusev, Photo Editor
