Kanchi Uttamchandani | Assistant News Editor
Featured image: The Dahdalehs pictured with York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri (right) in this file photo. | Photo courtesy of YFile
Recent revelations about York’s largest graduate donor, Victor Dahdaleh, have students and faculty up in arms about the billionaire’s recent $20 million donation to York.
The Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health was established and the TEL building has been renamed to the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building in his honour, as York formally recognized him at the June 2016 convocation ceremony.
Farshad Azadian, former Osgoode student and organizer of the Socialist Fightback Club at York considers the university’s decision unjust.
“This is capitalism in action. Billionaire crooks and tax evaders are given every honour, while working class students are struggling to stay above water as education funding cuts push their tuition fees up,” says Azadian. “Naming the TEL building after Dahdaleh is an insult to those who study and work at this campus.”
Stephanie Ross, social science professor, expressed her disappointment in a Toronto Star article about the university’s decision to honour Dahdaleh.
“Most universities across the country face the contradiction of seeking philanthropic donations from wealthy individuals or corporations — but then also having to live with the association with those individuals or corporations if and when they are revealed to be not the greatest corporate citizens,” she told the Toronto Star.
A recent investigation by the CBC and Toronto Star revealed Dahdaleh as a middleman in the Panama Papers scandal, alleging that he played an intermediate role in facilitating incentives and bribes for Bahraini officials and members of the Bahraini royal family.
In response to the investigation, Dahdaleh’s spokesperson Timothy Bell says that Dahdaleh has never been convicted of any offence in any court in the world.
“Naming the TEL building after Dahdaleh is an insult to those who study and work at this campus.” – Farshad Azadian, Socialist Fightback Club at York organizer
Meanwhile, York administration remains steadfast in their decision. “Careful consideration is given to candidates for honorary degrees who have made a significant contribution to the public good,” says Janice Walls of York media.
Criteria such as significant benefaction to the university, public contributions to society and eminence in their field are taken into account while screening for honourary recipients.
Walls maintains that York follows a rigorous donor diligence process and policy such that it does not result in violation of the institution’s autonomy, integrity and academic freedom.
Additionally, York’s donor policy states that under the York University Act, responsibility for the financial affairs of the university, including decisions to accept donations is vested in the Board of Governors and is delegated to the administration.
“Mr. Dahdaleh, personally and through the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Charitable Foundation, supports many organizations around the world, focusing on education, health-related research, economic and social development and the arts,” says Walls.
“This institute will advance York research on pressing global health issues and enable to us expand our innovative global health program, which is preparing our graduates to work with health practitioners, educators and organizations around the world,” adds Walls.
The student coalition YU Divest also offered criticism of Dahdaleh’s donation, addressing him in an open letter and urging him to withdraw his donation until York divests its investments holdings from arms manufacturers.
“We view our esteemed university in high regard, and we share pride in its reputation as ‘the social-justice university’ in Canada, we believe that your generous donation is untimely,” reads the letter.
“It is also contrary to York’s own commitment to social justice, as stipulated in its mission statement, and to its commitment to addressing international-health challenges, which was the stated reason for your donation. Just as Peter Munk and the [Peter and Melanie Munk Charitable Foundation] set out the standards they expect tied to their donations, you could set ethical standards to yours,” further argues the letter.
