Jonny Chard (News Editor) and Marco Gobbatto (Staff Writer)
Featured image: Glendon’s Centre for Excellence was evacuated on March 20 due to a graffiti-based threat, but most York students did not receive any notification. | Mustapha Safadieh
Following the discovery of swastikas on York’s Keele campus last month, Glendon campus has been hit by six threats in the space of just two weeks.
On March 20, Toronto Police Service, or TPS, were called following a report of anti-Semitic hate speech and a graffiti-based bomb threat located in a washroom stall in the Centre for Excellence.
The building was subsequently evacuated and thoroughly searched before it was concluded that it was safe to repopulate the area.
This comes after anti-Semitic threats were found in the same washroom on March 9 and March 15 and anti-black threats were found on March 7.
There was also another bomb threat on March 8 that resulted in the building being evacuated and searched by TPS.
Samina Sami, executive director of community safety at York, has stated that hate graffiti and the defacement of university property will not be tolerated.
“There is no place for it in our community. Hate graffiti causes harm to individuals and to society as a whole. It is contrary to our university’s core values of respect, diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said.
Director of Hillel at York University Anna Kissin says that Hillel is concerned by the spike in hate crimes.
“Hillel will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our students are safe and supported through these difficult times,” she says.
Thomas Meujneir, a second-year political science exchange student, was surprised to find hate crime on campus.
“I think it is unacceptable as you can’t do something like that. You can’t just think that black and Jewish people are less equal,” he says.
Ibrahim Akkas, a fourth-year economics student, was part of the evacuation on March 20 and heard about the numerous previous incidents from his friends.
“I definitely think it’s wrong and I am not supporting it, but […] I also think it’s some kid being stupid,” he states.
Glendon’s Student Affairs team and Community Safety team have met with numerous students groups and representatives to discuss concerns and work on a plan of action.
Visible security patrols have also increased in the area and York’s Community Safety department are working with TPS to investigate the incidents in the hope of identifying the culprit.
Sami is also encouraging anyone who may have any information to contact them immediately.
“Anyone with information about this occurrence is asked to contact the Community Safety department at 416-650-8000 extension 58000 or contact Toronto Police Service.”
Despite the surge in security incidents, students at the Keele campus were not notified via the security bulletin system.
