The balance of power at York might be shifting.
An email from York President Mamdouh Shoukri has some students feeling targeted for their political views.
According to the email, sent after York’s annual Inclusion Day flopped in light of controversy around a mural in the Student Centre, York is set to review a number of academic policies before the end of 2016.
The review will include a new look at the notorious Presidential Regulation no. 4, which stipulates a division of power between York administration and the York Federation of Students, and regulates the activities of student clubs.
The regulation has not been updated since 1989.
The email concludes with a threat, “[York] will not tolerate actions and behaviours that are contrary to our values,” which riled an immediate backlash.
“That is oppression,” says Jessa McLean, president of Amnesty at York.
McLean accuses Shoukri of aligning with certain groups and ignoring the rest, proving himself out of touch with the majority of students.
She demands clarification on the relationship between club rules and the mural. Associating the two is “ridiculous,” in her view.
“The student body would likely be horrified if they knew the level of harassment experienced by Palestinian students and others fighting for human rights in Israel and Palestine,” she adds.
According to McLean, if anyone should feel unsafe, it is members of Students Against Israeli Apartheid, many of whom have experienced Israeli state oppression.
“There have never been complaints of the Israeli displays of nationalism in the halls,” she claims.
The email condemns academic boycotts and emphasizes York’s stated commitment to open dialogue and constructive discussion, while acknowledging the spirited debate around the mural and its offensiveness to certain groups and individuals.
“Given that decisions with respect to the mural’s continued display are the responsibility of the governing body responsible for the Student Centre, which is a separate and distinct legal entity from the university, we sincerely hope that they will address the concerns which have been expressed,” reads the email.
York is now set to form a President’s Advisory Committee on Inclusion, to be composed of academics, intended to ensure the inclusive and respectful exchange of ideas.
Joanne Rider, York media, says more details will be provided in the coming weeks.
With files from Ryan Moore
Alex Kvaskov, Assistant News Editor
Featured image courtesy of York University
“ Antisemitism in Germany grew increasingly pervasive after the First World War and was most prevalent in the universities. By 1921, the German student union Deutscher Hochschulring barred Jews from membership. ”
Soon to be happening at York University, a university that is taking a page from the Nazi era.. But now we Jews have Israel to back us up. In 1921, Jews only alternative were concentration camps . But his time we will not walk into these death camps to be guarded by Muslims. To feed their Jihad that will shortly be turned on Christians students