Alex Kvaskov, Assistant News Editor
Featured image courtesy of StandWithUs Canada
Toronto Police were called to investigate what appeared to be anti-Semitic graffiti found on York’s Keele campus.
Aldo Altomare, director of York Security Services, says the graffiti was documented and removed.
“York Security Services assigned an investigator to review CCTV and is assisting the Toronto police in their investigation,” says Altomare.
“There have been no other reports to security this year about anti-Semitic graffiti. No bulletin was issued as this incident did not fall within the bulletin issuance protocol criteria,” he adds.
Pro-Israel activists on campus reacted with dismay. Ariella Daniels, president, Hasbara at York, says this is not the first time anti-Semitic graffiti has been discovered at York.
“I myself have reported on personal experiences and assisted students regarding their own situations,” says Daniels.
“No one should be silent in the face of discrimination and racism and just because incidents have not exploded on social media does not mean they do not occur,” she adds.
Daniels says Hasbara maintains regular contact with York security and administration to raise awareness of students’ experiences.
Following the incident, senior administration, including President Mamdouh Shoukri, addressed an email to the community, condemning acts which malign groups or individuals and action intended to marginalize community members.
“Actions such as this attempt to divide us, are inconsistent with who we are as a university community, and as such, cannot be tolerated,” reads the email.
“York University’s administration needs to intervene,” says Rena Silver, political liaison, Hasbara at York.
“York has always prided itself on its diverse student body and values of inclusion, but that is all meaningless if a portion of that student body is being routinely discriminated against and no one is doing anything about it,” she adds.
While much of the debate around Israel tows the line of anti-Semitism, the latest incident makes no effort to hide its intentions, according to Silver.
Ilana Divantman, of Independent Jewish Voices at York, says the incident plays more on the fear and trauma Jewish communities feel and less so to the reality of Canadian life for the Jewish diaspora.
“There is a deep wound triggered by such acts. Fear and protection are the often well-known and accepted responses,” says Divantman.
“The fear makes sense and by no means is disregarded. Yet against what freedoms are available, perhaps such acts are reminders that a consciousness of systemic oppression, specifically toward those communities who are immediately impacted, requires our utmost deepest attention as a practice of remembering and not repeating,” she adds.
Drawing attention to slurs in washroom stalls selectively disregards the issues faced by other marginalized groups on campus, in particular, women who face binary gendered washroom spaces, according to Divantman.
Janice Walls of York media says York values inclusion, respect, and diversity.
“Our core values stand in stark contrast to statements or acts that malign individuals or groups or attempt to marginalize members of our community,” says Walls.
“The President’s Advisory Committee on Inclusion will be looking at effective ways to ensure inclusive, respectful exchanges of ideas,” she adds.
“It is intended to address a broader conversation about whether as an institution and as individuals we are doing all we can to ensure that all members of our community feel welcome and supported.”
With files from Ryan Moore
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