York forces student club to pay up

Jacqueline Perlin
Assistant News Editor
York security and Toronto police officers are a common sight at York University during Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), but student clubs running controversial events are being billed for security costs – a financial burden some clubs can’t afford.
SAIA planned to hold an event for IAW titled “York’s Compliance in Israeli Apartheid” March 10, when issues of room scheduling and security arose.

El-Jamal said the event had originally been scheduled to take place in the Stedman Lecture Halls. However, SAIA was informed by York administration that security fees, which included the cost for pay-duty cops, would be imposed on the club if they chose to remain in the original venue.
They then made the decision to move the event to the Student Centre, where the fees would be avoided since it is an autonomous entity from the university.
“Regardless of the cost, we will not be paying it,” said Adonis El-Jamal, spokesperson for Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA). He felt the university was putting up roadblocks to prevent their event from happening.
“Members [of SAIA] didn’t feel comfortable [paying for security fees] on the principle stance that there should be no price held on freedom of speech,” said El-Jamal, adding security fees had never before been imposed on a SAIA event.
While York media spokesperson Wallace Pidgeon said he was unaware of the cost-sharing program between the university and student groups, he said it is primarily based on York’s security assessment of the events.
Each event is assessed for security needs, and the student group and the university share the financial costs.
“This process has been in place for a couple of years,” said Wallace, explaining once a student group books a venue, student relations and security are brought in to determine whether security is needed.
However, El-Jamal pointed out that even after SAIA changed the venue for the event, a group member was informed by York administration that they would be charged for security fees regardless.
“We found this really absurd, and really insulting considering they decided to do that the very last minute,” said El-Jamal. “The issue is problematic since the university is placing the responsibility of safety for students on students themselves.”
Pidgeon said since the Student Centre was hosting the event, the payment would have to be determined between the Student Centre and SAIA.
He added that student groups are given notice of security costs before the event.
“There would most likely be some dollar value attributed to [the cost of security],” said Pidgeon, who explained that the university and the student groups communicate well before the event.
El-Jamal said that while SAIA had received a bill from the university for the sum of $249.50, they were only informed a week prior that there would be a cost for security and that no estimate for the cost was given.
According to Toronto police spokesperson Wendy Drummond, costs for pay-duty officers can run up to $65 an hour, with a minimum payment of three hours.
Pidgeon said SAIA’s concerns have been heard.
“They communicated to the university that there was a potential issue to pay,” he said. “The university restated to them that there is a cost-sharing program when York security is involved. There are also opportunities for any student group to be able to defer the cost and opportunity for them to reach out and find funds to help them pay.”
PAY SCALE
$249.50
Cost of the room to book the room (without security)
$65/hour
How much it costs to rent a paid-duty officer
3 hours
Minimum hours you must pay for a single officer