Munirul-Haq Raza
Staff writer
A rally will be held Thursday, October 11, at noon by the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Support Line, Feminist Action, and the York Federation of Students in an attempt to address York administration’s “limited” response to on-campus sexual assaults.
The plan is for the host student organizations, along with interested participants, to meet on the first floor of the Student Centre. The organizations have chosen not to disclose the route of the rally ahead of time due to concerns of how the administration will respond to the event.
Elana Shugar, SASSL’s community initiatives coordinator, says there has been frustration and concern among students and community members about the “inadequate actions being taken by York University to address incidents of sexual assault and gender-based offences.”
Addressing the issue of sexual assault on campus has thus far been spearheaded by students’ actions, and not the administration’s, says Mila Guidorizzi, SASSL research coordinator.
In September and early October, York administration and student leaders held numerous meetings with students in residences, and across campus, to discuss safety concerns and solutions, and will continue to do so, says Joanne Rider of York Media.
She adds the Community Safety Council continues to consult with the York community regarding safety issues, and to report to President Mamdouh Shoukri with their recommendations.
The day of the rally coincides with York’s annual Safety Awareness Day, aimed at educating students about all of York’s personal safety initiatives.
“Part of doing the rally on Safety Awareness Day is to throw it back in [the administration’s] face to let them know they’re not really addressing issues of safety,” says Guidorizzi.
Shugar says the organizers of the rally want to push the administration for more concrete solutions, such as having more awareness campaigns, and mandatory workshops dealing with sexual assaults and gender-based violence.
“I feel there has been some positive change that has been primarily focused more on the physical elements of safety, like extra lightning and such,” says Shugar. “I do think the additional communication has been a step in the right direction by providing students with a little bit more information, but I don’t feel that it’s enough.”
She says cultural changes, as opposed to physical changes to the environment, are necessary in the long term.
“These incidents are inside our community. Both of the incidents in September were perpetrated by York students against York students. If that does not speak to a culture that needs to be addressed, I do not know what does,” Shugar says.
With files from Melissa Sundardas
