Attempted intimidation of student activists, anti-democratic invocation of Universityregulations, and abuse of administrative power, April 30, 2013 and May 3rd 2013

August 7, 2013DELIVERED IN PERSON AND BY EMAIL vpstdnts@yorku.ca Bennett Centre Student Services, N30399 Ian Macdonald BoulevardYork University – Keele CampusToronto, ONM3J 1L1Dear Ms. Morrison, RE: Attempted intimidation of student activists, anti-democratic invocation of Universityregulations, and abuse of administrative power, April 30, 2013 and May 3 rd 2013 The York University community of progressive student activists and allies around the worldhave documented your dissemination of messages of intimidation to participant speakers of thePalestine solidarity rally on March 27, 2013 in Vari Hall. We have also documented the York administration’s unwarranted and unjust invocations of sections 3(1) and 5(1) of the Trespass to Property Act, which have restricted Hammam Farah, aYork alumnus, from entering York University, as well as the withdrawal of the University administration’s recognition of Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA). We fervently denounce your actions as anti-democratic. Your claim that York Universityencourages freedom of expression and lively debate of controversial issues is laughable at best.Many members of the York community are aware of the University's underhanded measures toregulate debate of controversial issues. These include previous undemocratic amendments to theTemporary Use of University Space policy (TUUS) and the 2010 Vari Hall renovations. Your predecessor, Rob Tiffin, admitted to Excalibur that the purpose of the renovations was to impede collective student expression in Vari Hall, contrary to the aspirations of the building’s architect, Raymond Moriyama.York University's Senate Policy on Disruptive and/or Harassing Behaviour in AcademicSituations and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, like TUUS, are at presentincompatible with a critical democratic environment because there is no exception to provide for peaceful protests of a disruptive nature. This is an issue that SAIA has already brought to theattention of the TUUS office, and we expect that it was brought to your attention as well.We once again cite the Canadian Civil Liberties Association's letter addressed to you on January10, 2013, which stated that: “ York University is a well-respected institution of higher learning and, as such, is well placed toencourage critical thinking and questioning, even when this takes a form that may result in some level of inconvenience or interference with the everyday workings of the University. Eventsthat are simply noisy, disruptive or cause some inconvenience are often still peaceful and, inmany cases, such disruption is a core component of the nature of the protest or the message being conveyed.” By this letter, the student movement is giving you notice that you have failed to comply with basic democratic values. Your actions have demonstrated that York University only encouragesfreedom of expression and lively debate when the questions regarding the University'sinvestments are not up for discussion.We will continue to exercise our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. We will continue tospeak out, to protest, and to push for the divestment of university funds from weaponsmanufacturing companies. We refuse to be silenced and we refuse to be complicit.We call on the University Administration to rescind its trespass notice against alumnus andactivist Hammam Farah, to reinstate SAIA as an official student club, and to make a firmcommitment to work with students to ensure that freedom of speech and freedom of associationare upheld.We urge you to take this matter seriously to ensure that you comply with basic principles of democracy in the future. Sincerely,Students Against Israeli Apartheid - York UniversityYork Federation of Students York University Graduate Students’ Association Afghan Students’ Association at York University International Socialists at York University Middle Eastern Students’ Association at York UniversityOntario Public Interest Research Group - York UniversitySocialist Fightback Club at York UniversitySyrian Revolution at York University York University Tamil Students’ Association Boston Coalition for Palestinian RightsBoycott Israeli Apartheid Campaign Vancouver Canadian Boat to GazaCoalition Against Israeli ApartheidFaculty for Palestine Free Palestine Subcommittee of the National Lawyers’ Guild US Independent Jewish Voices CanadaMcMaster Muslims for Peace and JusticeOne Democratic State Group – GazaPalestine House Community Centre Palestine Solidarity Network – Edmonton Canada Palestine AssociationPalestine-Israel Working Group of Nevada County (California)Palestine Student Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI)Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian SolidarityProgressive Student Action Front in the West Bank and GazaQueers Against Israeli ApartheidStudents Against Israeli Apartheid – University of Toronto MississaugaStudents Against Israeli Apartheid – George Mason UniversitySamidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network Simon Fraser Public Interest Research GroupSolidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – University of British ColumbiaSolidarity for Palestinian Human Rights – Western UniversityStudents for Justice in Palestine – Brooklyn CollegeStudents for Justice in Palestine – College of Staten IslandStudents for Justice in Palestine – Cornell UniversityStudents for Justice in Palestine – Hunter CollegeStudents for Justice in Palestine – John Jay CollegeStudents for Justice in Palestine – National, ad hoc steering committeeStudents for Justice in Palestine – Ryerson UniversityStudents for Justice in Palestine – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)Students for Justice in Palestine – University of HoustonThe Canadian Arab NewsThe Muslim GazetteToronto Students for Justice in Palestine (University of Toronto Scarborough)Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada (Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance) University Teachers’ Association – GazaUS Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI)US Palestinian Community Network Voice of Palestine RadioFatah Youth Movement – Palestine - An-Najah National University- Birzeit University- Al-Quds University- Arab American University- Hebron University- Palestine Polytechnic University- Bethlehem University- Al-Rawda College- Al-Arroub College- Modern University College- Alumma College- Palestine Technical College Al-Arroub Student Youth Movement in Al-Quds Open University in the following branches: - Jerusalem- Bethlehem- Hebron- Jericho- Ramallah- Nablus- Salfeet- Toubas- Qalqilia- Jenin- Toulkarem - Bedia - Doura Yata - Biet Sahoor - AlezariehStudent Councils in the following Universities:- An-Najah National University- Birzeit University- Al-Quds University- Arab American University- Hebron University- Palestine Polytechnic University- Bethlehem University- Al-Rawda College- Al-Arroub College- Modern University College- Alumma College- Palestine Technical College- Al-Arroub CollegeStudent Councils in the following Al-Quds Open Universities:- Jerusalem- Bethlehem- Hebron- Jericho- Ramallah- Nablus- Salfeet- Toubas- Qalqilia- Jennen- Toulkarem- Bedia- Doura- Yata- Biet Sahoor - Alezarieh