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Comments at the Free Speech Rally in Vari Hall
21 January 2005
Nick Lary, VP External YUFA

24 Jan 05 - My name is Nick Lary; I am Vice-President External of the York University Faculty Association. I have not had a chance to clear my remarks with the YUFA Executive. Nonetheless, since it is part of my job to liaise with student groups and other campus unions, I will speak to you about some of our shared concerns.

First of all, let me bring you greetings and a message of support from Jesse Greener, president of the Canadian Federation of Students, whom I saw downtown this morning at the OCUFA conference on the future of postsecondary education.

Next I want to say some words about free speech. At York we have an Administration that

  1. has refused to support the academic freedom of professors;

  2.  does not support freedom of expression of professors, students, and members of the YORK community;

  3. has restricted freedom of expression on campus by privatization of space and a series of bylaws, security fees, and punitive measures;

  4. has apparently now unleashed the powers of the Metro Toronto police on students.

In the name of York faculty I call on the President of the University, Lorna Marsden, to remember that students are citizens with civil liberties, to remember, too, that they are our future teachers, leaders, and defenders.

I call on her to stop paying lipservice to the need for ‘respect’ for all, and to remember the historic mission of universities as centers for free thinking and free speech.

York University is not a corporate space like the Eaton Centre or Yorkdale.

Policies governing free speech should not be dictated by the corporate interests of the York Foundation or the Board of Governors.

Finally, I call on President Marsden to make Vari Hall a public space dedicated to free speech. And I promise to engage in actions by students and unions at York until this public space is won.

Nick Lary, VP External YUFA