YUFA
Free Speech
Open Letter from OCUFA Condemns Administration's Response to Anti-Bush Demonstration
The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) has written an open letter to York’s President Marsden. Condemning the Administration’s response to the anti-Bush demonstration, OCUFA cites the recent incident as just one of several restrictions on freedom of expression at York.
February 1, 2005
Dear Dr. Marsden:
The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, representing 13,000 professors and academic librarians in the province’s universities, has become alarmed by your administration’s increasing curtailment of freedom of expression on campus.
The recent events pertaining to the January 20, 2005 demonstration of York students underscores OCUFA’s growing concern. That the Toronto police were called to disperse a peaceful demonstration, and the force used to do so, as evidenced by videotapes of the event, was unwarranted and unnecessary.
Unfortunately, it would appear that this event is but the most recent example of your administration’s restrictions on freedom of expression at York. Administrative conditions and limitations on demonstrations and the distribution of leaflets, the levying of security fees, and the surveillance of some students involved in demonstrations serve to create a chill on freedom of expression at the university.
Regulations concerning demonstrations would appear to have been changed without discussion or negotiation with the affected parties. At the same time, the posted procedures for the disciplining of those who allegedly violate regulations are not followed. In June 2004, OCUFA wrote to you expressing its concern about the very long suspension of York University student Daniel Freeman-Maloy. OCUFA was particularly concerned about the procedures used to determine his suspension. It was strongly felt that the posted Presidential Regulations which specify a fair and impartial hearing and an appeals process (Regulations #2 and #3) should have been followed in the Freeman-Maloy case. The Ontario Divisional Court ruling in this case, and the subsequent reinstatement of Freeman-Maloy, justified OCUFA’s concern.
Freedom of speech, and academic freedom in general, have been the result of many hard-fought struggles on university campuses over the past half-century. These freedoms are the underpinnings of our universities. We send the wrong message to our students, and to the public, when those freedoms are limited by administrative fiat, free expression is forcefully curtailed, and the right to due process is treated cavalierly.
Like the York University Faculty Association and other student and staff organizations on campus, OCUFA urges your administration to respect the right of freedom of expression, including support for the right of students to organize and to participate in peaceful political protest. Furthermore, we ask that York administration take no action against the students arrested in the January 20, 2005 demonstration and the charges laid against them by police be dropped.
Sincerely,
Michael
Doucet, Ph.D
President