The York University community was rocked when it discovered racist slurs and demeaning graffiti including the n-word scrawled across the door of the York University Black Students Alliance.
This incident is the second of its kind this month, and part of a new string of violence that has taken place at York during the past several months.
In response to these incidents, York students are demanding action be taken.
Overt racism doesnt happen that often [...] but [...] students come to me all the time and tell me about quiet discrimination that isnt talked about, said Gilary Massa, vice-president (equity) for the York Federation of Students.
Ive been in classrooms where students will say inflammatory things, and other students and even the professor will just forget about it.
In a written statement responding to the racist graffiti, York president Mamdouh Shoukri stated: Yorks Mission Statement emphasizes our multicultural nature, and the value we place on tolerance and diversity.
Shoukris statement continued on to read: York is comprised of a community of communities; an attack on any group at York is an attack on our entire community.
Thats why its important that we all speak up loud and clear to condemn racism and oppression of every kind. The hateful graffiti is a reminder that even at an institution of higher learning, we are not immune from hate.
To talk about issues like racism, sexism [and] homophobia is still very much taboo. Especially in Canada the issue of racism is hidden under the guise of multiculturalism, said Massa.
People do these things because they think they can get away with it because its no longer an issue, she said.
She added that because York prides itself on its multiculturalism, it should be more proactive in creating a multicultural community environment.
Hire more T.A.s that reflect that multiculturalism. Alter the curriculum to reflect things of interest to all students, she said.
At a large rally to condemn the incident held on Jan. 31, York students of all backgrounds poured out to condemn the vandals.
Most students were outraged at what happened. Students that came out to the rally [Jan. 31] demonstrated that they wont tolerate those kinds of actions on their university campus, said Massa.
Students across Ontario joined the voices of the York community in condemning acts of racism.
Joel Duff, Ontario organizer for the Canadian Federation of Students, said students across Ontario have expressed great concern about this.
Letters of support for Yorks Black Student Alliance poured in very quickly. Students demonstrated that they feel that racism and hate are unacceptable, he said.
Whats most important in this situation isnt the incident itself, its how we respond. We have an opportunity here to declare that these incidents arent welcome on our campuses.
