Doing my part to spread the word
Apr. 26th, 2008 01:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sabotabbyOf interest primarily to local people, but I highly encourage those of you who are academics outside of Toronto to send letters of outrage. The university has no leg to stand on, and knows it, so it's engaging in a completely bizarre course of action--charges, investigations under the Code of Conduct, and harassment and intimidation--in order to curtail activism on campus.
(It will come as no surprise to you that several of the people being charged are friends of mine.)
URGENT CALL FOR SUPPORT – PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY**
UofT PRESSES CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST 14 STUDENTS AND ORGANIZERS MOBILIZING TO FIGHT FEE HIKES
University's level of hostility and repression against students unprecedented in the last decade
Community Release: Toronto; April 25 2008
WHAT: Allies for Just Education - Community Support Meeting
WHEN: Monday April 28, 6pm
WHERE: Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St (http://tinyurl.com/4sn49c)
Dear Ally,
Over the past several weeks, a wide coalition of students, alumni and workers at University of Toronto have come together to protest and organize against proposed fee hikes and to demand accessible education. This coalition has organized public meetings, a sit-in and demonstrations which have received wide community support. Students have also conducted extensive research on the effects of fees and the fiscal policies of the university administration (see www.fightfees.ca).
Due to a peaceful sit-in, organized to protest against tuition fees on March 20, students are being subjected to an intense campaign of intimidation by the UofT administration and Toronto Police. Students have been followed by campus police, both on and off campus, as well as being monitored and photographed during meetings. UofT has pressed charges against 14 students and organizers, who have now had to turn themselves over to Toronto Police. They have been released on strict bail conditions, which ban them from associating with one another outside of courts and classes, as well as being barred from protesting anywhere on UofT property. In addition, several UofT students, staff and alumni have been completely banned from UofT property. One organizer, Oriel Varga, is currently being held in custody overnight. Additionally, UofT is investigating 12 students under the Code of Student Conduct. This crusade of intimidation comes at a time when the administration is publically lobbying for the deregulation of fees, and is thus undertaken to prevent students from continuing to organize around university fees.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SHOW SUPPORT:
We are calling on all community allies and support groups to show their solidarity with the 14 accused in any way they can. Community members are expressing their outrage at the growing cost of education, and at the use of intimidation and force against students who organize for accessible education at the University of Toronto.
It is critical for the university community and supporters across the country to publicly condemn and reverse attacks on students' right to organize. We are calling on all community members, community groups, unions, and student organizations to:
a) Attend our Community Support Meeting on Monday, April 28th at the Steelworker's Hall (25 Cecil St.) at 6pm.
b) Send a message of support to the Committee for Just Education at [email protected]
c) Send letters of condemnation to the President of the University of Toronto, David Naylor, at [email protected] (please CC all emails to [email protected]) or phone David Naylor at 416-978-2121 with an emphasis the following:
(i) Drop all charges against UofT student, staff and alumni.
(ii) Remove all bail restrictions and conditions for all 14 accused
(iii) End the policing of dissent and protest on campus. In the wake of the March 20 sit-in, 12 students are also being investigated under the Code of Student Conduct and student organizers have faced intimidation and surveillance from the campus police. More recently, the University has pressed charges against 14 students and organizers.
**For more information and to get involved with the Allies for Just Education, visit www.fightfees.ca or email us at: [email protected]**
(It will come as no surprise to you that several of the people being charged are friends of mine.)
URGENT CALL FOR SUPPORT – PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY**
UofT PRESSES CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST 14 STUDENTS AND ORGANIZERS MOBILIZING TO FIGHT FEE HIKES
University's level of hostility and repression against students unprecedented in the last decade
Community Release: Toronto; April 25 2008
WHAT: Allies for Just Education - Community Support Meeting
WHEN: Monday April 28, 6pm
WHERE: Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St (http://tinyurl.com/4sn49c)
Dear Ally,
Over the past several weeks, a wide coalition of students, alumni and workers at University of Toronto have come together to protest and organize against proposed fee hikes and to demand accessible education. This coalition has organized public meetings, a sit-in and demonstrations which have received wide community support. Students have also conducted extensive research on the effects of fees and the fiscal policies of the university administration (see www.fightfees.ca).
Due to a peaceful sit-in, organized to protest against tuition fees on March 20, students are being subjected to an intense campaign of intimidation by the UofT administration and Toronto Police. Students have been followed by campus police, both on and off campus, as well as being monitored and photographed during meetings. UofT has pressed charges against 14 students and organizers, who have now had to turn themselves over to Toronto Police. They have been released on strict bail conditions, which ban them from associating with one another outside of courts and classes, as well as being barred from protesting anywhere on UofT property. In addition, several UofT students, staff and alumni have been completely banned from UofT property. One organizer, Oriel Varga, is currently being held in custody overnight. Additionally, UofT is investigating 12 students under the Code of Student Conduct. This crusade of intimidation comes at a time when the administration is publically lobbying for the deregulation of fees, and is thus undertaken to prevent students from continuing to organize around university fees.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SHOW SUPPORT:
We are calling on all community allies and support groups to show their solidarity with the 14 accused in any way they can. Community members are expressing their outrage at the growing cost of education, and at the use of intimidation and force against students who organize for accessible education at the University of Toronto.
It is critical for the university community and supporters across the country to publicly condemn and reverse attacks on students' right to organize. We are calling on all community members, community groups, unions, and student organizations to:
a) Attend our Community Support Meeting on Monday, April 28th at the Steelworker's Hall (25 Cecil St.) at 6pm.
b) Send a message of support to the Committee for Just Education at [email protected]
c) Send letters of condemnation to the President of the University of Toronto, David Naylor, at [email protected] (please CC all emails to [email protected]) or phone David Naylor at 416-978-2121 with an emphasis the following:
(i) Drop all charges against UofT student, staff and alumni.
(ii) Remove all bail restrictions and conditions for all 14 accused
(iii) End the policing of dissent and protest on campus. In the wake of the March 20 sit-in, 12 students are also being investigated under the Code of Student Conduct and student organizers have faced intimidation and surveillance from the campus police. More recently, the University has pressed charges against 14 students and organizers.
**For more information and to get involved with the Allies for Just Education, visit www.fightfees.ca or email us at: [email protected]**
