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York University Student Council Slammed for Anti-"Free Speech" Decision Against Pro-Life Groups

Editor in Chief of the University's paper called the decision "dangerous"

By Tim Waggoner

OTTAWA, June 2, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Yesterday, the student council at York University, one of Canada's largest with 50,000 students and 7,000 staff, ramped up its war against campus pro-life groups with an 8-0 vote to enact of a new policy against the groups. The new policy reads, "No YFS resources, space, recognition or funding will be allocated to enhance groups or individuals whose primary or sole purpose is anti-choice activities."

This decision comes in the wake of last weekend's motion by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), which was proposed by the York Federation of Students (YFS) and essentially grants the support of the CFS to any student union that denies recognition to campus pro-life groups.

"According to the National Post, the universities administration has condemned the council saying it has disregarded free-speech in the past and ultimately acts in ways contrary to the school's mission.  The administration also said it would attempt to accommodate the student groups who will fall victim to this policy."

The Catholic Civil Rights League also criticized the shocking decision, saying, "This is a straightforward attempt to stifle free speech on campus, and particularly troubling since universities are places where our basic freedoms are expected to be particularly upheld and valued."

Gilary Massa, vice-president external of the York Federation of Students, commented on the fact that pro-life student groups will still be able to operate on campus, but without recognition or funding.  She also explicitly stated which groups the decision would affect: "It only applies to groups whose sole purpose is to spew anti-choice rhetoric on our campus."

However, the National Campus Life Network, a Canadian university pro-life organization, believes the phrase, free-"choice", is where the deception lies, releasing the following statement regarding the YFS's "discriminatory" decision.

"When it comes to abortion, a contentious issue to say the least, shutting out a legitimate side of the debate is discriminatory. Covering the decision in 'choice' rhetoric is intellectually dishonest. Not actively consulting the students who these student unions represent is presumptuous and unprofessional."

Margaret Fung, co-president of York's Students for Bioethical Awareness, was never contacted about the decision, and made it clear that her pro-life group was never supported in the first place.

"It's just very strange that I was never contacted," she said. "I guess that means we can't use the student centre building. We never really received any funding. We don't even have an office."

York's vice-president of students, Robert J. Tiffin, was concerned and "disappointed" the student council had made such a significant decision when the majority of students are away from the school for the summer.

Michael Payton, a York student also commented on this point, saying, "I think it's outrageous that they do this when students are away for the summer and when they can't really do anything about it.  This isn't the right of the student government to be deciding what students are allowed to hear."

"When the YFS says they believe in free speech, they believe in free speech for them, for the positions they hold, not for freedom of speech for positions they disagree with," added Payton.

Editor in Chief of the University's paper called the YFS's decision "dangerous," and questioned whether or not the "vast majority" would support the YFS's decision. "When did these people take it upon themselves to decide what we think?" Zalina Alvi wrote.

This controversy follows the YSF's March decision to stop a University abortion debate.  Several other similar incidents have surfaced in Canadian Universities over the past year, including Capilano College, the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Lakehead University and Carleton University.  Student groups at these schools faced similar fates as those at York University, and while some have regained recognition, others are awaiting decisions from the human rights commissions.

To voice concern contact:

Vice-president of the York Federation of Students Gilary Massa
Phone Number: 647-869-2101 Email Address: vpexternal@yfs.ca

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Canadian Federation of Students Votes to Support Initiatives Against Campus Pro-Life Groups
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08052809.html

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