Before the scandal, Peter Kent and various government representatives pose with York University high rollers, such as Mamdouh Shoukri.
If there was any doubt that Conservatives–at the highest levels–are focused on stamping out students’ ability to organize on their campuses and to represent their own interests, recent information from York University should close the book on the matter.
Newly released documents acquired through access to information show that York University, along with the offices of Federal and provincial Conservative parliamentarians, were working on behalf of a right-wing slate (York Forward) to undermine general elections for the York Federation of Students. The documents show a host of emails ranging from University administrators “not comfortable” giving the York Federation of Students necessary data to properly conduct their elections, to representatives of Peter Kent’s office instructing the University to allow their staff inside the ballot counting room (likely at tax payers’ expense).
Rob Tiffin, the York University’s Vice-President Students, factors in heavily in the back and forth dialog. From the documents he can be seen coordinating a meeting with Peter Kent’s staff to discuss the YFS election. He is also caught planning with York’s President, Mamdouh Shoukri, to foist an audit onto the YFS that would investigate their election process. Interestingly, Tiffin refers to a similar review conducted at Ryerson at the request of conservative board members there, which cost that university almost $100,000.
Likely fueling the meddling by the York admin and Conservative government representatives is a right-wing perspective on the Israel occupation of Palestine. This is exemplified by repeated emails to York University officials from an unidentified blackberry owner, promoting an online petition with the lead line “YORK UNIVERSITY or HAMAS UNIVERSITY”. Comments from the signatories of the petition range from regular threats to withhold alumni donations to off the wall comments like Kim Saltsman’s: “Islam is hate, intolernace, racialism, bigotry, sexism and truly a cancer.”
The good news is that the meddling from federal and provincial Conservatives did not result in a win by their preferred slate. Another silver lining is that as a result of this story, discussion on the matter of Conservative’s agenda on campuses is reaching wider audiences.
3 responses so far ↓
Saul Man // July 7, 2009 at 2:13 pm |
I saw the article on this issue in the Toronto Star yesterday and I am glad to see that you have picked up the story.
In the spring, Harper and Minister Tony Clement came under significant fire for tried to tie university infrastructure funding to the the condition that government would get to influence the direction of university research.
Check out this article from the Time Higher:
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=405814§ioncode=26
In March, Clement had to quickly back down and recognize that what he proposed was an affront to academic freedom. It looks like the Tories are seeking influence over ever aspect of university life. It should be no surprise that they see universities as dangerous places of opposition – what with all the thinking going on ‘n all.
Tyler // July 7, 2009 at 2:50 pm |
Another politician at the “highest levels,” according to you, NDP MP Megan Leslie meddled in student affairs on campus at Dalhousie U in Halifax, NS. I realize you have a mandate to skulk around and find the 3 conservatives at every school and see what they’re doing, but you should offer a balanced look at what is happening on campuses if you want to be reputable. That might be tricky though, since the problem is MUCH more weighty on the other side of the spectrum.
Conservative campus media, we’re watching you too. « Campusconservativewatch's Blog // November 3, 2009 at 12:33 pm |
[...] media heavy hitters Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Linda Frum Sokolowski to the Senate. TV anchorman Peter Kent, (journalist and senior member of the neo-conservative outfit Canadian Coalition for Democracies) [...]