A joint student and faculty task force has been created at York University to evaluate rising tensions between student groups on campus.
The Task Force on Student Life, Learning and Community, headed by Osgoode Hall Law School dean Patrick Monahan, will review concerns about the student environment on campus.
"We are committed to ensuring that our students can pursue their studies free of harassment or intimidation," said Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice-chancellor of the university. "This task force will take a hard look at the current environment on campus and explore ways that we can promote open debate and the free exchange of ideas."
The task force was created in response to a few incidents in February that Monahan calls "troubling."
On Feb. 12, police were called by members of the student group Hillel, which promotes Jewish community on campus. The students were allegedly trapped in their lounge by a group of angry students shouting racial slurs.
The following day, anti- and pro-Israeli student groups faced off during a rally against Israeli apartheid, which disrupted classes situated near the demonstration. A later demonstration to raise awareness about Sri Lanka also became disruptive. York announced fines against all four student groups involved in the February disturbances on March 5.
"We want to reach out and find out more about what's happening," Monahan said of the task force, which will be polling the student body. "One issue we're looking at is how troubling students think this problem is. We're trying to find out what students' current experiences are."
The task force will be made up of seven faculty members and seven students. Students can apply to the task force through an online application process that will be reviewed by faculty members.
"These students will absolutely be full partners in the task force," Monahan said. "We're looking for those students to provide us with ideas since they're closer to the situation."
The task force will be looking at ways to diffuse student tensions and reporting back to the president with their findings by Aug. 31.
"Absolute solutions may be too high a goal," Monahan said. "But we definitely want to look for some creative changes that could improve the learning atmosphere."
Some of his early thoughts include creating opportunities for structured debate on hot-button issues such as Israel and Sri Lanka.
"We have to be committed and defend values such as free speech and free inquiry," he said. "Students can't be in a position where they feel frightened."