Arson at UTSC and letters of solidarity

At about 1-1:30 AM on Saturday, March 29th, someone or some group removed the glass of and set fire to the LGBTQ?@UTSC bulletin board in the Bladen Wing corridor. Thankfully EMRG was on the scene immediately to put out the flames, but we are left with a scorched reminder that homophobia? has its rank and putrid fingers in the environment of our campus.

This incident follows two acts of vandalism in February, when a poster was twice torn down from the bulletin board near the Lounge, and numerous incidents of harassment and vandalism up until now. Homophobia is a serious problem on our campus, and it needs to stop.

The administration, student union and other groups agree whole-heartedly. We have been receiving letter after letter of support and solidarity -- click "Read More" to see them.

Press coverage:
The Varsity, April 03, 2008
Xtra, April 08, 2008

From Franco J. Vaccarino, PhD, Principal and Vice President:

Dear U of T Scarborough Community:

At approximately 12:55 a.m. this past Saturday, March 29th a fire was set to the Positive Space and LGBTQ (Lesbian?, Gay?, Bisexual?, Transgender?, Queer?) student group glassed- in bulletin board on the third floor of the Bladen building on our campus.

U of T Scarborough, indeed, the entire University of Toronto community, has zero tolerance for unlawful activity of any kind. This act is of particular concern since it appears to have been directed at members of our LGBTQ community. We strive to cultivate a teaching, learning and working environment that is accepting, inclusive and free from discrimination?. A criminal act of this kind runs counter to the principles of equity and inclusivity that we strive for throughout the University.

In order to sustain an equitable community, one that is diverse as well as inclusive and respectful of the human rights of all of its members, each and every one of us must work together to rid our environment of hate, intolerance and ignorance. We all have a shared responsibility for ensuring that our University embraces diversity and upholds the principles of freedom of expression, including dissident views so long as mutual rights and privileges are respected.

Saturday’s incident reinforces the need for each of us to be vigilant in protecting our campus from criminal activity, and responding to acts of intolerance and unwelcome behaviour of any kind.

U of T Scarborough Community Police is seeking the assistance of the University Community in identifying the person(s) responsible for this act. Anyone with information about this incident should contact the U of T Scarborough Community Police at 416 287-7398 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416 222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.222tips.com http://www.222tips.com.

Sincerely,

--
Franco J. Vaccarino, PhD Principal, University of Toronto Scarborough Vice President, University of Toronto
University of Toronto Scarborough 1265 Military Trail Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4 Canada
email: principal@utsc.utoronto.ca telephone: 416-287-7025

From the Scarborough Campus Student Union:

Dear Students,

It is my sad duty to inform you that over this past weekend a hate crime occurred on our campus. Late Friday night, an arsonist removed the glass casing and set fire to the LGBTQ bulletin board. Unfortunate acts such as this raise to the surface once again the fact that there remains much work to do on the positive space campaign and on eliminating hate in general. Homophobia and indeed any other hate or prejudice? will not be tolerated by the UTSC community. The Scarborough Campus Students’ Union is committed to making this campus a safe space for all students and we will be working closely with LGBTQ@UTSC and the University of Toronto to ensure that this goal is met.

If you or anyone you know has any information about the incidents that took place, you can report anonymously to crime stoppers at 416-222-TIPS or directly to the University of Toronto Scarborough Police at 416-287-7398.

For any other concerns or to find out how you can help, you can contact me directly at president@scsu.ca.

Sincerely,

Rob Wulkan
President & CEO
Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU)
University of Toronto Scarborough

From Jenna Hassock, chair of the Council on Student Services:

Dear Students,

By now you will all have heard about the bulletin board for LGBTQ@UTSC being set on fire over the weekend. I would like to add my voice, as Chair of the Council on Student Services, to those speaking out against this crime.
As a Council, we condemn these acts and the homophobia and cowardice that precipitates them. Hatred towards any group is absolutely unacceptable. This university is meant to be a welcoming place for all students to learn and grow, and such attitudes are in direct opposition to the diversity and understanding that this community is meant to foster.

On behalf of all of us, I would like to extend our support for the members of UTSC's LGBTQ community and their allies in the wake of this incident. We understand that many students are feeling hurt, angry, scared and unsafe as a result, and offer ourselves as a resource for students seeking help, or a forum for discussion on this and any other acts of discrimination experienced at UTSC. It is incredibly important that as a community we join together to denounce these attitudes and behaviours, and I encourage everyone to speak up against homophobia and hate.

Sincerely,
Jenna Hossack
Chair, UTSC Council on Student Service

From the chair of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario [PDF]:

Dear David and LGBTQ@UTSC members:

I am writing to you on behalf of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, the provincial component of Canada’s largest student organisation. The Federation represents over 300,000 college and university students in Ontario from more than 30 students’ unions. I am writing in support of LGBTQ@UTSC after learning of the hate-motivated incidents that have taken place on your campus, including the recent act of arson.

The successive acts of vandalism against the LGBTQ@UTSC campus group’s bulletin board are unacceptable.These incidents not only attack the ability of your group to function, but also create a chilling climate on campus for queer and trans students. All students have the right to feel safe in their learning environment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender? identity.

I am pleased to see that LGBTQ@UTSC has responded to these incidents by exposing students to the sexual and gender diversity of the campus community. Your actions send a strong message to the perpetrators that homophobia and transphobia? have no place on campus, and that acts of hate will only be met with increased visibility of queer and trans students. Your actions will also allow students of all identities to participate in building a safer and more inclusive campus community for LGBTQ students.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if we can assist you in working towards a resolution and prevention of future acts of homophobia and transphobia. We look forward to supporting LGBTQ@UTSC in its fight against intolerance and for building a safer campus for queer and trans students.

Sincerely,

Jen Hassum
Chairperson

From Scarborough Campus Community Radio:

In light of recent events at UTSC, particularly the hate crime involving the burning of a LGBTQ display board and queer visibility posters, Scarborough Campus Community Radio and the Fusion Radio team would like to express its solidarity with LGBTQ and would like to reaffirm our commitment to promoting positive space throughout the campus. SCCR and Fusion Radio have a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusiveness at UTSC, and we are proud to be LGBTQ allies. If any members of SCCR (full time students or community members who have paid membership dues) would like to express support through recording Positive Space promotion public service announcements at Fusion Radio (to be played on air), please contact Bradley Kulay at stationmanager@fusionradio.ca.

Sincerely,

Tom Snell
President
Scarborough Campus Community Radio (SCCR)

From the Trent Graduate Student Association (GSA):

Dear David and Members of LGBTQ at UTSC,

The Trent Graduate Student Association (GSA) is shocked and dismayed at the news of the homophobic and transphobic vandalism that took place this past weekend at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus. Though the hate crime was directed at LGBTQ at UTSC, such abhorrent behaviour is an attack on the safety and well being of the entire community of students, staff and faculty at the university. We send you our support in responding loudly and clearly to this act of hate, in efforts to let students that homophobia and transphobia will not be tolerated at UTSC.

In efforts to stand in solidarity with you, we are calling on Trent University to actively demonstrate their ongoing commitment to a hate-free university by hiring a full time Human Rights Officer at Trent who would be employed to run campus-wide campaigns to address issues of systemic racism?, sexism?, ableism?, homophobia and transphobia. Furthermore, we are urging fellow student unions and organizations to take a strong stance against homophobia and transphobia on their own university and college campuses, and to support LGBTQ@UTSC by sending you more letters of solidarity, in a collective effort to combat homophobia and transphobia across Ontario and Canada.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to further support you or your actions in demanding safe and positive learning and working environments for all members of UTSC.

In solidarity,

Stacy Douglas, Communications Officer
c/o The Trent Graduate Student Association
Trent University, Peterborough

From the College of New Caledonia Students' Union (CNCSU) [PDF]:

On behalf of the 3,000 members of the College of New Caledonia Students’ Union we are mystified by the news of what has occurred on your campus, most importantly to your safe space.

One of the major challenges we face as a community college with a large contingent of Trades Training is the ongoing sexism, heterosexism? and homophobia on a regular basis and of course being in a small town this tends to be amplified.

Nonetheless behaviour like this is completely unacceptable and presents a significant challenge to our entire membership from other minorities regardless is they are visible or invisible.

We are empowered by your refusal to be intimidated through acts of violence and we support you and your campus community efforts to continue to combat ongoing fear mongering.

If there is anything else we can do for you please let us know.

In Pride and Solidarity

Valentine Crawford, Chairperson
College of New Caledonia Students’ Union
Local 13 – Canadian Federation of Students

From the Ontario Federation of Labour [PDF]:

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Solidarity with Queer and Trans-Identified Students, Staff and Faculty

On behalf of the over 700,000 members of the Ontario Federation of Labour, I am writing to you in solidarity.

We deplore any hate-motivated attacks on students based on gender identification/expression or sexual orientation. The vandalism targeted at LGBTQ at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus creates an atmosphere of intimidation and fear — not only for students, but also for LGBTQ staff and faculty.

The Ontario Federation of Labour believes that all students, staff and faculty have the right to a learning, working and teaching environment that is free of discrimination in all forms.

The labour movement uses the slogan: an injury to one is an injury to all and as such, I am proud to offer solidarity on behalf of the OFL. We stand with the University of Toronto queer and trans-identified community today who refuse to be silenced and we celebrate the coming together of our diverse communities.

In solidarity,

WAYNE SAMUELSON
President

From the University of Manitoba Students' Union [PDF]:

I am writing to you today on behalf of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union which represents the over 22,000 strong undergraduate population of the University of Manitoba. I would like to express my support of LGBTT@UTSC in the wake of the recent acts of violence against the centre’s resources including the arson of the centre’s bulletin board. These hate-filled attacks highlight the need for further awareness activities and the reason for the existence of centers like LGBTT@UTSC.

The incidents in question would seem to have been a deliberate act of terrorism against the LGBTT* population of your campus and are completely unacceptable. These acts are an attack on your ability to function as a cohesive group and have, no doubt, created a negative atmosphere for members of the community on your campus. It is important that all members of the student populace feel safe attending classes at their university, not just those in a sexual, gender or other minority and these incidents put that in jeopardy.

It is encouraging to see that your centre held an event yesterday to raise awareness of these issues on your campus. The fact that you are not being discouraged by the violation of the safety of your space is reassuring and encouraging. As Jen Hassum of CFS-Ontario expressed in her letter of April 1, 2008, “your actions send a strong message to the perpetrators that homophobia and transphobia have no place on campus, and that acts of hate will only be met with increased visibility of
queer and trans students.”

We stand in solidarity with LGBTT@UTSC as your centre endures this difficult time. Please do not hesitate to contact with us at the University of Manitoba Students’ Union if you ever need anything in your struggle against the issues of homophobia and transphobia on your campus.

Sincerely,

Daniel Draper
LGBTT* Community Representative
University of Manitoba Students’ Union

From the University of Toronto Students' Union [PDF]:

On behalf of the University of Toronto Students’ Union, I would like to express our collective disgust and outrage at the acts of bigotry and hate that have occurred on your campus. The successive attempts to suppress the voice of LGBTQ students, including the recent act of arson, are absolutely intolerable.

The University of Toronto Students’ Union has a strong commitment to equity and believes that as students, we must collectively take responsibility for our communities by vigorously expressing that our campuses should be a safe, positive environment for all students; regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Your response to these acts of vandalism is admirable. LGBTQ students at the University of Toronto have a strong history of fighting the oppression? of queer students by promoting positive spaces on campus and increasing queer visibility. I am pleased to see this approach continue with LGBTQ@UTSC’s Love-In event. This response is well suited to allow all students to express their commitment to a safe, inclusive environment for LGBTQ members of the UTSC community.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can offer more support in your fight against homophobia. U.T.S.U. stands in solidarity with you in your fight to foster a safe, inclusive community.

Sincerely,

Sandra Hudson
VP Equity
University of Toronto Students’ Union
Local 98, Canadian Federation of Students

From the Committee for Equity and Diversity for the University of Toronto Faculty of Music:

Dear Mr. Leaman and Members of LGBTQ@UTSC:

The Committee for Equity and Diversity for the University of Toronto Faculty of Music wishes to unanimously voice its support for LGBTQ@UTSC after learning of the recent hateful incidents that have taken place on your campus. Please know how outraged we are by this news, and stand ready to assist you however required in your work towards ensuring the University of Toronto remains a community that fosters comprehensive fairness, equity, and respect for social and cultural diversity.

Yours sincerely,
Parmela Attariwala
Darryl Edwards
Elizabeth Gould
Kevin Komisaruk
Nalayini Maheswaran
Sasha Rapoport
Lise Vaugeois

From George Brown College:

Hello, David Leaman – at George Brown, we’ve gotten the email about the vandalism at UofT Scarborough from Joel Duff and are circulating it to our Positive Space resource people, our “GBCQ” group and our LGBT student group, in the hopes that this info is widely received.

We want to send you a message of support and solidarity, and our hopes for very successful actions on campus. We are concerned that the safety of the queer and trans community on campus is honoured and respected, and that students and staff know that the place where they work and learn is not a site of danger and harassment. Though we can’t always guarantee that incidents like the vandalism won’t happen, we do want them treated with the utmost seriousness, promptness and respect. We hope you are getting that respect and support, and do let us know if there is anything further we can do.

In solidarity

Maureen Hynes
Coordinator, School of Labour
George Brown College

From the Canadian Cancer Society:

Dear LGBTTQ community members at UTSC,
I wanted to take this opportunity to send a small note of support to you at this very difficult time. The violence we experience as members of the LGBT communities sometimes directly relate to the kind of fantastic human rights work we engage in at the ground level. The work that you have done and continue to do has clearly had a very strong impact, and you ( we) must continue, now, more than ever as the backlash falls upon us.

Sharmini Fernando MES
Community Diversity Consultant
Toronto Region,
Canadian Cancer Society

From the St. George Campus Positive Space Committee:

Dear UTSC Students, Staff and Faculty,

I am writing on behalf of the Positive Space committee at the St. George Campus to offer our support to the LGBTQ community at the University of Toronto at Scarborough and to strongly protest the recent homophobic incident that occurred on your campus.

Setting fire to a bulletin board is not only a threat, but it also works, quite literally, to silence our voices. On the 14th December 2006, the Governing Council of the University of Toronto gave unanimous approval to a Statement on Equity, Diversity and Excellence. It states:-

"At the University of Toronto, we strive to be an equitable and inclusive community, rich with diversity, protecting the human rights of all persons, and based upon understanding and mutual respect for the dignity and worth of every person. We seek to ensure to the greatest extent possible that all students and employees enjoy the opportunity to participate as they see fit in the full range of activities that the University offers, and to achieve their full potential as members of the University community."

The University's Positive Space Campaign is a visual and tangible symbol of this commitment, and it brings with it the responsibility to provide safer and more inclusive spaces for those who identify as LGBTQ and their allies. Vandalism that is targeted at one group within our community affects all of us, limiting our ability to achieve our full potential or to reach the goals expressed in the above statement.

Homophobic incidents are often rooted in ignorance and fear. As an educational institution it is of paramount importance that we work within our community to develop understanding and mutual respect so that each person will feel that the University is a safe and welcoming place in which to learn and to work. The Positive Space campaign exists to challenge the marginalisation of LGBTQ students, staff and faculty, and to offer leadership and resources to assist in the creation of an anti-discriminatory environment.

We applaud the recent love-in on the Scarborough campus as a way of letting our voices be heard (and seen!) and would like to offer our support in finding ways to turn this homophobic incident into an opportunity for education that will help the University community to move a little closer to the goals of our Statement on Equity, Diversity and Excellence.

Yours sincerely,
Sara-Jane Finlay
Chair, Positive Space Committee
St. George Campus

From Proud Algoma, Algoma University College [PDF]:

From Proud Algoma:
-----
I am writing to you on behalf Proud Algoma, the LGBT club at Algoma University College, in Sault Ste. Marie. I am writing in support of LGBTQ@UTSC after learning of the hate-motivated incidents that have taken place on your campus, including the recent act of arson.
The successive acts of vandalism against the LGBTQ@UTSC campus group’s bulletin board are unacceptable.

I am reminded of a conference that I recently attended, in Upper Peninsula, Michigan, at a Unitarian Church. Being down in Michigan made me realize how lucky we, here, in Canada, truly are, simply based on the fact that in the US, it is still legal to fire an individual based on the fact that they are suspected to be in the LGBT community,
However, if incidents like the one perpetrated against your campus were to continue, I would have to rethink my recent feelings of gratitude at my geographic location.

These incidents not only attack the ability of your group to function, but also create a chilling climate on campus for queer and trans students. All students have the right to feel safe in their learning environment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

I am pleased to see that LGBTQ@UTSC has responded to these incidents by exposing students to the sexual and gender diversity of the campus community. Your actions send a strong message to the perpetrators that homophobia and transphobia have no place on campus, and that acts of hate will only be met with increased visibility of queer and trans students. Your actions will also allow students of all identities to participate in building a safer and more inclusive campus community for LGBTQ students.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if we can assist you in working towards a resolution and prevention of future acts of homophobia and transphobia. We look forward to supporting LGBTQ@UTSC in its fight against intolerance and for building a safer campus for queer and trans students.

Please let us know if there’s anything at all that we can do, up here!

Sincerely,
Sarah Broad

From Jill Hornick, professor at George Brown:

I'm a prof at George Brown College, and a member of GBCQ, the LGBTQ staff/faculty group here. I just wanted to send a quick email commending the students at UT Scarborough on their bravery and strength in standing up against the homophobic violence on their campus. I'm with you in spirit today, and will join in in whatever future actions are planned. Stand strong.

In solidarity,

JP Hornick, Professor
School of Community Services and Development, School of Deaf and Deafblind Studies
George Brown College

From Sharon Peake, alum of UofT:

As a former U of T student, as a member of the LGBTTTIQ community, and as a human being, I feel appalled at the recent hate crimes that have occurred at the Scarborough campus. Universities are places for self-exploration, self-expression, intellectual thought, and community, and all of these things have been violated through these heinous activities.

Although not able to demonstrate in person, I wanted to email to let you know that I support all efforts of solidarity, pride, and taking up space. Know that for every person who is there with you, there are two more of us behind you, supporting you, with you.

in solidarity,

Sharon Peake

From Jessie Thomson, U of T alum:

Dear UTS colleagues,

I deplore any hate-motivated attacks on students based on gender identification/expression or sexual orientation. The vandalism targeted at LGBTQ at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus creates an atmosphere of intimidation and fear — not only for students, but also for LGBTQ staff and faculty.

I strongly believe that all students, staff and faculty have the right to a learning, working and teaching environment that is free of discrimination in all forms.

I stand in solidarity with the University of Toronto queer and transidentified community today who refuse to be silenced and we celebrate the coming together of our diverse communities.

In peace and solidarity,

Jessie Thomson
U of T Alumni

From the Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and area [PDF]:

On behalf of the Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton & Area), I am writing to express our support for Queer and Trans-Identified students, staff and faculty of the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus.

As an agency that envisions a world free of violence and oppression, we operate within an anti-racist and anti-oppression? framework. We will challenge social and political? structures and systems that contribute to violence, oppression, and exploitation of women.

The vandalism targeted at the LGBTQ communities on the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus is an act of hatred designed to create an atmosphere of intimidation and fear — not only for students, but also for LGBTQ staff and faculty. We condemn these hate-motivated attacks based on gender identification/expression or sexual orientation.

We believe that all students, staff and faculty have a right to an environment that is free of discrimination and oppression in any form.

We stand with the University of Toronto queer and transidentified communities who refuse to be silenced and we celebrate their courage.

In solidarity,

Lenore Lukasik-Foss
Director

From the Peel HIV/AIDS Network (PDF only)