Act against the expulsion of Dan Freeman-Maloy

Urgent: Please act against the expulsion of Dan Freeman-Maloy from York 
University!

To All Concerned Community Members:

Last week, a 3rd-year undergraduate student of political science, Dan 
Freeman-Maloy, received a letter informing him of a 3-year suspension from 
York University, simply for using a megaphone on campus. The letter 
referred only to his "use of an unauthorized sound amplification device" at 
an "unauthorized demonstration". He was given no information on how to 
appeal the suspension and was threatened with charges of trespass should he 
enter the campus grounds after 1 May. The suspension comes into effect on 
the same day that Dan is to begin work at the University's principal 
newspaper, Excalibur.

Dan is a Jewish student who has been vocal in defence of Palestinian human 
rights, as well as in workers' rights and other social justice campaigns. 
His suspension comes following a theatrical display on campus on March 16, 
2004, in which students were commemorating the anniversary of the death of 
US peace activist, Rachel Corrie, who died last year in the Gaza Strip.  At 
the display, Palestine solidarity activists were spat upon, kicked and 
threatened by an aggressive counter-demonstration.  The university 
administration did nothing to protect the students. Instead, in an attempt 
to silence critical dissent on campus, they chose to suspend Dan.

Dan is due to complete his degree after one year. He has an excellent 
academic record and has been an active and respected participant in the 
life of the York University community.  Despite the fact that the 
university's own legal guidelines (Presidential Regulation #2) states that 
students be entitled to an administrative procedure allowing for student 
appeals (Section E, #3), Dan has been suspended by administrative fiat - in 
an impersonal letter without any possibility of appeal.  Furthermore, 
York's regulations specify that only serious infractions (such as a 
violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code or illegal behaviour) warrant 
expulsion.  This demonstrates total disregard for his academic future and 
his right to an education, as well as to York's own procedural regulations.

This expulsion is not only callous toward Dan's future, but is politically 
motivated.  Megaphones have been used without authorization at countless 
other "unauthorized demonstrations" in Vari Hall without a single student 
being penalized, let alone suspended for 3 years, which is a de facto 
expulsion.  Moreover, other students used a megaphone at this very 
demonstration without any consequences.  Dan is being singled out and 
scapegoated because he is an articulate and effective Jewish advocate of 
Palestinian human rights.  Or, as a member of York's Board of Directors 
explained to a concerned graduate student outside a recent press 
conference, because he is a "rabble-rouser."

President Marsden is not impartial in this matter, and her record is clear. 
  She has consistently supported right-wing speakers on campus - "Campus 
Watch" host Daniel Pipes last year, Israeli Minister Natan Sharansky (a 
proponent of mass expulsion of Palestinians to neighbouring countries) this 
year. Last year, her administration also brought mounted police on to 
campus for the first time ever, and coordinated to have three organizers of 
an anti-war student strike arrested.  York's campus has become more and 
more repressive recently, as exorbitant and arbitrary "security fees" have 
been forced upon student groups hosting dissident speakers, as club 
activities have been prohibited in various public spaces on campus, and as 
certain student organizations have faced outright bans.  This crackdown on 
critical dialogue - the cornerstone of higher learning - marks a 
significant step backward for all members of the York community.

We urge everyone who is concerned about maintaining York University's 
campus as a progressive space, and all those intent on protecting student 
rights to free expression and assembly, to contact President Marsden.

We are demanding the immediate reversal of the decision to expel Dan 
Freeman-Maloy from campus for his political activities.  York University 
prides itself on a reputation as a progressive space where critical 
development and engagement is encouraged, not stifled.  If this reputation 
is to be maintained, the current administration must act accordingly.


Sincerely,

York Free Speech Committee


How to get involved:

Below we have attached a letter to President Marsden demanding that she 
immediately reverse the suspension of Dan Freeman-Maloy, so that he can 
complete his studies and report for work on campus without fear of being 
charged with trespassing.  Please sign the letter below and send it to 
President Marsden at [email protected] (no "e") and cc 
[email protected].  Or, better yet, write a letter outlining these 
demands yourself, and get whatever organizations you are a part of to draft 
letters of their own.

Letters can also be postmarked to:
Office of the President
4700 Keele St.
Toronto, ON
Canada  M3J 1P3

For more information on our ongoing campaign, contact [email protected]

Thank you, and we appreciate all of your help!


President Marsden,

I recently learned of the 3-year suspension of Dan Freeman-Maloy for his 
use of a megaphone at an "unauthorized" demonstration.  I find your 
decision appalling for a number of reasons.  First, your decision is a 
violation of Mr. Freeman-Maloy's right to freedom of expression as it is a 
response to his participation in political activity, not his use of a sound 
amplification device (many students have used a megaphone without 
authorization in Vari Hall - why is Dan being singled out?).  Second, in 
contradiction with your own regulations on student conduct, your decision 
provided no opportunity for Dan to defend himself, nor an opportunity for 
an appeal.  Third, this decision reflects a troubling pattern of silencing 
progressive political activity on campus (including banning tabling and 
leafleting for political purposes, and imposing exorbitant "security fees" 
on student groups).  Finally, given York's official commitment to the 
pursuit of social justice (as declared in the un
  iversity's mission statement), it would seem that you should support and 
actively create space for social justice activism on campus, instead of 
shutting it down.

I demand that you immediately reverse your decision to summarily expel Dan 
Freeman-Maloy.  You are the head of a prestigious academic institution with 
a reputation for academic freedom and political diversity.  I am requesting 
that York uphold its own standards.

Sincerely,
********
-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
		--Brecht.


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