TORONTO, September 14, 2007 -- The York University community is invited to participate in a rally to “reclaim the night” on Wednesday, Sept. 19, in response to recent sexual assaults on campus.
The “Women Unite Reclaim the Night!” rally and march will take place from 7-9 pm in front of Vari Hall on York University’s Keele Campus.
Men are invited to participate in the rally, though only women and trans people will march.
”In light of recent violence against women on our campus, we feel we need to speak out,” says Gilary Massa of the York Federation of Students, one of the groups organizing the event. “We need to stand together and say, ‘this is not going to be tolerated.’"
There will also be a closed forum for women and trans people, in order to allow for open discussion of the safety and security issues affecting them. This is intended to be a confidential environment; however, members of the media are invited to attend the rally and march.
Organizations involved include the York Federation of Students, York University Graduate Students Association, the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Support Line (SASSL), the Centre for Women and Trans People and the Office of the Ombudsperson & Centre for Human Rights.
Event details:
Forum for women and trans people
When: Sept. 19, 3-6 pm
Where: Room 430, Student Centre
Rally and march
When: Sept. 19, 7-9 pm
Where: In front of Vari Hall
For more information:
Gilary Massa, YFS: 647 869 2101 / vpequity@yfs.ca .
Media contact:
Melissa Hughes, Media Relations, York University: 416 736 2100 x22097 / mehughes@yorku.ca .
York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 24 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
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