York University York University ( ) is a public research university in Toronto , Ontario , Canada . It is Ontario ' s second - largest graduate school and Canada ' s third - largest university . York has a student population of approximately 55 , 000 , 7 , 000 faculty and staff , and 250 , 000 alumni worldwide . It has eleven faculties , namely the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies , Faculty of Science , Schulich School of Business , Osgoode Hall Law School , Glendon College , Faculty of Education , the Faculty of Fine Arts , Faculty of Health , Faculty of Environmental Studies , Lassonde School of Engineering , Faculty of Graduate Studies , and 28 research centres . York University participates in the Canadian Space Program . The Faculty of Science and Engineering is Canada ' s primary research facility into Martian exploration , and has designed several space research instruments and applications currently used by NASA . York has pioneered some of the first PhD programs in Canada , in various fields including women ' s studies . The school of social work is recognized as having one of the most socially responsive programs in the country . York University ' s business school and law school have continuously been ranked among the top schools in Canada and the world . History . York University was established in 1959 as a non - denominational institution by the " York University Act " . which received Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on 26 March of that year . Its first class was held in September 1960 in Falconer Hall on the University of Toronto campus with a total of 76 students . The policy of university education initiated in the 1960s responded to population pressure and the belief that higher education was a key to social justice and economic productivity for individuals and for society . The governance was modelled on the provincial University of Toronto Act of 1906 , which established a bicameral system of university government consisting of a senate ( faculty ) , responsible for academic policy , and a board of governors ( citizens ) exercising exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters . The president , appointed by the board , was to provide a link between the two bodies and to perform institutional leadership . In the fall of 1961 , York moved to its first campus , Glendon College , and began to emphasize liberal arts and part - time adult education . It became independent in 1965 , after an initial period of affiliation with the University of Toronto ( U of T ) , under the " York University Act " , 1965 . Its main campus on the northern outskirts of Toronto opened in 1965 . Murray Ross , who continues to be honoured today at the University in several ways – including the Murray G . Ross Award , was still vice - president of U of T when he was approached to become York University ' s new president . At the time , York University was envisaged as a feeder campus to U of T , until Ross ' s powerful vision led it to become a completely separate institution . In 1965 , the university opened a second campus , the Keele Campus , in North York . The Glendon campus became a bilingual liberal arts college led by Escott Reid , who envisaged it as a national institution to educate Canada ' s future leaders , a vision shared by Prime Minister Lester Pearson , who formally opened Glendon College in 1966 . The first Canadian undergraduate program in dance opened at York University in 1970 . In 1972 , Canada Post featured the nascent institution on 8¢ stamps , entitled " York University Campus , North York , Ont . " The first Canadian PhD . program in Women ' s Studies opened with five candidates in January 1992 . Its bilingual mandate and focus on the liberal arts continue to shape Glendon ' s special status within York University . The new Keele Campus was regarded as somewhat isolated , in a generally industrialized part of the city . Petrol storage facilities are still located across the street . Some of the early architecture was unpopular with many , not only for the brutalist designs , but the vast expanses between buildings , which was not viewed as suitable for the climate . In the last two decades , the campus has been intensified with new buildings , including a dedicated student centre and new fine arts , computer science and business administration buildings , a small shopping mall , and a hockey arena . The Rexall Centre tennis stadium , built in 2004 , is a perennial host of the Canada Masters tennis tournament . As Toronto has spread further out , York has found itself in a relatively central location within the built - up Greater Toronto Area ( GTA ) , and in particular , near the Jane and Finch neighbourhood . Its master plan envisages a denser on - campus environment commensurate with that location . Students occupied the university ' s administration offices in March 1997 , protesting escalating tuition hikes . On November 6 , 2008 , the York University Senate suspended classes because of a strike by CUPE Local 3903 . The local represents contract professors , teaching assistants , and graduate assistants . Classes resumed on Monday , February 2 , 2009 after back - to - work legislation was passed by the Ontario Legislative Assembly ( see : " 2008 - 09 York University Strike " ) Academics . York has educated some of the current and past directors and CEO s of Canada ' s major banks ( Bank of Nova Scotia , Bank of Montreal ) , the largest and most prominent media networks in Canada ( CTV Television Network , Rogers Communications , Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ) , and numerous judges , diplomats , and senior politicians including a former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal of Canada , the Minister of Finance of Canada and the former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations . Astronaut Steve MacLean was educated at York University in the physics department and later taught there before going to work at Stanford University . York ' s approximately 2 , 450 full - time faculty and academic librarians are represented by the York University Faculty Association . Contract faculty , teaching assistants , and graduate assistants are represented by CUPE Local 3903 . Admissions . first For the 2011 - 2012 academic year , York received 41 , 527 undergraduate applications ; approximately 11 , 000 students accepted admission offers and were enrolled , maintaining a high school entrance average of 81 . 6 % ( A - ) . The average GMAT score for candidates admitted to York University ' s business school is 664 . The average LSAT score for candidates admitted to York ’ s law school is 162 . Reputation . The 2011 – 2012 Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed York 276 - 300 in the world , placing 16 - 17 in Canada . The 2011 QS World University Rankings ranked the university 364th in the world . According to the 2011 Academic Ranking of World Universities ( ARWU ) rankings , the university ranked 401 - 500th in the world . In terms of national rankings , " Maclean ' s " ranked York 8th in their 2013 comprehensive university rankings . The Higher Education Strategy Associates ranked York 8th nationally in Social Sciences and Humanities . Several of York ' s programs had also gained notable recognition both nationally and internationally . In the Corporate Knights 2011 ranking of teacher - education programs in Canada , York had placed fifth . York ' s Osgoode Hall Law School ranked second in Canada , in Maclean ' s 2012 ranking of Canadian common law schools . In the Corporate Knights ranking of law programs in Canada , Osgoode Hall had also placed second . In the QS ranking of law programs , York had placed 42nd in the world , and fifth in Canada . The Schulich School of Business had also gained national and international accolades . In the Corporate Knights 2011 rankings of MBA programs in Canada , the school had placed first . In the same year , the Corporate Knights had also ranked the school third in Canada for undergraduate business programs . In Beyond Grey Pinstripes 2011 rankings of MBA programs , York had placed second in the world , and first in Canada . In Bloomberg Businessweek ' s 2010 rankings of the best business schools outside the United States , Schulich had ranked seventh , the second highest of any Canadian business school . In Forbes 2010 rankings of the best two - year MBA program outside the United States , Schulich had ranked 10th in the world , the highest out of any Canadian business school . In CNN Expansion ' s ranking of MBA programs , the school had ranked 18th in the world , placing first in Canada . In the Financial Times 2011 ranking of MBA programs , Schulich had ranked 49th in the world , and third in Canada . In The Economist ' s 2011 full - time MBA rankings , Schulich had ranked ninth in the world , and first in Canada . Faculties . York University has eleven faculties , including the Faculties of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies ( which was formed in July 2009 by the merger of the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies and the Faculty of Arts ) , Science and Engineering , Education , and Glendon College . Some faculties ' programs overlap : for instance , more than one house separate mathematics departments , although some of these are being merged ; the Schulich School of Business offers undergraduate and graduate International Business Administration programmes and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies offers a Bachelor of Administrative Studies with streams in Accounting , Business Research , Finance , Human Resources Management , Management , Management Science , and Marketing , as well as a minor in Business , to be taken in conjunction with a major in another discipline . The Schulich School of Business offers undergraduates with the option of pursuing a BBA or iBBA program with a component of mandatory exchange . Also , the Glendon and Schulich units are offering or are in the processes of preparing to offer degrees in public policy and administration . The University administration has , however , taken steps in some cases to unify departments in separate faculties , in part to support York ' s efforts to brand itself as a university focused on interdisciplinarity . For example , the Faculty of Health , opened on 1 July 2006 , houses the School of Health Policy and Management , School of Kinesiology and Health Science , School of Nursing , and the Department of Psychology . York University offers the first and largest graphic design program in Ontario York / Sheridan Design ( YSDN ) . It is a four - year University degree delivered jointly by the two leading educational institutions of design in Canada ( York University and Sheridan College ) , and is recognized throughout North America for maintaining the highest academic and professional standards . The Osgoode Hall Law School moved from a downtown location to the York campus in 1969 , following the requirement that every law school affiliate with a university . The law school has several flexible degrees available , including the Osgoode - NYU JD / LLB degree in conjunction with New York University School of Law . Osgoode Hall Law School of York University has been ranked the top law school in Canada in " Canadian Lawyer " magazine ’ s 2008 Law School Survey . York University ' s Faculty of Graduate Studies offers graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines , and there are several joint graduate programmes with the University of Toronto and Ryerson University . It is the second largest graduate school in the Province of Ontario . The Ph . D . students in the Social and Political Thought program have won the award for best PhD thesis in Canada . The School of Women ' s Studies at York University offers a large array of courses in the field , some of which are offered in French . The Canadian Centre for Germanic and European Studies is co - housed at York University and Université de Montréal . The Centre is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service . Research centres and institutes . The Art Gallery of York University houses the permanent art collections . The collection of 1500 objects includes Canadian , American , Inuit , and European mixed media , multimedia , installations , painting , photography , prints , drawings , sculpture , sketchbooks , film and video . The Faculty of Fine Arts offers programmes such as design , ethnomusicology , cultural studies , visual arts , music , dance , and theatre . York ' s Jazz Department was once overseen by Oscar Peterson . York also has a joint Bachelor of Design program with Sheridan College . York ' s Departments of Film , Theatre and Creative Writing ( which is not officially affiliated with the Faculty of Fine Arts ) offers programmes in film production / directing , acting , and writing respectively , producing many award - winning graduates . The founders of Toronto ' s Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival and CineACTION film theory magazine were graduates of York ' s Faculty of Fine Arts . York ' s Dance department was founded by National Ballet of Canada ' s first choreographer Grant Strate . York offers a Space and Communication Sciences undergraduate degree . York ’ s Centre for Vision Research has developed a ‘ virtual reality room ’ called IVY ( Immersive Virtual Environment at York ) in order to study spatial orientation and perception of gravity and motion . The Canadian Space Agency and National Space Biomedical Research Institute ( NSBRI ) use this room to strengthen astronauts ’ sense of ‘ up ’ and ‘ down ’ in zero - gravity environments . The room is a six - sided immersive environment made of the glass used in the CN Tower ’ s observation deck and includes walls , ceiling , and a floor made of computer - generated pixel maps . York ' s Faculty of Science and Engineering most recently took part in the 2007 NASA Phoenix Mars Mission . York is also the only university in Canada with specialized programs in meteorological sciences at both the undergraduate and graduate level . Seneca @ York . The Keele campus is host to a satellite facility of Seneca College , and York University offers a number of joint programs with Seneca College : Libraries . There are seven libraries and archives at York , five of them ( Scott , Steacie , Peter F . Bronfman , Leslie Frost , and Clara Thomas ) constituting York University Libraries , plus the Archives of Ontario and the library of Osgoode Hall Law School . Campuses . Keele Campus . York ' s primary campus ( " The Keele Campus " ) is located in the north of the City of Toronto and bordering York Region . It is the largest post - secondary campus in Canada at 457 acres . Most of the University ' s faculties reside here , including Liberal Arts , Fine Arts , Business , Law , Environmental Studies , Science and Engineering , Education , and Health . All together , nearly 50 , 000 students attend classes on the Keele campus . York has over 200 , 000 living alumni . Although a large number of alumni live in Ontario , a significant number live in British Columbia , Nova Scotia , Alberta , New York , and Washington , D . C . York also has over 25 , 000 alumni overseas . Glendon Campus . Glendon College , a bilingual liberal arts faculty which conducts its own recruitment and admissions and hosts its own academic programs , is also housed on its own campus on Bayview Avenue in North Toronto . Glendon is the only university - level institution in central Southern Ontario that offers university courses in both French and English ; others elsewhere in Ontario include the University of Ottawa and Laurentian University in Sudbury . A shuttle bus runs regularly between the Glendon and the Keele campuses . Glendon students are free to take courses at the Keele campus ( and vice - versa ) . However , there are students who consider getting from one campus to the other to be inconvenient , and thus the attractiveness of this option is not universal . Satellite Campuses . While most of the Schulich School of Business and Osgoode Hall Law School programs are offered at the Keele Campus , both of them maintain satellite facilities in downtown Toronto . Schulich operates the Miles S . Nadal Management Centre , while Osgoode Hall has a Professional Development Centre located at 1 Dundas Street West . Student life . York has more than 50 , 000 students enrolled . Many students come from the Greater Toronto Area , but there is a sizeable population of students from across Canada and abroad , making York one of the most international universities in Canada . To serve this large population , there are 290 student clubs and organizations ; six student - run publications and three broadcast programs ; six art galleries ; 33 on - campus eateries ; and a retail mall . Undergraduate students at York are represented by the York Federation of Students , a student - elected body that sponsors most of the clubs , and engages in lobbying with the university administration as well as the provincial and federal governments . Colleges & Residences . York has nine undergraduate residential college s : The Village . The Village at York off - campus student housing area has become a popular area of accommodation for many upper - year and post - graduate students , and the area has had a large amount of attention particularly for large parties hosted by students , including the annual Battle of the Village kegger held in March . There have also been many reports of the level of noise pollution from late - night parties from students living in the area . Safety has also been a pressing issue . The Village is a residential neighbourhood within the City of Toronto , occupying about 130 acres beyond the south boundary of York University ' s property . Residential dwellings in The Village are privately owned , and homeowners in this community are City of Toronto taxpayers . York University participates in the Village At York Town and Gown Committee , with representatives of residents of The Village ; the York Federation of Students ; Toronto Police Service and Toronto Fire Service , as well as other key municipal agencies and the local Councillors ' office . This committee addresses concerns of residents , students , the City and the University , such as community safety and by - law enforcement and compliance . Newspapers and other publications . " Excalibur " has been the university ' s autonomous student newspaper since 1966 . In 2008 , the " YU Free Press " was formed as an alternative campus newspaper . Colleges and some programs also have individual newspapers or magazines . They include : " The Flying Walrus " ( Stong College ) , " MacMedia " ( McLaughlin College ) , " The Pipe " ( Calumet College ) , " Artichoke " ( Winters College ) , " SOFA " ( Spotlight On Fine Arts ) , " The Lexicon " ( Norman Bethune College ) , " The Vandoo " ( Vanier College ) , " The Phoenix " ( Founders College ) , " Pro Tem " ( Glendon College ) , " Obiter Dicta " ( Osgoode Law School ) , and " The Insider " ( Schulich School of Business ) . " Existere – Journal of Arts and Literature " ( est . 1978 ) is a national publication with local and international contributors . It is financed by Vanier College Council . The journal publishes short fiction , poetry , non - fiction and art from novices and seasoned veterans . Several major writers got their early start in " Existere " . " YorkU Magazine " ( est . 2003 ) is the official magazine of York University . It is published 3 times a year in both a print and digital format . Sport . The University is represented in Canadian Interuniversity Sport by the York Lions . Beginning in 1968 York ' s sporting teams were known as the " Yeomen " , after the Yeomen Warders , the guardians of the fortress and palace at the Tower of London , otherwise known as Beefeaters . Later , the name " Yeowomen " was introduced to encourage women to participate in sports . Popular sentiment ran against this name scheme , however , as many students were fond of noting that a " Yeowoman " was fictitious , neither a real word nor having any historical merit . In 2003 , after conducting an extensive internal study , the University replaced both names with the " Lions " , as part of a larger renaming effort , and a new logo , now a white and red lion , was brought into line with the university ' s new visual scheme . The name change also brought York University in line with the 92 % of other Canadian universities which use a single name for both sexes ' sports teams . Ironically , students often refer to the female Lions teams as the " York Lionesses " , even though the name " Lion " is intended to apply to both sexes . York offers 29 interuniversity sport teams , 12 sport clubs , 35 intramural sport leagues , special events and 10 pick - up sport activities offered daily . York University has several athletic facilities , some of which are used for major tournaments . These include a football stadium , 4 gymnasia , 5 sport playing fields , 4 softball fields , 9 outdoor tennis courts , 5 squash courts , 3 dance / aerobic studios , 6 ice arenas , a swimming pool , an expanding fitness centre and the new Rexall Centre ( home of the Rogers Tennis Cup ) . In 2005 , plans were made to build a new football and soccer stadium to host the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and future football tournaments . These plans were scuttled , however , when a deal was signed by the Argos to remain at the Rogers Centre . Fight song . Notable among a number of songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencement and convocation , and athletic games are : " York Song " , sung to the tune " Harvard " . At sporting events , and in a host of frosh week events on campus , students are often heard singing and chanting the cheer " Deep in the Heart " : Another York Fight song that is used at Homecoming games is : There are also college songs , particularly from the friendly feuds between Stong College and Bethune College , and the infamous Winters College and Vanier College cheer songs . Fraternities and Sororities . With both fraternities and sororities operating on campus , York University is home to a vibrant " Greek " community . Though the organizations are not officially recognized by the University , they do provide member students with valuable experiences throughout their post - secondary academic careers to supplement campus life . Many lifelong friendships are forged through these societies , which place a great deal of emphasis on academic achievement , leadership and philanthropy . Organizations . Over the years , three fraternities and three sororities have operated , unofficially , on campus : Fraternities : Sororities : Phi Delta Phi ( ΦΔΦ ) international legal fraternity , at Osgoode Law School , was given special dispensation when the law school became part of the university , as the fraternity ' s history with the law school dated back to 1896 , and is recognized at York . Transit . York University is sometimes referred to as a " commuter school " . Over 65 % of the students and staff have home addresses in the Greater Toronto Area ( GTA ) , particularly in York Region and downtown Toronto . Many students are opting for public transit owing to York ' s high parking fees . York intends to increase the fees for parking to combat congestion around campus and to support the goal of making Toronto more environmentally friendly . Close to fourteen hundred buses move people through the campus each day . An extension of the Yonge - University - Spadina line of the Toronto Subway is currently under construction . It will run directly under the campus , creating new stations at Keele Street and Finch Avenue ( as Finch West station ) , at the centre of campus ( as York University station ) , and at Steeles Avenue , interfacing with York Regional Transit ( as Black Creek Pioneer Village station ) . York University ' s Glendon and Keele campuses are served by the TTC . The Keele site is also served by York Region Transit buses ( both regular and Viva ) from the immediate north , GO Transit express buses from several other Toronto suburbs and colleges or universities ( such as Sheridan College and UOIT ) along with Greyhound buses for regional transportation . Transportation Services operates a shuttle service to GO Transit ' s York University train station on its Barrie corridor . As of November 20 , 2009 , express buses on the highly frequent 196 York University Rocket Toronto Transit Commission ( TTC ) bus route now use the dedicated York University Busway to transport students from Downsview station to York Lanes in about 15 minutes . It consists of bus - only lanes on Allen Road and Dufferin Street , and bus - only roadways through a hydro corridor north of Finch Avenue West , and along the east side of the campus . As of September 20 , 2010 , the Züm Route 501 provides service from Bramalea Terminal in Brampton to York University . Campus safety . York University Department of Security Services provides security services on the university ' s campuses . York Security Services provide uniformed security staff which consist of campus liaison officers ( community services unit ) and the Investigative Unit which works closely with the Toronto Police Services . The investigative unit and Toronto Police Investigative Units and 31 Division work jointly on serious investigations . Patrols are conducted on foot , bicycle and vehicle . The security service is a member of the Ontario Association of College and University Security Administrators ( OACUSA ) and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators ( IACLEA ) . The campus community is over 55 , 000 people . The department uses marked Ford Crown Victorias which are clearly identifiable with low - profile LED roof lights . The department responds to all calls for service , however incidents of a criminal nature should be reported to Toronto Police . Uniform security staff can be clearly identified by their dark cargo - style pants , red shirt ( York University colour ) and black exterior body armour ( bulletproof vest covers ) . Residence watch staff are also posted nightly at all undergraduate residence buildings to provide an extra level of protection . As part of the campus safety system a student escort service is available to all members of the community . The escort staff are students hired on a part - time basis . In an emergency escort staff have immediate communication with Security Services . In June 2008 , the university announced it had commissioned an external safety audit after a string of rapes on the university campus . During frosh week 2007 , two men entered a campus dormitory and raped two students . The victims were 17 and 18 years old at the time . A lawsuit filed claims that " the entrance door to the college and to the residential room areas of the college were virtually wide open to the public at large " . The next year , in January 2008 , another student was sexually assaulted in the stairwell of a campus building . In May 2009 , a contract security guard was shot at a York University campus pub , The Underground . In April 2010 , a 20 - year - old student was sexually assaulted while walking to her apartment , located minutes away from the main campus . The incident , described by police as " particularly severe " and resulting in " very serious " injuries for the victim , was particularly notable as it occurred just a week after Daniel Katsnelson was sentenced for the 2007 rape on the university campus . The incident further reignited criticism against the school for continued delays in releasing the campus safety audit , which was first announced nearly 2 years prior . On March 31 , 2010 , less than a month prior to the April 2010 incident , the campus newspaper , Excalibur published an article lambasting the school administration for delays in releasing the audit . A spokesman for the university responded that the school is still " anxiously awaiting " the report . In April 2011 , campus security was temporarily increased following the murder of a 23 - year old Chinese overseas student in the York University Village . The university temporarily hired paid duty Toronto Police Officers to patrol the campus . On August 26 , 2011 , York University announced that in response to recommendations in the METRAC Safety Audit , the University will be modifying the service delivery model for York Security Services ( YSS ) personnel . Members will be trained and issued with handcuffs and batons . Cruisers are to also be equipped with " silent partners " for transporting arrested persons . On November 20 , 2012 , York University initiated the intervention capable delivery model for security services . Having been certified after undergoing training in August 2012 , personnel were equipped with handcuffs and batons , and began wearing a dark grey uniform , replacing the red uniform , to signify the change in role for the community . Controversies . Violation of academic freedom . In the aftermath of an academic conference that took place in 2009 , titled " Israel / Palestine : Mapping Models of Statehood and Paths to Peace " , which explored the possible models of statehood for Israel / Palestine , including the one state model , concerns were raised about the way the York Administration has handled the political pressure . Some of the organizers accused the York administration , mainly the then Dean of the Osgoode Hall Law School and the Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation , of putting undue pressure on the organizers in order to force them to change the content of the conference , invite or disinvite some speakers . The accusations were supported by documents and emails that were obtained through the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act . The York administration appointed former Supreme Court of Canada Judge to review the issue , but the Iacobucci Review was problematic , and the terms of reference for the review were seen as an attack on academic freedom . The whole issue is being investigated by the Canadian Association of University Teachers . In response to the allegations made , a University spokesperson said that the University should be judged the fact that event took place despite the pressure not to hold it , and that there is always internal discussion as part of the planning of all events . He added that " In the end , this conference did go on and we do not feel that academic freedom was breached . " Vice President and Provost , Patrick Monahan , said , about these allegation that " Justice Iacobucci has looked at that and he doesn ’ t see any purpose in conducting further inquiries . Obviously there are a lot of different views about it . ” Yet , it seems that the Iaccobucci Report is seen by many faculty members at Osgoode as controversial . In a letter from the Osgoode Hall Faculty Association , the Association said that it " considers the Iacobucci Report to be unsound and unreliable . " The Association also said that " the Report both jeopardizes academic freedom and fails to consider the troubling conduct of the York officials . " Intimidation of Pro - Israel Groups . On February 11 , 2009 , approximately 100 pro - Palestinian students reportedly initiated a near - riot against a group of Jewish students during a news conference where speakers called for the impeachment of the York Federation of Students ( YFS ) executive . According to witnesses , the demonstrators , which reportedly consisted of members of the YFS and Students Against Israeli Apartheid ( SAIA ) , shouted “ Zionism equals racism ! ” and “ Racists off campus ! ” One witness stated that “ a riot broke out . They [ YFS supporters ] started banging the door and windows , intimidating Jewish students and screaming antisemitic slurs . ” The students barricaded themselves inside the Hillel offices , where protesters reportedly banged on the windows and attempted to force their way in . Eventually police were called to escort Jewish students through the protesters . The claims of anti - Semitic slurs were not reported by the media that were present at the time , as many believe that this accusation lacks credibility . Krisna Saravanamuttu , York Federation of Students ' vice - president of equity , who took part in the protest , denied that the protesters shouted anti - semitic slogans , stating that " That is categorically false . I heard nothing of that nature at all . " He did however , confirm that the protesters shouted " racism off campus " and " students united will never be defeated . " Some York faculty and students have rejected these claims of anti - Semitism as media spin and exaggeration In May 2009 , York adjudicator Janet Mosher , who is an associate dean at York ’ s Osgoode Hall Law School , ruled that two York students , Krisna Saravanamuttu and Jesse Zimmerman , had violated the Student Code of Conduct due to their behaviour at the protest , which she described as “ exclusionary and offensive ” and which promoted an atmosphere of “ hostility , incivility and intimidation . ” Mosher noted that both students participated in the protest which pursued a group of Jewish students to Hillel ’ s lounge in York ’ s Student Centre , and swarmed outside shouting taunts . On a video of the incident , Saravanamuttu was shown clapping and apparently leading a chant of “ Whose campus ? Our campus ! ” as well as participating in a chant of “ Racists off campus . " Saravanamuttu was fined $ 150 and both he and Zimmerman were given an official reprimand and human rights training . In February 2010 , the campus group the Christians United for Israel ( CUFI ) and " My Canada " applied to use university space to host the " Imagine With Us " coalition event consisting of pro - Israel speakers . The University replied that the event could only proceed under certain conditions ( which ultimately led to the event ' s cancellation when the organizers declined to comply with the terms ) : These conditions drew criticism because they were not imposed on the organizers of Israel Apartheid Week which was being held on campus the same month . York ' s decision drew sharp criticism from David Frum who wrote in the " National Post " that " Since the anti - Israel people might use violence , the speech of the pro - Israel people must be limited . On the other hand , since the pro - Israel people do not use violence , the speech of the anti - Israel people can proceed without restraint . " A York University spokesman subsequently told Frum that " all student groups that request university space " must meet " precisely same requirements " but that while the “ process ” and the “ protocols ” that were the same , a “ needs - based assessment ” of each particular case is necessary . Frum subsequently criticized the " utterly arbitrary ad hoc decision - making of a fathomlessly cowardly university administration . " Frank Dimant , CEO of B ' nai Brith Canada also sharply criticized York ' s justification , arguing that " York ’ s continued appeasement of anti - Israel agitators at the expense of Zionist Christians and Jews is unacceptable . ” Professor Ed Morgan of the University of Toronto criticized York , citing a 1992 ruling by the U . S . Supreme Court that struck down a county government ' s increased fee for police protection for a controversial speaker because " speech cannot be financially burdened , any more than it can be punished or banned , simply because it might offend a hostile mob . " Regarding the situation at York , Morgan wrote that " It ' s bad enough that there are " hostile mobs " on our campuses ; making others pay for that hostility only rubs salt in our wounded freedoms . " Prof . Howard C . Tenenbaum , also of the University of Toronto , wrote that York " has lost all stature as an academic institution whose remit is to provide for full academic discourse , freedom from hatred on campus and freedom of speech , unless of course that freedom only includes unabashed hatred for the State of Israel . " David Murrell of the University of New Brunswick wrote that " Everyone has a supposed right to free speech at York University – so long as groups can afford to pay security against leftist intimidation . " Strikes . York University has a history of faculty and teaching assistant strikes . In 1997 , there was a faculty strike by YUFA that lasted seven weeks . At the time , this was the second longest strike in Canadian University history . Key issues in the strike included retirement , funding , and institutional governance . In 2001 , teaching assistants and contract faculty went on strike for 11 weeks , when the university broke its own record . The central issue in the 2001 disruption was the administration ' s proposed attempts to remove tuition indexation language . A strike beginning on November 6 , 2008 concerned a variety of institutional grievances , including job security for contract professors , elimination of the Non - Academic Student Code of Conduct , creation of whistleblower protection , and fund indexation . On January 20 , 2009 , CUPE 3903 defeated a forced ratification vote that would have ended the strike . On January 24 , Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty announced a rare Sunday recall of the provincial legislature in order to pass back - to - work legislation mandating an immediate end to the strike . On January 29 , the York University Labour Disputes Resolution Act was passed in the provincial parliament on a count of 42 – 8 ending the long 85 - day strike and setting a precedent for future university strikes in Ontario .