York University’s Lack of Security Plunging Them Into Deep Waters
York University is no stranger to violent occurrences. In fact, the institution has experienced a number of hostile situations over the years to the point where television screens placed throughout the campus air messages to students about safety precautions and walking in pairs while venturing beyond the school’s boundaries.
Just last March, a shooting took place inside the main cafeteria, which left two injured. Eight witnesses of the incident recently launched a $20.5 million lawsuit against York over the lack of security provided.
Sandra Zisckind, a lawyer at Diamond and Diamond, stated, “We’re alleging a pattern of negligence. We’re alleging that security has been overlooked and our allegation is that steps could have been taken and measures could have been taken and they were not.”
The university has over 55,000 students and only 76 security officers with plans to add only a handful more in the next few years. However, according to Joanne Rider, a York University spokeswoman, the school is “actively engaged in installing swipe access control systems in all buildings at the Keele campus in anticipation of the arrival of the subway in 2015.”
It is unlikely that such small measures will drastically improve safety at the university, considering a great deal of its troubles lie just outside their borders. And if things continue the way they have, York University is sure to solidify its reputation for being one of the most unsafe universities in Canada.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/04/10/york-university-shooting-lawsuit/
