The $1,600 security fee charged to a men’s rights group holding an event on campus later this week will be absorbed by Ryerson.
“This decision is not about the content or subject matter of the event nor is it an endorsement of the event or the organization; it is about the university removing barriers to freedom of speech and expression,” according to a statement from the university provided to The Ryersonian.
The Canadian Association for Equality and men’s rights activists will gather at Ryerson Feb. 6 to talk about “feminism, free speech and the censorship of men’s issues.”
The event was subjected to a risk assessment through Ryerson’s Integrated Risk Management because a student booked the event space and because the event is similar to a 2013 University of Toronto event that lead to a large and violent protest.
The assessment, completed Jan. 31, resulted in the additional security fee and the event being moved to the Chang School from the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
On it’s website, CAFE said Levy’s announcement “is not only extremely welcome but a recognition of CAFE’s status as an organization dedicated to expanding the debate on gender issues – particularly as they pertain to men.”
Allie Coulman graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2014.