A university alumnus was arrested at an art showing at University College on Tuesday.

Salvador Vizcaya, who obtained his Master’s in Education from U of T in 1997, was charged with trespassing after an altercation involving the U of T police at the university art center, located at University College.

Vizcaya showed up at the art centre for the public opening of a new exhibition featuring sound artists called “See Hear!” which had been advertised in Now magazine.

In an interview, Vizcaya expressed bafflement as to why he was not only refused entry, but also arrested and charged with trespassing.

“We’ve had problems, as have many art galleries in Toronto, with groups of people who just come to drink the wine and so on,” said Niamh O’Laoghaire, the art centre’s director. According to O’Laoghaire, some of these people have harassed other attendees in the past.

She added that U of T is technically private property and “all event holders have the right to choose who they wish to enter. We just said, ‘it’s a private event and you’re not invited.'”

When staff refused to let him in, Vizcaya demanded to speak to the director. When the director did not appear, art centre staff say he became aggressive.

A U of T police officer was there at the time and called for backup. At that point, Vizcaya says he tried to leave, but the police arrested him on the spot and released him off-campus.

Vizcaya was told he could plead guilty and pay a fine for trespassing or stand trial for the charge. He says he intends to take it to trial. In the meantime, he’s been banned from the U of T campus altogether.

Vizcaya said he’s attended openings at the centre before without any problem, including one in May. “I work during the day,” he said. “That’s why I go to the openings, because they’re open later.”

He suggested that art centre staff discriminated against him because he looks “vaguely middle-eastern” and his skin tone is “a few shades darker.”

Vizcaya filed a complaint at the Toronto Police’s 52 division against the U of T police who arrested him, which was dismissed.

“It’s the old story: good cop, bad cop,” said Vizcaya. “I had some bad luck with some bad cops this afternoon. I don’t believe all U of T cops are as bad as them.”