On February 23, Terrence Ng, a life sciences student at UTM, was injured in an altercation with a group of individuals outside UTM’s MaGrath Valley Residence, after which Peel Regional Police and U of T Campus Safety took him to the hospital.
University of Toronto Erindale Hong Kong Student Association (UTEHKSA) posted about the incident on its Instagram account, claiming the student was from Hong Kong, and demanding that UTM improve safety measures on campus.
Statement from UTM
Nicolle Wahl, acting executive director at the UTM Office of Communications, confirmed the details of the incident that occured on campus in an email to The Varsity.
According to Wahl — on Saturday, February 19 — there had been a “disruptive” party at MaGrath Valley Residence. Residence staff and Campus Safety officers ended the party, during which damage was inflicted to a residence unit.
Wahl further wrote that four days later — on February 23 — multiple individuals arrived at the residence from off campus to inquire about equipment from the party. “A residence student arrived on scene and an altercation occurred between that student and the individuals,” Wahl wrote. Only one student was considered a trespasser as the incident occurred outside the building.
The student was taken to the hospital by Campus Safety officers and Peel Regional Police, who had arrived at the scene of the altercation. His injuries were treated and he was released. No charges were laid. Wahl wrote that following the incident, the one person who trespassed has been banned from campus. “UTM has cooperated fully with the Peel Regional Police investigation,” Wahl concluded.
Student Housing & Residence Life also sent out an email regarding the incident. “On Saturday, Feb. 19, an incident occurred at MaGrath Valley residence, involving a disruptive party. This party was organized through an unsanctioned group that offers students money to host unauthorized on-campus parties promoted through social media. Student Housing and Residence Life staff and Campus Safety officers intervened and stopped the party.”
The email read that as a result of this party, a further incident happened on February 23. It also encouraged students not to rent out units for parties or “engage in activities that encourage reckless behaviour or risk your safety.”
Details of incident
Terrence Ng and Leah Ogutu, a witness to the incident, sat down with The Varsity to explain the attack.
Ogutu explained that one of their friends had rented out her residence dorm to some upper-year students for a party. She said that, during the party, a door was broken and residence dons were called to break up the event.
According to Ogutu, some equipment was left behind after the party was dissolved so the four students returned with crowbars to get the remainder of their belongings. The four students showed up at MaGrath residence unprompted on February 23, four days after the party, and provoked Ng.
“Terrence and I were leaving my place, and their car was parked outside of my house, like outside my door… As soon as we opened the door, they all came out of the car,” Ogutu said that the students “started screaming at Terrence in his face [and] calling him names.”
Ogutu added that before the fight, Ng said “I dare you,” which, according to the police, “turned [the incident] into a consensual fight.” After the fight, Ng was taken to hospital where he received stitches.
Ng said that he “talked to one of the [residence] council people, and they said, for my action, [there will be] consequences.” Ng said no one told him of any specific consequences yet, but believes he doesn’t deserve them because he was defending himself. Ogutu and Ng both added that they wish Campus Safety did rounds more often and offered more than walking them back and forth from class.
Ogutu is also upset that only one of the four students was charged with trespassing. “There were three other guys who were also involved in the incident,” Ogutu said. “I wish that they had done more to… punish the other students who were involved in that because they still can come on campus.” Ogutu said that she was forced to change dorm rooms out of fear of them finding her or Ng.
Ng said that Student Housing & Residence Life’s statement is “not telling the whole story,” with Ogutu adding on that she believes that the email sent out by residence pins the blame on Ng for instigating the fight and does “not [take] into any consideration the nuances of the situation.”
Criticism from UTEHKSA
In an Instagram post on February 28, the UTEHKSA wrote that “a UTM student from Hong Kong was attacked by 4 masked men with weapons outside of UTM McGrath [sic] Valley Residence.” The Varsity has not received confirmation from UTM about the number of individuals or their appearance.
The statement from UTEHKSA read that UTM administration was informed of the incident. “However, they did not address the incident to all UTM students nor add any safety measures yet to prevent such incidents to happen again.”
Wahl wrote that Student Housing has offered physical and emotional support, and safety planning to several involved residence students.
The UTEHKSA also wrote to The Varsity that they “hope to ensure everyone safety at campus, not just [Hong Kong] students.”
Student Housing has offered several involved residence students physical and emotional support, as well as safety planning.
Mitra Yakubi, president of the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union, wrote in response to the incident: “We have been contacted by the students impacted and have since been able to support them and connect them to necessary resources.”
The Varsity has reached out to Peel Regional Police for comment.
