Melanie Woodin Installed as U of T’s 17th president — Convocation Hall

Byline: Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

On Friday, October 17, Melanie Woodin was installed as U of T’s 17th President at Convocation Hall in a ceremony that set the tone for her tenure. In her speech, Woodin spoke of her career as a scientist, drawing attention to U of T’s international reputation as a leader in research and discovery. Woodin made clear that U of T’s role extends beyond campus and the immediate Toronto community.

 “We are witnessing a dangerous erosion of the rules-based international order, widening inequality and deepening polarization, and almost daily reminders of the fragility of democracy. Universities are no longer fully trusted as authoritative sources of knowledge, or as bastions of free inquiry. Scholars are facing new threats to academic freedom, including censorship,” Woodin said to the room of gowned academics.

 “People everywhere are looking to our country to be a beacon of light in this time of gathering darkness… [As Canada’s] flagship university, we must rise to meet this moment. We must bring the full power of our enterprise to bear in service to society, as we have done so often before.”

Many distinguished members of the academic community were in attendance, such as President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Waterloo Dr. Vivek Goel, and Vice President and Provost of U of T Professor Trevor Young. Mayor Olivia Chow; Ontario Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn; and Chief Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation also spoke at the ceremony.

U of T Press Workers authorize strike mandate in landslide vote — Sidney Smith Hall

Byline: Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

On Friday, all three bargaining units of U of T Press Workers agreed to authorize strike action after making no progress securing fair wages, improved benefits, and a path to full-time work after months of negotiations. The votes in favour were decisive: 96 per cent of the Full Time bargaining unit, 98 per cent of the Part-Time Warehouse bargaining unit, and 93 per cent of the Part-Time Retail bargaining unit supported the mandate. 

In an update on its website, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3261 wrote, “the negotiating committees will all be going to the table on Monday [October 20] with a strong and united mandate that management needs to do better and respond to our demands to deliver a fair agreement, otherwise we will be willing to escalate.”

In a statement to The Varsity, U of T Press wrote, “University of Toronto Press and CUPE Local 3261 are currently engaged in collective bargaining and are scheduled to meet in conciliation on October 29. We are encouraged by the progress made so far and remain confident that a fair and constructive agreement can be reached. UTP is committed to seeing the bargaining process through and to maintaining the strong working relationship we’ve built with CUPE over many successful rounds of negotiations.”

U of T Press operates the U of T Bookstore. U of T Press workers are not employees of the University of Toronto, and the university’s administration has no role in these labor negotiations. 

October 9 Academic Board meeting addresses UTMSU event honouring Palestinian “martyrs” — Simcoe Hall

Byline: Emma Dobrovnik, Assistant News Editor

On October 9, the U of T Academic Board addressed a University of Toronto Mississauga Student Union’s (UTMSU) event that honoured Palestinian “martyrs.” The event was held on October 7 and was said to “commemorate two years of genocide in Gaza.” 

U of T Vice-President and UTM Principal Alexandra Gillespie said that the title and date of the event “did not rise to the level of a violation of law or policy.” 

Vice-Provost, Students Sandy Welsh also noted that an incident occurred at UTM on October 7 that affected members of the UTM Jewish Students Association. The incident is currently being investigated by UTM campus safety. 

‘No Tyrants’: Toronto rallies alongside millions of Americans in Saturday’s ‘No Kings’ protests — US Consulate General

Byline: Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

On Saturday, between 700–1,000 people attended the “No Tyrants” Rally held in front of the US Consulate General at 360 University Ave. This protest, organized by the Toronto chapter of Democrats Abroad, was the Canadian adaptation of this weekend’s anti-Trump “No Kings” protests across the US — the largest single-day peaceful demonstration in US history, with nearly seven million Americans in attendance. 

On the Democrats Abroad website, protesters were instructed to “dress as the cutest non-violent character you can imagine to defy the false narrative that anti-fascists are terrorists and join the rally in solidarity.” 

In a statement to The Varsity, Julia Buchanan, Chair of the Toronto Chapter of Democrats Abroad, wrote of the rally, “A resounding success. it was safe peaceful and festive. Dancing singing chanting. Costumes! Frogs, funshine care bear, dr seuss, muppets [sic].”

Prince Andrew relinquishes ‘Duke of York’ title following Epstein-related allegations — Buckingham Palace

Byline: Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

Prince Andrew announced Friday that he will give up his ‘Duke of York’ title and other honours in the face of renewed attention to his connection to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “The continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family,” Andrew wrote in a Buckingham Palace statement. 

This decision followed the release of excerpts from Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s new posthumous memoir, in which she alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with Andrew when she was 17 years old. In his statement, as in the past, Andrew denies the allegations.  

“The time to talk”: Carney rejects Ford’s call for retaliatory counter-tariffs — Ottawa

Byline: Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

On Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s call to reinstate retaliatory tariffs against the United States, saying prior to his visit with Ford, “There’s times to hit back and there’s times to talk, and right now is the time to talk.” 

Carney said he has been involved in “deep negotiations” with Washington on several crucial sectors impacted by aggressive US tariffs, such as aluminum and steel, and the energy sector. Currently, Canada, among other countries, faces a high 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum, 25 per cent on autos and auto parts, and 45 per cent on lumber products, among other tariffs.