All Posts Tagged With: "security"
York students feeling ‘unsafe’
Police make arrest in campus sexual assault
Over the weekend, Toronto police arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with an alleged sexual assault that took place recently at York University. The 20-year-old victim was assaulted twice in the Seneca College building at 4:00pm on Thursday, and police say the incident was captured by surveillance cameras. In response to the attack, the York Federation of Students (YFS) says the administration has not done enough to address security concerns both on and off campus, and that students are feeling “unsafe.” The York community is still reeling from the murder of student Qian Liu at her home located in the York Village. “The fact that the university is still dragging its feet on implementing any tangible solutions to addressing these issues of safety in the community is most troubling,” YFS president Siva Vimalachandran told the Globe and Mail.
Police investigating homicide near York campus
YFS to raise safety concerns at Thursday forum
Toronto police confirmed Tuesday that they are investigating the death of a York University student as a homicide. Qian Liu’s body was found in her room on Aldwinckle Heights, close to the York campus, Friday morning at around 11:00 am. She had been speaking with a friend from Beijing over the internet at around 1:00 am, when the webcam reportedly shut down, prompting her friend to send emails to others in Toronto.
The incident has shaken the York community, as concerns continue to grow about security in the area. “We’re very concerned about this because of the proximity to the campus,” a university spokesperson told Postmedia. Earlier this month, another woman was allegedly assaulted at a campus bar.
The York Federation of Students (YFS) issued a statement that mentioned another assault in the area, but few details were given. “Another person has been raped near the York University campus just days after the murder of a young woman in the York Village,” the statement read. In response,YFS will be hosting a “Take Back the Village Community Forum” on Thursday in order to draw attention to safety concerns in the area.
“Students feel as though the York Administration is dragging its feet implementing significant changes to ensure safety at York University, which is both frustrating and upsetting,” Vanessa Hunt, YFS president-elect, said.
Woman assaulted at York pub
Attack believed to be motivated by homophobia
A woman was reportedly assaulted by three men at a York University pub early Friday morning. Student Valerie Bustros says that when she went to use the women’s washroom at Winters Absinthe pub, she was confronted by a man who said she was using the wrong washroom. She explained that she was a woman and a lesbian, but when she left the washroom the man confronted her again and questioned her gender. The altercation escalated to the point where the man, aided by two others, began to punch and kick Bustros. By the time York security arrived, the three men had left. Bustros believes the attack was motivated by homophobia. “The University has been ignoring violence against women and against the queer community for too long,” she said in a statement. York University president, Mamdouh Shoukri, issued his own statement condemning the attack. “I can assure you that we will not tolerate any actions or forms of speech that advocate violence or hatred,” he said.
Suspicious package at Ryerson a false alarm
Students and faculty evacuated as police cordoned off the area
The area in front of the Rogers Communications Centre at Ryerson University was cordoned off this afternoon after a suspicious package had been found. Wrapped in a blue bow, with a note attached that read “do not open,” the box turned out to be empty. Toronto Police were called around 1pm, when the package was discovered inside the building, and by 1:30 pm members of the hazardous materials unit had arrived. Police blocked off the surrounding area and students and faculty were evacuated from the building. The box was later retrieved by a man and was deemed harmless.
Carleton still doesn’t recognize student run hotline
Volunteers offer support to sexual assault victims
A student sexual assault crisis centre at Carleton University celebrated its one year anniversary Tuesday evening, but the group still has yet to be officially recognized. According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen, the university does not permit the Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre to advertise its services and that campus security removes their posters. The group is made up of 25 volunteers who take shifts fielding calls from 8am to midnight, using their own cellphones. While the students’ union supports the group, university spokesperson Beth Gorham says “Carleton already offers a range of counselling and medical support.” Calls for the creation of a crisis centre followed a sexual assault that took place on campus in 2007, and students supported the idea in a 2008 referendum.
Officer tells students don’t dress like a ‘slut’
UPDATE: Toronto police to apologize for comments made at York
A Toronto police officer reportedly told York University students that to avoid sexual assault, women should not dress like “sluts.” The word was uttered in late January during a session on campus security held at Osgoode Hall. Describing the incident, Ronda Bessner, an assistant dean in the law school, told the Excalibur that “One of the safety tips was for women not to dress like ‘sluts.’ He said something like, ‘I’ve been told I shouldn’t say this,’ and then he uttered the words.” Bessner subsequently called Toronto police to complain and to demand an apology from the officer who made the comment. A spokesperson for the police said they are investigating the matter. “[This is] definitely something that we take very seriously. This matter [...] has been brought to the attention of our professional standards unit and is something we will be looking into,” the spokesperson said.
UPDATE: The Toronto Sun is reporting that the officer who made the comments will be issuing an apology. “The officer will personally send a letter of apology to the faculty and students at Osgoode Hall,” Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash said.
Students trained to fight cyberterrorism
Will help form the ‘front line of defense’
According to a news release from Florida State University, there is a “critical national shortage” of cybersecurity professionals, despite the fact that the internet is playing an increasingly important role in our everyday lives (the SFU news release mentions banking, power grid and stock exchange operations).
Apparently, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is trying to help fix the problem. They recently awarded a $1.85 million grant to FSU’s Department of Computer Science, providing scholarships for almost 60 FSU computer science graduates as part of a “Scholarship for Service” program.
Students who receive the scholarship will be required to work for the government for a minimum period of time, forming the “front line of defense in protecting the nation’s information infrastructure from cyberterrorism.”
-Photo courtesy of Don Hankins
Suspended York student on the run from police
Anti-Semitic website relaunches using a host in Switzerland
An anti-Semitic Islamic website setup by an Ontario student who is on the run is now back on the Internet after being shut down earlier this year by a Canadian web-hosting provider.
The web site entitled Filthy Jewish Terrorists was banned earlier this year in Canada after the Ontario Provincial Police said its founder, Salman An-Noor Hossain, used it as a platform to incite genocide against Jews.
The York University student was suspended in March from his studies.
An international arrest warrant for the 25-year-old Bangladeshi-Canadian has been posted on Interpol. The anti-Semitic website relaunched this week using a host in Switzerland and Hossain updated his blog today from an unknown location.
Canada’s spy agency says in a statement it is aware of terrorist web sites based in Canada and continues to monitor individuals and groups who pose a threat to Canadians.
The Canadian Press
Bomb threat at York
Hundreds of students briefly evacuated
Between 400 and 500 York University students writing exams on Sunday were evacuated after a bomb threat. The students were rushed out of Curtis Lecture Halls at 11am, but police ruled the building safe and students were allowed to return at 12:20pm. It was the second time in a week that York’s exam schedule was disrupted. Last Monday, a fire that knocked out the power caused the university to cancel exams until Wednesday.
The danger of laptop theft
More than just a financial loss
With so many students crammed into the library studying for final exams, I’ve been hearing lots of stories lately about students getting their laptops stolen.
On the University of Waterloo’s website, there’s a page about laptop security that advises students to “assume the worst” if their laptop has been stolen. “Your password has been compromised, your files have been compromised. Change passwords everywhere, watch your bank accounts carefully.”
I’m sure it’s not any worse at Waterloo than it is at any other school, but it’s horrifying to even imagine my laptop suddenly disappearing.
Never mind the whole financial side of things. Even if I could push a button and get a new laptop for free, at any given time during the semester, my laptop contains a lab report in progress, maybe a draft of an essay, a chemistry assignment, and lecture notes for an upcoming test. Not to mention all the non-school related stuff.
I’ve heard enough horror stories about hard drives crashing that I do keep a backup of most of my files. But if I’m working on a biochemistry assignment that’s due in three days, I rarely bother to save a backup. And I’m sure there isn’t a backup of every picture, video or document on my laptop, either.
And according to these stories I’ve been hearing, the thieves are other students.
-Photo courtesy of Pink Sherbet Photography
Ryerson student paper steals $6,614.47
Video: Eyeopener staff expose security weakness
Ryerson’s Eyeopener has a reputation for taking a cheeky, and often combative, approach to covering their university, while still pursuing campus stories vigorously and objectively. Few student publications live up to the mandate of both serving as a training ground for would-be journalists and producing an informed view of university governance and campus life, as well as the Eyeopener does.
Most recently, associate news editor, Brad Whitehouse, risked a criminal record when he stole $6, 614.47 from a Ryerson Tim Horton’s. After deciphering the cash register’s password of 9,8,7,6, Whitehouse had access to the system. “I clicked the multiply button and ordered 5003 small coffees. No one needs that much java, so I tapped the return button, entered my student number and refunded my OneCard for $6,614.47 that I never spent,” he writes.
The next day, he turned himself into security, the money was refunded, and changes are being made so that Whitehouse or a more sinister-minded student won’t be able to “repeat the performance.” The university admits that the password Whitehouse cracked should have never used in the first place.
While I imagine the prank was likely done for giggles, it did highlight a serious security flaw.
The whole thing was videotaped and can be seen below.
The night we stole $6,614.47 from Ryerson from The Eyeopener on Vimeo.
Photo: by Marta Iwanek, The Eyeopener.
False alarm: no hate crime at Harvard
Library staff spilled bottle of urine by accident
Harvard police are no longer investigating damage done to about 40 books on LGBT issues as if it were a hate crime. The university had reported the supposed vandalism on Friday. Although a bottle of urine had reportedly been poured on the books, it turns out it was done by accident by library staff and was not the act of vandals. “We have learned this morning that the books, while indeed damaged, were damaged by our own library personnel spilling a bottle of what was reported to be urine that had been left on the shelf,” a Harvard dean said in a statement. The dean added that the police are “no longer classifying this incident as a hate crime.” It remains unclear why a bottle of urine was sitting on a library shelf.
Hate crime at Harvard
LGBT books vandalized with urine
Harvard police are investigating a possible hate crime after the university filed a complaint over vandalized books on Friday. All of the approximately 40 books that were vandalized, allegedly with urine, addressed topics related to Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered issues, student paper, the Crimson reported on Sunday. When library staff discovered the vandalism an empty bottle that appeared to have contained urine was also found. “The [Harvard University Police Department] has zero tolerance for any bias-related incidents or crimes,” a police spokesman told the Crimson. The Harvard College Queer Students and Allies group called the case “disconcerting.”
Alleged death threat at Western
‘Safe campus plan’ put into practice
A University of Western Ontario employee is facing charges of uttering threats after police were tipped off to alleged death threats against several people, including at least one other Western employee. Police arrested Todd Williams after a search of his home revealed five rifles that were unsafely stored. Police say Williams, who has been released from custody pending a Dec 8 court date, is not a threat to the university community. Although the university did not initiate a lockdown, the school’s “safe campus plan” was put into practice.
False alarm over ‘violent aggressor’ at UOttawa
When testing new warning system students and staff were mistakenly alerted to a campus ‘lockdown’
Students and staff at the University of Ottawa received a shocking email this morning, alerting them to a “violent aggressor” on campus. Fortunately, the message was a false alarm. The university had been testing a new email warning system, and the message had been inadvertently sent to 3,000 people. The warning declared a “Lockdown” was “in effect” and carried the text: “Violent aggressor {in/at XXX location}. Stop all activities. If possible, close and lock the door, and turn off lights. Silence cell phones. Keep away from doors and windows. If it is safe to do so, close blinds. Take cover and remain quiet until authorities instruct otherwise.” A spokesman for the university told the Ottawa Citizen that the message was clearly part of a template email, but apologized for any confusion.
Bomb threat at Ohio State
FBI orders evacuation of four buildings
The FBI ordered the evacuation of four Ohio State University buildings Tuesday morning after a bomb threat alleged explosives had been placed in those buildings. The university was informed of the anonymous threat at 8:19am and by 8:41am, the campus-wide security alert system, known as the Buckeye Alert System, was activated. Neighbouring streets were also closed off. No word yet on whether any explosives were found. Campus officials say the evacuation was orderly.
Violent arrest of Western student causes controversy
School officials defend London, Ont. police and campus security after 22-year-old student punched numerous times
A video posted on the Internet showing the violent arrest of a student at the University of Western Ontario is stirring controversy at the school.
School officials are defending the actions of London police and campus security in the arrest of the 22-year-old student, who was punched by officers numerous times.
The video, posted on YouTube, shows the student being held down by at least five officers as he is punched repeatedly in the hallway of a campus building Wednesday.
Director of campus police Elgin Austen says the student led officers on a chase through the building and people viewing the video alone may get the wrong impression.
He says the student was violent and out of control and the use of force was justified.
The student, who Austen described as about 6 foot 2 and more than 200 pounds, was taken to hospital for observation and then released into police custody.
Irnes Zeljkovic has been charged with mischief under $5000, assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and escaping custody.
- The Canadian Press
Sex-assault victim sues Carleton for negligence
Two years after unsolved crime, school says victim failed to keep a “proper lookout”
According to the Ottawa Citizen, the victim of a violent and unsolved sex attack in a Carleton University chemistry lab two years ago is suing the school for more than $500,000.
The 25-year-old Ottawa woman, who refers to herself as Jane Doe in the suit, says university officials were negligent in failing to take adequate security measures, which included equipping laboratory buildings with swipe-card security devices and ensuring all entrances to the building were visibly monitored by security cameras.
In its statement of defense, the university claims the victim failed to keep a “proper lookout” for her own safety and also failed to register with the school’s department of university safety as a late-working student. It also alleges that she chose to remain on the premises alone and didn’t lock the door to the laboratory where she was working.
The university says she knew, or ought to have known, the steps she could take to notify the safety department of her intention to work late on her own.
In the suit, which was filed last December, the woman is seeking $535,000 in damages for injuries she suffered in the August 2007 assault, as well as mental suffering and psychological harm, out-of-pocket expenses and the future loss of income.
Since the attack, Carleton has since spent $1.6 million upgrading security, which included more than tripling the number of video cameras on campus, enhancing the campus network of emergency phones, improving outdoor lighting, adding five security officers and 20 uniformed student-safety patrollers and installing swipe-card readers for access to the chemistry and biology buildings.
The lawsuit, which was filed in December, is ongoing.
For more on this story, click here.
All charges against Carleton hacker dropped
Student said he cracked campus security system to show how vulnerable it is
According to the Ottawa Citizen, a Carleton University student who hacked into the accounts of more than 30 students last year in order to expose security flaws at the school has had all criminal charges against him withdrawn.
Mansour Moufid, 21, was charged with mischief to data and unauthorized use of a computer after he sent a 16-page report to university administrators and students under the pseudonym “Kasper Holmberg” last August.
Moufid had accessed the Campus Card accounts of 32 students, and could have read their e-mails, course registrations, library records and personal financial information. However, in the report, he says his only aim was to encourage the university to improve its security.
After being charged, Moufid said he planned to quit school rather than accept the sanctions imposed on him by its administration, which included a cost of $2,160 to cover extra security staff at the school, community service at a local food bank, an ethics course, and supervision of Moufid’s online activity at the school.
In a statement provided to university administrators, Moufid said he “never had any intention to harm my fellow students or Carleton University in any way,” and that his ultimate goal was to see security improved. He said the system wasn’t difficult to crack.
The charges were withdrawn at a hearing April 8. Moufid was not in court.
Online Privacy: Blame Facebook
Take down your home address, remove your SIN and delete those incriminating photos
It seems we’re all taking a lesson from our beloved Toronto mayor in failing to read the fine print. (See Miller’s Illiteracy: Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.)
And, staying true to our national heritage, we’ve decided to blame The Man. Today’s target: Facebook. That evil, information-hoarding, corporate lackey serving troughs to capitalistic insatiability. Or something.
Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart posted her concerns in a report released Thursday. Stoddard says that Facebook does not comply with Canadian privacy laws and gives the company 30 days to amend procedures. Subsequently, the case can be brought to the Federal Court to force Facebook to tighten its policies.
Chief concerns include third party access to user information (via games, quizzes, etc.) and Facebook’s retention of personal information after users have closed their accounts.
…Well boo hoo. Cue the violins.
To me, the approach is baffling. Let’s spend lots of money bringing a case to Federal Court that could so easily be solved by telling our 14-year-olds not to post photos of themselves drinking Smirnoff Ices and making out with their best friends. No, the lesson: deflect blame, and you shall prosper.
To be pitifully cliché, it’s my opinion that privacy in an information age is an illusion. There are breaches everywhere—when you use your credit card, fill out survey or attend a public event or club. Chances are, if you don’t remember what happened last night, BeforeLastCall.com can refresh your memory.
It’s not an Orwellian prediction come true or an international intelligence conspiracy; it’s idiots like Ray Lam forgetting to de-tag his photos. So take down your home addresses, remove your SINs and delete those incriminating bachelor party photos. It’s time to come to terms, dear disgruntled, anonymous commenter, that if I really want to, I can probably find out your name. So be nice.
