York University says it will “immediately” make alternate arrangements for the teaching of a mathematics and statistics course after screenshots of an email conversation between a York University professor and student living in Myanmar went viral on Thursday.
“The University can now confirm that it is taking steps to address the matter under the relevant collective agreement,” says Barbara Joy, chief spokesperson and director of media relations and communications at York.
Screenshots of the conversation, in which the student informs the instructor that all internet services and cellular data would be cut off in Myanmar on the day of an upcoming midterm, were shared on Twitter and Reddit on Thursday.
The international student proceeds to explain that, due to a recent military coup in the country, the regime has shut off all communications and that the student would not be able to write an upcoming midterm exam online.
But the instructor appears to express very little sympathy, telling the student they would not be able to defer the midterm. “People don’t get shot for just protesting, but for a lot deeper reasons.”
In the exchange, the instructor goes on to tell the student that they were in danger of failing the course. “The next time you miss something, it’s over.”
Protests have been ongoing for over a month across Myanmar after the military seized control in a coup at the beginning of February.
In York’s statement, Joy says that a senior staff member with the Faculty of Science contacted the student the night of the exchange with the instructor.
“[They] clearly expressed support for their difficult circumstance and well-being, and further, assured them that necessary accommodations would be granted,” she says.
Joy says the “recent communication” between the instructor and student “does not reflect the university’s values of respect, equity, diversity and inclusion.”
The United Nations Human Rights Office has stated that at least 149 people have been killed since the coup.
