U of T's Woodsworth College at St. George and Bloor Streets in TorontoTibor Kolley/The Globe and Mail
Around 600 residents of University of Toronto residences will be made to temporarily move out in the week leading up to the G20. They'll be given the option of moving to the school's Scarborough campus or temporary accommodations on Chestnut Street, which is actually closer to the summit venue!
But some of the young men and women who are living in the dorms this summer happen to be lawyers, and they're not moving out without a fight.
Lyndsay Hatlelid, a summer student at a downtown law firm, wrote a letter to the school's vice-provost asking him to reconsider, and questioning the logic of moving residents to Chesnut Street. Originally from Vancouver, she's spending the summer in Woodsworth Residence, on Bloor Street at St. George.
"89 Chestnut is located between Queen's Park and the Toronto Convention Centre. If we are being moved for our safety, why are we being moved between the designated protester zone (Queen's Park) and the place that will likely be the focus of the protest (the Toronto Convention Centre)? This does not make any sense," she wrote.
Ms. Hatlelid also said the $125 being offered in compensation for the move is insufficient to cover food and alternative accommodation.
But on Tuesday, U of T released a statement saying they are sticking to their plan.
"We understand the frustration that some residents are feeling about the temporary move to another residence. We know this is an inconvenience and we're doing everything we can to help them with the move and to minimize the disruption," read the statement.
"However, in light of unforeseen security risks with the G20 protest site being moved to Queen's Park, we felt it prudent to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff at a potentially disruptive time. As a result, we are closing the St. George campus and temporarily moving residents to another location.
"The University is acting in accordance with the Occupancy Agreement between residents and Woodsworth College, and has taken special steps, above and beyond what it was obliged to do under the Agreement, to mitigate the impact of these unforeseen events."
Ms. Hatlelid said she is disappointed by the decision and is planning to stay on a friend's couch during the summit. She has no plans to take time off work, but is considering contacting a legal aid clinic to see if she has any recourse against the school.
"I understand that they could face liability issues if they didn't take precautions, but I want U of T to act as my landlord and not as my guardian and not as my parent," said the 24-year-old.