Help CJ (Student) Survive Legal Case Against UofT
[Content warning: mention of psychological, psychiatric, and police violence; systemic ableism]
In 2012, a prospective 17-year-old international student received acceptances to various Ivy League Engineering programs. Lacking a financial safety net, he accepted U of T’s offer and moved to Toronto from the US in the hopes of accessing a good, affordable education.
Today, CJ is one of thousands of former and current students who has struggled to survive university. He is one of countless U of T students who has been denied reasonable and adequate accommodations; who was denied a clear path forward after being gaslit, shamed, and exploited; and who’s speaking out after being silenced.
For just over a year now, CJ has been pursuing a human rights tribunal case against the University. In spite of his many skills and talents, he does not have the legal right to work in Canada and has been unable to live with dignity or optimal health since he began struggling to regain his student status.
CJ's support systems and loved ones are almost exclusively in Canada. His mental health struggles were greatly exacerbated by Engineering-specific involuntary leaves of absence earlier in his undergrad, during which he lacked adequate access to healthcare or social supports. For these reasons and others, he and his loved ones believe that moving back to the States is not an option.
CJ is a truly incredible academic, friend, chef, musician, web developer, volunteer, and more. After meeting him, it can be hard to believe that he's also survived a debilitating spinal injury; a vehicular accident and concussion; homelessness; addiction; psychiatric and police violence; deaths of loved ones; immigration- and finance-related stressors; other traumatic events; and, throughout all of this, the University of Toronto's systemic ableism.
Please help CJ pursue justice and dignity, for himself as well as fellow U of T community members. Donate and share this if you can!
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For more info, you can visit:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/03/17/investigations/anatomy-campus-mental-health-crisis
