York University ended its lawsuit against Toronto Life, according to Canadan Jounalism Project’s J-Source.
The university confirmed to iMediaEthics it agreed to dismiss the lawsuit.
Toronto Life is a monthly magazine about Toronto. York University is based in Toronto and is the third largest university in Canada, according to its website.
The university filed a libel lawsuit against Toronto Life last year over an October article titled “York Fortress,” as iMediaEthics wrote at the time. “York Fortress” called the university “a hunting ground for sexual predators.” The university’s president Mamdouh Shoukri slammed the article when it was published ,saying it “presents a wholly distorted picture of women’s safety” at the school.
According to J-Source, Toronto Life‘s editor-in-chief Sarah Fulford said there was no financial settlement. However, Toronto Life did publish a clarification in the February print edition that reads:
“Regarding the article ‘FortressYork,’ in the October issue, Toronto Life acknowledges that York University has gone to great lengths to make its campus as safe as possible. In addition, the magazine never meant to suggest that York is the only university in Toronto faced with the challenges of addressing violence against women.”
J-Source’s associate editor Tamara Baluja tweeted a picture of the clarification, which the blog Canadian Magazines also published.
Here’s the clarification @toronto_life issued on York University sexual assault article pic.twitter.com/ngnWIElUbw
— Tamara Baluja (@tamara_baluja) January 27, 2014
York University’s Media Relations Chief Spokesperson Joanne Rider told iMediaEthics by e-mail:
“York University confirms that it has agreed to the dismissal of its action against Toronto Life in a settlement achieved in December 2013. The parties have now complied with their obligations under the settlement. We are not able to discuss the terms of the settlement. “
iMediaEthics has written to Toronto Life for further comment and will update with any response.
UPDATE: 1/28/2014: 11:00 AM EST: Toronto Life’s Sarah Fulford told iMediaEthics by e-mail: “I’m pleased that York University has decided not to pursue legal action.”