Excerpt:
York University appears to be standing by its controversial decision to permit a student to be excused from a group project because the presence of women interfered with his "firm religious beliefs."
In a statement Thursday by provost Rhonda Lenton, the university affirmed its commitment to "gender equity, inclusivity and diversity," but did not retract an October order authorizing the much-criticized "religious accommodation."
The statement comes one day after York University sociology professor J. Paul Grayson went public with documents showing that university brass had backed a request from one of his students to be separated from female classmates for religious reasons.