A York University Professor Wrote A Glowing Character Reference For Student Rapist Mustafa Ururyar

Using official school letterhead, a political science professor at York University wrote a glowing character reference for convicted rapist and PhD student Mustafa Ururyar, painting Ururyar as a bright, truthful person who appeared to have no violent tendencies.

Ururyar was convicted of raping fellow York student Mandi Gray in July. He has been sentenced to 18 months in prison but is appealing his conviction.

Stephen Newman, as associate professor at York, said Ururyar was his student and teaching assistant in the 2014/2015 school year.

"My judgment is based on what I have witnessed," Newman wrote in a character reference submitted on behalf the defence prior to Ururyar's sentencing. "Mr. Ururyar was unfailing polite and courteous in his conduct toward me and his classmates."

He went on to note that while classroom discussions can be "vigorous," Ururyar "spoke softly" and never showed signs of anger when challenged. Newman then spent a good couple hundred words describing how adept Ururyar was as a TA.

"I am aware of Mr. Ururyar's conviction. To be frank, I was shocked when I learned of the charges. It was impossible for me to believe that the young man I knew was capable of such a thing. A violent act of that sort seemed wholly out of character," he said.

"Even now, after his conviction, it remains difficult for me to believe that he is guilty."

He concluded by stating his opinion of Ururyar hasn't changed.

"He is a person of good character and deserves every consideration."

Ururyar also received a character reference from a female professor at Simon Fraser University, which largely praised his academic excellence.

Gray told VICE she was "pissed" about Newman's letter, and his consequent interview with school paper the Excalibur.

"It perpetuates the notion that nice guys don't rape, good students are good people, and casts doubt on my experience both in the courts and on campus," she said.

"Could you imagine if this guy was your professor or supervisor and you wanted to report rape or sexual assault?"

York University told VICE there's no policy preventing professors from expressing personal opinions, even on company letterhead.

"Expressing a personal opinion, whether or not it is written on university letterhead, does not in any way indicate an endorsement or position taken by the university."

In an emailed statement to VICE, Newman said he didn't understand the controversy over the character reference.

"Apparently, some people believe that once I learned of his conviction I ought not to have agreed to write the character reference. I can only assume that these people think that we ought to judge a person solely in light of the very worst thing he has ever been accused of doing. They think Mr. Ururyar should be defined by his crime, as though everything else we know about him has no substance. I disagree," he said.

Newman said the defence was entitled to show evidence that Ururyar was not "utterly depraved" but was a good person, according to people who knew him. He also mentioned criticism of trial judge Marvin Zuker's damning verdict, which employed many academic and feminist readings.

"If these reports are accurate, it is entirely possible that Mr. Ururyar's conviction will be overturned on appeal," said Newman.

Gray said the political science department is a "hyper masculine space." She pointed to a student survey taken in fall 2014 by 69 of 225 political science students at York, in which women, racialized students, and members of the LGBT community expressed "equity concerns" including sexual harassment. Overall, 30 percent of respondents said they received unwanted sexual attention at social events.

"So really I am not surprised by Newman's remarks but I still think they are disgusting," Gray said.

Ururyar is currently out on bail in living in Vancouver while he waits for his appeal to be heard.

Follow Manisha Krishnan on Twitter.