Student Killed Near Utsc In Shooting As Questions Mount Over Safety, Silence, And Accountability

Third year student Shivank Avasthi, 20, was killed in a shooting near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (UTSC) this week, sending shockwaves through the campus community and intensifying long-standing concerns about safety in areas students rely on daily. In a tribute shared by the UTSC cheerleading team, PhD student was remembered as someone who “brought up everyone’s spirits with his encouragement and support,” adding that he “brought a smile to anyone’s face” and was deeply valued by those around him.

The shooting took place in the Highland Creek Valley, a wooded area bordering the UTSC campus. Emergency responders pronounced the student dead at the scene, and Toronto police are investigating the incident as a homicide.

Following the shooting, the university issued a shelter-in-place alert, which was later lifted after police indicated there was no ongoing threat. For many students, however, the announcement that the lockdown had ended did little to address the fear and uncertainty that followed.

The Highland Creek Valley is not a remote or rarely accessed location. It is heavily used by students as a walking route, shortcut to transit, social space, and parking area. The valley is also widely known for offering free parking, making it a common choice for students who cannot afford UTSC’s expensive on-campus parking fees.

Despite its frequent use, students say the area has long lacked adequate lighting, visible security patrols, emergency call stations, and surveillance, raising serious concerns about how safe students really are while moving through the space.

These concerns are especially pointed given the cost of attending UTSC, particularly for international students who pay significantly higher tuition fees. Many students say it is deeply troubling that a university charging tens of thousands of dollars in tuition cannot guarantee basic safety measures in spaces that function as extensions of campus life. For international students in particular, the disconnect feels stark, with some describing feeling pressured to navigate unsafe areas in order to manage high living and transportation costs, while receiving little reassurance that their safety is being prioritized.

In the days following the shooting, students have expressed frustration over what they describe as a lack of clear communication from the university beyond procedural alerts.

“The university announced that the lockdown has been lifted, but that alone doesn’t address the fear many of us are carrying,” one student wrote on Reddit. “I want to hear how the university plans to move forward and what concrete steps will be taken to ensure that no innocent student loses their life. Safety should not be paused just because of the winter break.”

Others echoed similar sentiments, saying they now feel anxious about returning to campus. “I don’t feel safe on campus,” another student wrote. “Ever since the incident, I’ve been panicking about going back. It feels like the university cares more about taking students’ money than protecting them.”

In one widely shared Reddit post titled “Is UTSC fucking sleeping?”, a student wrote, “A student was literally shot, and nothing has been sent out yet about safety measures. That silence is honestly alarming.” The post questioned how students are expected to return to campus and focus on their studies without clear communication, calling basic transparency the “bare minimum.”

Following days of criticism, UTSC Principal Johnston circulated a campus-wide email addressing the incident. The message, which was shared by students online, offered condolences and pointed to existing safety programs and support resources. While some welcomed the acknowledgment, others described the message as generic and emotionally distant, saying it failed to address their specific concerns around safety measures, accountability, and how the university plans to prevent similar incidents moving forward.

Racialized students, particularly South Asian students, have also shared that the aftermath has been especially distressing, citing racist and dehumanizing comments circulating online in response to the shooting. Several students said the lack of institutional acknowledgment of these concerns has compounded their fear.

This shooting is not the first serious safety incident linked to the Highland Creek Valley. In previous years, students have reported assaults and harassment in the area, including a reported sexual assault on the Valley Land Trail near UTSC, which prompted a police investigation and safety alert at the time. Many students say concerns raised after those incidents were never meaningfully addressed.

The latest tragedy has renewed calls for action, including improved lighting, increased patrols, emergency call posts, and transparent safety planning that extends beyond academic buildings. In response, a Change.org petition calling for improved campus security at UTSC has begun circulating, approaching 1,000 signatures, urging the university to take immediate steps to protect students. GoFundMe efforts have also emerged to support those impacted by the tragedy, alongside a student safety complaint form that students can submit to report concerns.

For many students, the issue is not just about one incident, but about a pattern. They are asking how a university that charges some of the highest tuition fees in the country can continue to rely on minimal safety infrastructure while students navigate fear, grief, and uncertainty.

While the lockdown may have been lifted, students say the sense of safety has not been restored. Without concrete action, the silence from the university feels increasingly unacceptable.

The university has outlined several support resources available to students, including 24/7 Campus Safety services, emergency and non-emergency phone lines, and access to the U of T Campus Safety App. Students can request escorts through TravelSafer, including to and from the Highland Creek Valley, or use Virtual TravelSafer and Mobile Bluelight features to share their location and summon help in an emergency. Mental health supports are also available through TELUS Health Student Support and the Suicide Crisis Helpline (call 988), and students are encouraged to sign up for the upgraded UTAlert system to receive emergency notifications by text. A comprehensive list of mental health services and resources for UTSC students can be found here.

Street Voices sends its deepest condolences to Shivank’s loved ones and all those grieving his loss. May he rest in peace.

Photo Credits: News 24.