Thursday, March 28, 2024

UVic responds to anti-Semitic, alt-right posters appearing on campus

Share

Last month, students at the University of Victoria were shocked to find posters in one of their school buildings conveying an overtly anti-Semitic message.

On October 18th, the offensive posters were found in the university’s Cornett building. They were taken down soon after by students and a teaching assistant.

The incident was reported to Campus Security, who immediately began investigating other buildings for similar hate speech, but found no other posters.

Alt-right elements call for an end to “white hatred”

A picture of the poster was uploaded to Facebook by the Anti-Racist Action UVic club.

(Anti-Racist Action UVic/Facebook)

For those who don’t know, the adding of the triple parenthesis, or stylized (((echo))) symbol is the latest sign being used by white supremacists and anti-Semites while talking about Jewish people (or businesses) on social media.

The University responds

The incident has elicited strong emotions within the student body, and sparked debates about the existence of racism in society.

The club, Anti-Racist Action UVic has called for a meeting at the UVic Student Union building on November 15th to discuss these recent events.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=486525928399977&id=455831928136044

 

Yesterday, the President of UVic, Jamie Cassels also released a response statement, in which he mourned the continued existence of discrimination in society, and gave us an important reminder:

“What is of primary importance at all times is solidarity and common purpose among all members of the campus community in addressing and combating racism and intolerance in all its forms.”

The University of Victoria Students Society (UVSS) also posted a message on Facebook condemning all perpetrators of hate speech, and offering counselling services to students who have been affected by this and other incidents of discrimination:

“There are counselling services within the University Centre, as well as the various support groups such as the Anti-Violence Project, the Native Students Union, and the Students of Colour Collective, inside the Student Union Building who work to provide a safe and welcoming space for students.”

 

mm
Brishti Basu
Former Senior Staff Writer and Content Manager at Victoria Buzz.

Read more

Latest Stories