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Last night, the Black Resource and Information Centre on campus, intended to be a safe space for our Black community, was a target of hate speech and vandalism. Sadly, this is not the first such incident on campus.

There will be zero tolerance for acts of hate speech, discrimination or harassment at our University, and collectively, we stand united against hate in any form. Where there are breaches of Policy 1010 – Anti-Racism Education and Response, those found in violation will face disciplinary action. We are working with the RCMP to investigate last evening’s incident. If you have any information, we urge you to contact campus Security at (506) 364-2228. If you would like to report anonymously, please contact the RCMP at 1-888-506-7267 or Crime Stoppers.

It is crucial for all members of our community to be aware of the consequences of hate speech and to actively contribute to creating an environment that celebrates diversity and respects individual differences. By upholding these standards, we strengthen our commitment to academic excellence and the well-being of everyone.

There will be a counselling session from 3–4 p.m. today in Room 124 of the Student Centre with TELUS Health who will be joining virtually. A dedicated telephone line will be available after the group session from 4–7 p.m. by calling 1 (877) 263-4415.

On Monday morning, Dec. 11, please join us in solidarity at the Black Resource and Information Centre in Room 124 of the Student Centre. We are asking the community to bring snacks for students and write messages of support as we reclaim this as a safe space by filling it with love and positivity.

This weekend we will have increased security on campus. If you feel that your safety is threatened in any way, we urge you to contact Campus Security at (506) 364-2228 or 911 in the event of an emergency.

We will continue to take action to ensure our campus is an inclusive and safe space for everyone.