Standing in solidarity with University of Waterloo community
Universities must continue to confront sexism and gender-based violence every day.
I was alarmed and saddened to hear of the stabbing attack at the University of Waterloo on Wednesday afternoon. A student entered a gender studies class and stabbed the professor and two other students. Fortunately, none of the victims experienced life threatening injuries. According to news outlets, authorities believe the attacks were motivated by hate related to gender expression and gender identity.
TMU stands in solidarity with the students, staff and faculty at the University of Waterloo at this difficult time.
This senseless act of gender-based violence brings to mind the murder of 14 young women at Polytechnique de Montréal on December 6, 1989. As a university, we acknowledge the very real threat that women and fem-identified people experience as a result of gender-based violence.
Universities must continue to confront sexism and gender-based violence vigilantly on our campuses every day and not just in response to tragedy or a crisis. At TMU, we are actively engaged in education and raising awareness of gender-based violence through policies, ongoing support, training and prevention programs - but that is not enough. We must also remain steadfastly committed to creating a community for students to learn, for faculty to teach and pursue scholarly, research and creative activities, and for staff to work in a culture of respect and civility. We must ensure that TMU remains a community where we are all – especially equity deserving groups – safe, free from harassment and discrimination, and committed to academic freedom, open inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge.
We know that some members of our community will need time to absorb the shock, and to heal from this troubling incident. Students can connect with the Centre for Student Development and Counselling or the Student Care office. Staff and Faculty can access the Employee and Family Assistance Program.
Our thoughts are with the victims and the survivors, their families, and the entire University of Waterloo community.
Mohamed Lachemi
President and Vice-Chancellor
