A University of Calgary student needs your help

Content warning: harassment, discrimination, homophobia, racism

 

A graduate student at the University of Calgary has been a victim of targeted harassment and discrimination clearly rooted in racism and homophobia. Since December 2020, this student has been subjected to over 13 instances of cyberbullying, stalking, and death threats.

 

In addition to receiving death threats, the perpetrator is also actively trying to sabotage the students’ academic and career trajectory. The harasser(s) is/are anonymously emailing University administrators and leaders within the University of Calgary and across professional training programs this student is applying to, spreading false information about this student as an attempt to sabotage their application. While admissions programs have provided reassurance about the irrelevance of such slander from anonymous individuals, it is likely that this anonymous harassment will not stop even once accepted to a professional program and likely continue throughout their professional training by targeting potential employers and organizations.

 

The University of Calgary’s Harassment Policy defines personal harassment as “unwelcome verbal, written, graphic, or physical conduct, behaviour or communication”, “having the effect or purpose of significantly abusing, threatening, demeaning, or intimidating”, and “creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, living or educational environment”. The aforementioned targeted attacks on this trainee fall into these descriptions of personal harassment. In the same policy, the University of Calgary commits to “provide access to appropriate response processes to address incidents of Harassment”.

 

Evidence continues to highlight how student reporting of mistreatment, harassment, and discrimination in academic institutions is underreported, and we know the courage required to report and advocate for oneself. This student has bravely continued to report each incident of harassment and violence, and advocate for support and protection so they can learn and work safely. After repeatedly asking for help and protection through the existing offices and mechanisms at the University that are explicitly positioned to foster safety on campus, address instances of harassment and discrimination, or promote “equity, diversity, and inclusion”, the student continues to be denied their simple request of having adequate safety measures in place. Beyond this simple request, the student has received minimal support or engagement by the University.

 

This student has been unfairly subjected to over 14 months of harassment, with no indication that this will stop anytime soon without adequate institutional action and support. One instance alone should be enough for any academic administrator or leader within an institution or organization to be concerned about a student’s physical safety and psychological well-being to take immediate and concrete action.

 

In the absence of adequate institutional responses and action, the student has relied on their peers for support. Most recently, a letter signed by over 350 students at the University of Calgary was sent to the administration and faculty leaders who are well-aware of this student’s experience of violence and in positions to promote an adequate institutional response. We remain hopeful that the University will adequately respond with a clear plan of action to implement measures for the safety of this student, conduct a proper investigation into the parties that have perpetrated violence against this student, and address flaws in the current policies and procedures that fail to protect students from harassment and discrimination.

 

We are asking for donations to help cover a number of expenses this student has incurred over the last year, and those anticipated in the next 3-6 months. Graduate students work and study full-time and live off a minimal stipend, and it is unjust for a student to face such an enormous financial burden from the ongoing violence occurring at the University they work and study at, and as a result of an inadequate response from the institution they pay tuition to.

 

100% of donations will go towards the costs incurred by this student already and many anticipated expenses, including their initial consultation with a lawyer (1) (over $3000 to date), anticipated legal fees to ensure adequate support and protection, medical expenses, therapy and counselling (2).

 

To protect the safety of this student and individuals who kindly donate to support them, donations can be made anonymously.

 

--

1. The student requires legal support at this stage in the absence of adequate support from the institution, as his rights to occupational safety and protection continue to be violated, including Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (SA 2017, c 0-2.1) and the Human Rights Act. Expenses include the students’ initial legal consultation fees this past fall and winter, which were provided at a discounted rate by the lawyer but still amounting to thousands of dollars. The student requires additional legal consultation this winter to ensure he has adequate support and assistance navigating his rights, but cannot afford to cover the costs on their own.

 

2. Harassment and discrimination is directly linked to emotional and psychological harm, including depression and suicidal ideation. Victims of targeted violence require adequate psychological supports, but graduate students do not have access to counselling services, especially individuals trained to provide trauma-informed services for victims whose violence is clearly rooted in homophobia and racism. This student has sought professional psychological supports in the community, which cost $180/session – a cost few students can afford to sustain, let alone a student whose ongoing violence requires consistent supports.