Previous updates to encampment on UVic campus
Updated May 15, 2024
Statement from President Hall
On May 10, I provided an update to the university community regarding the encampment that was set up at the University of Victoria on May 1. The active threat that occurred yesterday at First Peoples House has prompted me to write again.
As has been shared numerous times, the university supports peaceful demonstrations and the right to freedom of expression. We are committed to ensuring our university is a space where we can all effectively engage with complex issues — this is fundamental to our role as an institution of higher learning.
The university also recognizes the right and expectation of students, faculty, staff and visitors to go about their activities at the university in an environment that is free of threats to their physical security. I am concerned that the persistent presence, scale and prominence of the encampment at the university is attracting additional challenges to our campus.
Over the last week, we have seen an increasing number of complaints related to unacceptable incidents and behaviours. Some are acts of harassment and intimidation, while others are illegal, destructive and dangerous. Examples include:
- Last week, we shared that members of the encampment had been physically assaulted. At the time, the encampment members chose not to press charges because they didn’t want to identify themselves to Campus Security or police. This prevented the individual from being arrested and charged. The university has since presented the individual with a trespass notice, which prevents them from returning to campus.
- Spreading misinformation such as accusations that the university has set up surveillance cameras on the roof of the Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library. As I have shared earlier, we have not.
- As groups of young high-school students are being led on tours of the university, profanity and other disturbing phrases are being yelled at them from the encampment.
- We are seeing increasing acts of vandalism. Signage, walkways and now buildings are being spray-painted, relaying messages consistent with those put forth by members of the encampment. This is causing concern for employees in these spaces.
- We are experiencing a significant increase in unauthorized after-hours access to buildings by members of the encampment. This is occurring after buildings are locked in the evening. This past weekend, members of the encampment were witnessed riding bikes through the first floor of the McPherson Library.
Of greatest concern, on Monday night, an individual set up a tent next to First Peoples House. This occurred after numerous public calls from the encampment for members of the local community to come join them. The individual was showing signs of substance use that led to the need for a medical response from Campus Security and emergency first responders. This response was hindered because of interventions from members of the encampment. As a result, the university initiated the steps necessary to have the individual removed from campus.
Yesterday, an individual matching the description of the person from the previous night went into First Peoples House and threatened people in the building with a knife. This was an active threat that resulted in a significant Saanich Police response.
We are grateful to members of Campus Security and to Saanich Police for their quick and professional response. While some may not like the presence of security, emergency services and police on campus, many in our community welcome and need their support. We appreciate their efforts to keep our community safe and supported.
While we are grateful for the quick and significant response by Saanich Police, we recognize that a significant police presence in First Peoples House, a sacred space on our campus, can be troubling.
Our hearts go out to members of the Indigenous community at UVic and others who were directly affected and threatened by this individual’s actions. The affected staff members are being supported and First Peoples House will be closed for the remainder of the week in order to do the necessary cultural work to cleanse the space. This closure further impacts members of the Indigenous community who rely on the services provided through First Peoples House at a time when that support is critically needed.
We know the encampment includes UVic students and is supported by some staff and faculty. We also know that many others are not members of the university community. Campus activism is part of a university experience for many students. Acts of hate, discrimination, property damage and actual or perceived threats of violence are not. It is incredibly irresponsible for encampment organizers to encourage other members of the community who are not affiliated with the university to occupy parts of our campus.
The university has maintained a calm and measured approach to the encampment, and we have been consistent in signalling our intention to continue to do so while it remains peaceful. I am concerned that these recent activities are challenging people’s sense of physical safety and security and have potential to silence the complex and difficult conversations that we should be having. These activities have been perpetrated or enabled by members of the encampment. These same members have been unwilling to engage in a productive dialogue with the university or to participate in processes intended to address some of the topics they advocate for, such as responsible investing.
Let me be very clear that while we have not sanctioned students, staff or faculty based on their participation in the encampment, those who damage property, threaten individuals, harass, hinder or prevent people from going about their business, or violate other applicable university policies, will be sanctioned under the relevant policies of the university. People committing illegal acts can be arrested and banned from campus.
The university is prepared to take necessary steps to protect the safety of all members of the university community.
The university continues to welcome dialogue towards a conclusion of the encampment.
I want to end by reminding everyone to treat each other with respect, patience and empathy. We are all doing our best during very difficult times.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hall
President and Vice-Chancellor
Updated May 14, 2024, 4:30 p.m.
Earlier today, a man entered First Peoples House and threatened people with a knife. Police and Campus Security responded quickly and the suspect was arrested.
This incident occurred near the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on the Quad. However, it is not yet known if the suspect was associated with the encampment.
An individual matching the suspect’s description set up a tent near First Peoples House overnight on May 13. This individual is not affiliated with the university and concerns were raised about their well-being and their ability to access appropriate supports. At the time of today’s police incident, steps were already underway to issue a notice of trespass and remove this person from campus.
We believe in our community’s right to peaceful protest. Unfortunately, in some cases, demonstrations on the scale of the current encampment can draw other, more challenging behaviours to our campus. The university is taking these developments very seriously and is exploring options.
We understand that events like these can be very impactful. Please know that there are resources and supports available.
Updated May 10, 2024, 10 a.m.
Message from President Hall
Dear students, staff and faculty,
I would like to begin by recognizing the difficult discussions taking place on our campus in response to the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on the Quad. What we are experiencing on campus is a reflection of deep societal divisions and the challenges emerging because of the severity, volatility and complexity of the current circumstance. The evolving situation and our responses to it are set to leave a lasting impact on this current cohort of students, and the staff and faculty at our university.
Demonstrations and the encampment
The university absolutely supports peaceful demonstrations and the right to freedom of expression. Universities have always been a place for free speech—where students, staff and faculty can debate ideas. We encourage thoughtful, reasoned and respectful academic discourse on issues and maintain that these discussions must take place in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and hate speech of any kind.
UVic upholds the rights of members of our university community to non-violent self-expression and we acknowledge the genuine distress many are feeling. University leaders recognize our duty to our students to ensure our university is a space where we can all effectively engage with complex issues.
Challenges with misinformation and communication
The reality of our current challenge is marked by its complexity and unpredictability, conflicting and incomplete information. As an educational institution and community, we commit ourselves to critical thought and to seeking evidence and data to support our conclusions. We must be careful that misinformation, speculation and interpretation on social media related to the encampment don’t obscure the university's commitment to working toward a good resolution.
For example, there have been accusations that the university has set up surveillance cameras on the roof of the Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library—we have not.
It is true that members of the encampment have been assaulted over the last days. The accounts of the response from campus security and the Saanich and Oak Bay Police departments however are inaccurate. Violence is completely unacceptable, and we will work with our policing partners and members of our community to ensure appropriate response to any such action on our campus. In relation to this specific incident, we have restricted the individual from campus, and they can be arrested by police if they return.
Over the last ten days I have heard from members of our community sharing diverse and frequently conflicting views on how they would like us to be responding. The university tries to maintain a balance that supports an open and accessible campus with space for free expression and challenging conversations, while also respecting the safety and security needs of the UVic community.
Demands from the Palestine Solidarity Encampment
We are committed to open and constructive dialogue; however, the university cannot agree to demands or ultimatums from any group.
Encampment organizers have shared a series of demands for the university, including divestment from companies that contribute to and benefit from violence against Palestinians. Given this, we would like to share some information about our investments. We feel it is important that we build a shared understanding of UVic’s investments and our approach to responsible investing.
In January 2020, the Board of Governors approved an updated Responsible Investment Policy that was focused on how the university could take meaningful steps to address climate change within its investment portfolio. The policy changes reflected feedback from a comprehensive consultation process that included students, faculty, staff, the UVSS, GSS and interested stakeholders such as Divest UVic.
As part of our goal to “use working capital investments to address the physical and transitional risk and opportunities of climate change” in 2020, the university moved funds into the BlackRock Global Renewable Power Fund III.
This fund was chosen as it was one of the few available at that time that aligned with our impact investment objectives. Our investment is not in BlackRock - it is in a fund that BlackRock manages. This fund invests in solar and wind renewable power generation projects globally. This fund is a closed fund which means once invested, you are locked in until the fund winds up.
When it was approved by the Board in 2020, the revised Responsible Investment Policy was set to be reviewed in four years to provide an opportunity to ensure that the changes made were still appropriate, that they reflected best practice and to provide an opportunity to re-engage members of our community.
The process for renewal of this policy is underway and we have had initial dialogue with students and are committed to working with student groups to design an appropriate engagement strategy.
We have invited the students from the Palestine Solidarity Encampment to join this discussion which at this point they have refused.
Some other items that are being mischaracterized are also worth highlighting.
- We have been disclosing the investments of the university since 2018.
- We report annually on our investments using our fiscal year end of March 31. The most recent information posted on the website is from March 31, 2023. The new information current to March 2024 will be posted soon.
- We no longer own a Scotiabank bond.
- We are not invested in Thyssenkrupp, they lease space through UVic Properties, an entity established by the university that manages the Vancouver Island Technology Park. The lease is for 5 years.
Commitment
We remain committed to actively engaging with concerned students, faculty and staff. We will continue drawing insights from the successes and failures of other institutions with the goal to support peaceful expression among our community. Moreover, we expect our university leaders to navigate this tense and difficult period with empathy and discernment.
We are committed to continuing to respond in a calm and thoughtful manner, striving to understand and address the widely diverse needs and viewpoints within our community.
I ask that everyone find the necessary patience and empathy for each other and remember that we are all doing our best during very difficult times.
Yours sincerely,
Kevin Hall, President and Vice-Chancellor
Updated May 9, 2024, 4:45 p.m.
Safety
On the evening May 7, members of the encampment reached out to Campus Security to ask for their support with an unwelcome and aggressive individual in the vicinity of the encampment. The individual assaulted members of the encampment. Campus Security and Saanich Police attended and the individual was escorted off campus and is restricted from re-entering the property. This individual is not affiliated with the university.
We take the safety of our community very seriously. The actions of this individual are completely unacceptable and the university will not tolerate assault or other criminal activity taking place on campus. The university has taken to steps to ensure that if the individual appears on campus again, they can be arrested.
If you have concerns for your personal safety—both inside and out of the encampment—we encourage you to contact Campus Security.
Graffiti and vandalism
We are also aware of recent graffiti and vandalism on our campus. Unfortunately, graffiti and vandalism are common occurrences on university campuses. Acts of graffiti and vandalism are not acceptable behaviours on our campus and are governed by our university policies and are against the law. As has always been the case, those caught vandalising university property may be subject to sanctions according to University policy or charged under the Criminal Code of Canada.
The university works as quickly as possible to remove graffiti when it occurs on our campus. If you spot graffiti, please reach out to Campus Security.
Updated May 8, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
We welcomed many students to campus this week for the start of Summer Term. In order to minimize disruption and support student success, the majority of UVic buildings return to normal access during regular hours today.As a normal practice, buildings are locked at night.
We’ll continue to manage access to McPherson Library, Elliot Lab Wing, Bob Wright Centre, Petch and Cunningham buildings, with only front entrances open during regular business hours. If you have mobility or other accessibility concerns and require assistance to enter these buildings at an alternate access point, please contact Campus Security at 250-721-7599.
FAQs
We've heard many questions and concerns from our community since the encampment was established on May 1. We have developed a series of FAQs and will continue to add to these as necessary.
If you have questions that are not answered in our FAQs, please reach out to encampment@uvic.ca.
Updated May 6, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
It is important to remember that campus is open. Campus life continues and our classrooms, labs and studios remain active spaces of learning, teaching, research and creative activity.
Last Thursday, we celebrated many faculty, researchers and grad students at the Reach Awards. This was a special night for many members of our community.
Today is the start of our summer term. We are excited to welcome a new cohort of students and to welcome back many current students.
Reminder about policy and expectations for key holders and card access holders
Over the weekend, multiple incidents were reported where non-key holders had gained access to secured buildings. In one of these cases, the secured fire doors had been propped open and left unsecured. As a reminder to all key holders, the responsibilities outlined in the Key and Access Card Control Policy (BP3125) include the responsibility to maintain safe working and learning environments for all, including the protection of university assets. As a key holder, you have responsibilities that help to ensure our indoor spaces and assets remain secure and safe.
Dialogue
Since our last update on Friday, we have been in contact with members of the Palestine Solidarity encampment to engage in a dialogue. The university has had ongoing conversations with students about the Responsible Investment Policy of the university and divestment. Continuing to include student voices in the discussion is vital.
We need to maintain safety for all members of our community—on all sides of this complex issue—and we will continue to reach out to members of our community to offer support and understanding.
Questions/concerns
If you are feeling impacted by the encampment, have concerns about your safety, or just need someone to talk to, a range of supports and services are available.
If you have questions or concerns about how this encampment might impact you, please contact encampment@uvic.ca.
Updated May 3, 2024, 3:30 p.m.
The UVic campus remains open and safe. We are looking forward to welcoming students, staff and faculty for the summer term, starting on May 6.
Open to dialogue
In an email, the university has reached out to welcome a dialogue with student representatives involved with the Palestine Solidarity Encampment. Divestment has been an ongoing discussion at our university and including student voices remains a priority. The university welcomes students in the encampment to join the broader conversation at UVic regarding divestment.
The university also reminded the encampment participants that all activities must remain safe and respectful. This includes ensuring an environment free from intimidation, discrimination, harassment and hate speech of any kind.
Ensuring a safe campus
You may continue to see security and police presence on campus while this situation continues to evolve. Saanich Police are working closely with Campus Security to help keep the campus community – including those within the encampment – safe, which includes medical support and other health and safety concerns.
Earlier today, representatives from Saanich Fire – Fire Prevention, and Oak Bay Fire did a walk-through of the encampment to check fire-safety-related conditions and to provide instruction on any required changes to remove risk for health and safety and to ensure clear pathways. We acknowledge that those in the encampment have been peaceful and complied with the request for this safety check. The safety of everyone remains our top priority.
Building access
Access to some buildings is being more closely managed at this time. This may include access being limited to main entrances with secondary entrances being locked. We encourage students, staff and faculty to keep their OneCards or other identification handy.
If you have mobility or other accessibility concerns and require assistance to enter a building at an alternate access point, please contact Campus Security at 250-721-7599.
As previously mentioned, many buildings will have reduced access between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. Students, staff and faculty with keys can access buildings during these hours as they normally would. Conference organizers or groups who have booked space on campus during the evening or weekends can contact Campus Security if they have questions or require after-hours assistance.
We are committed to working with members of the UVic community participating in the encampment and are hopeful that we can engage in a productive dialogue and reach a peaceful resolution.
Updated May 2, 2024, 1:45 p.m.
We have observed that the demonstration on the UVic quad evolved overnight to an encampment. Participants appear to include UVic students and members of our broader community.
While the university has not yet received any direct communication from participants, we are open to dialogue. We are hopeful that we can continue the productive dialogue we have begun on the topic of divestment.
We actively support peaceful demonstrations on our campus and the right to freedom of expression. We expect all activities on campus to stay within the parameters of university policies and the law.
Erecting tents, temporary structures and overnight encampments are prohibited by university policy. Protests must not disrupt university operations or interfere with students, staff and faculty.
The safety of our university community remains our highest priority. Operations are continuing on campus and we are working to minimize disruptions and keep our community, our buildings and our campus safe. To this end, many campus buildings will be closed daily from 5 p.m. – 7 a.m. and some entrances will remain locked throughout the day. We thank everyone for your patience and understanding.
If you have questions or concerns about how this encampment might impact you, please contact encampment@uvic.ca.
May 1, 2024
We are aware that there is a demonstration taking place on the quad.
The safety of our students, staff, faculty and community is our top priority. We are taking a calm and thoughtful approach to this demonstration and will work to minimize disruptions.
The university supports peaceful demonstrations and the right to freedom of expression. Universities have always been a place for free speech--where students, staff and faculty can debate ideas. We encourage thoughtful, reasoned and academic discourse on current issues and maintain that these discussions must take place in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and hate speech of any kind. Additionally, activities on our campus must align with UVic’s institutional policies.
Out of an abundance of caution, Campus Security may be monitoring access to buildings near the demonstration and may ask people for information prior to entering these buildings. Campus Security is liaising with Saanich and Oak Bay police to support a safe and inclusive environment.
Thank you for your patience as we monitor this situation. We will provide further updates as required on this page.
We understand that events like these can impact members of our community in different ways. We encourage everyone to show kindness and compassion for one another. To this end, there are a range of supports and services available should you need them.
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