Dear colleagues,
Thank you for writing to me with your concerns over the use of force to remove protestors from the Quad over the weekend. AASUA takes this intervention and the emotional toll it has had on our campus community very seriously.
As we gathered more information about the situation over the weekend, we were also in collaboration with the Students’ Union, Non-Academic Staff Association, and Graduate Students’ Association. The result of this collaboration is a joint letter to Bill Flanagan expressing our collective concerns regarding the events of May 11.
The joint letter was released this afternoon. It reads in part:
“The visual evidence of the forceful removal of protestors has sent a chilling message to students, faculty, and staff, suggesting that dissent will be met with aggression rather than dialogue. This approach not only undermines the core value of freedom of expression but also poses significant risk to the reputation and perceived safety of our university, which should be a place of learning, not fear and intimidation.”
Members can read the letter in full here. The letter urges Flanagan, the Dean of Students, and the head of the University of Alberta Safety and Security Committee (UASSC) to hold an emergency meeting with us to discuss the forceful removal of protestors Saturday morning.
Together as campus unions, we stand united in seeking accountability for University Administration’s actions, which will continue to affect our community in the weeks, months, and years to come.
We will continue to update you as the situation evolves.
Sincerely,
Gordon Swaters
AASUA President