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University of Victoria president Kevin Hall issued a statement Wednesday saying that while the school supports peaceful protests, he has growing concerns about safety after a man was arrested on campus for threatening people with a knife.
The arrest occurred at the First Peoples House on Tuesday afternoon by a man who was believed to have been camping outside the building earlier in the week. On Monday evening, Hall says the man was showing signs of substance use that needed a medical response from paramedics and campus security, but their response was hindered by encampment members. He was later removed from campus, but on Tuesday afternoon a person matching his description entered the First Peoples House and threatened people with a knife, prompting a large police response., adding that no one was injured in the incident. Police said they did not believe the man was associated with the encampment, though Hall says the suspect set up his tent “after numerous, public calls from the encampment for members of the local community to come join them.”in no way associated with our campStill, Hall says he has concerns for overall campus safety, citing a general increase in harassment, vandalism, and trespassing in buildings after hours.Since then, Hall says spray paint along buildings, walkways and signage “relaying messages consistent with those put forth by members of the encampment” has appeared, leading to some staffers feeling unsafe. He added that some encampment members – made up of both UVic students and other community members – yelled at high school students who were touring the campus while using profanity and “other disturbing phrases.” He says protesters are also accessing buildings that are locked overnight, including one instance where encampment members were seen “riding bikes through the first floor of the McPherson Library.”Last week, a manSaanich police say they are investigating the assaults, and UVic has banned the man from being on campus. Overall, Hall says the school hopes to take a “calm and measured approach to the encampment,” so long as it remains peaceful, adding that protesting is a part of many peoples’ post-secondary journeys.Sign up for the CHEK Now daily email newsletter to get breaking news and the day's top stories sent to your email.“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,” he said. “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,” he said. Hall claims that protesters have also been unwilling to have productive conversations with the university,“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,” he said. “People committing illegal acts can be arrested and banned from campus.”Pro-Palestine encampments have appeared at many universities across Canada, including at Vancouver Island University, the University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Calgary and University of Alberta . Just last week, police cleared out the encampments at U of C and U of A, a move the Alberta government is now taking up with the province’s police watchdog after
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First Peoples House at UVic closes after staff threatened with a knifePolice and campus security responded and a suspect was arrested.
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