July 1, 2023

We stand in solidarity with colleagues and students in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo in the wake of the stabbing attack that took place on June 28, 2023. This attack, which was apparently hate-motivated and targeted toward teachers and students interested in the concept of gender, disturbs members of our department deeply, given our own teaching and research in this area and many personal connections to faculty and students at Waterloo.

The Department of Political Science at Memorial University condemns all forms of gender-based violence. As a department, we commit to fight hatred and to work toward interrupting violence in all its forms. Misogyny, sexism and racism lead to violence, especially against women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

In our classes, we teach that everything is political. Learning is also political, and our work, as teachers and students, is in jeopardy unless we ensure safety in the classroom.  It is clear from recent attacks around the world that those who teach issues related to gender, sexuality, race, and Indigeneity are at increasing risk, and this includes our students’ ability to pursue their interests. 

Going forward, we commit to work together to create spaces that foster generative learning and teaching for our colleagues and students and to combating hate and prejudice wherever it might exist.