To: Graduate students at the University of Waterloo
From: Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor
Date: June 21, 2024
Subject: University issues legal Trespass Notice
Today (Friday, June 21, 2024), the University of Waterloo issued a legal Trespass Notice to members of the OccupyUW encampment that has been in place since May 13 on the Grad House Green.
This notice means that members of the encampment must leave the Grad House Green immediately and must not return the encampment to University property. If they fail to comply, they risk facing consequences consistent with the Trespass to Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. T. 21.
A copy of the legal notice is posted around the encampment and available online.
The encampment and numerous disruptive protest actions violate several items on our list of prohibited activities and also violate various University of Waterloo policies.
We recognize that taking the step to serve a legal Trespass Notice will be uncomfortable for many people in our community. The University has protected everyone’s right to free speech and expression throughout this protest activity. This has included myriad disruptive protest actions on campus since November 2023. The University took no action to interfere with any of these expressions.
However, the right to protest does not mean people have the right to endlessly occupy a shared university space. The University has acted with restraint in enforcing its policies, and the law. We have also said clearly that individuals who take actions like the intimidation and harassment of people attempting to enter the Senate room risk potential legal and policy consequences including but not limited to the Trespass Act and applicable University policies.
The University cannot tolerate disruptive behaviour that creates concern for the safety of people on campus. We cannot tolerate behaviour that crosses the line to harassment. The behaviour of encampment members is becoming untenable and causing greater disruption to the normal business of the University.
The University will continue to uphold the right to free expression in line with the principles it has received from the Task Force on Freedom of Expression and Inclusive Engagement.
Throughout the encampment we have strived to communicate the actions the University is willing and able to take to address the concerns that have been raised. We have already disclosed information on our investments and started work on two task forces to look at our approach to investments and partnerships.
The actions we are taking are reasonable ways to address the issues being raised within the structures of the University. These are also the actions we can take that are within our mandate to advance learning through scholarship, teaching and research within a spirit of free enquiry and expression.
We have a long road ahead of us to resolve the divisions that have emerged at our institution since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Over the summer, in addition to our task forces, we will look at ways to help restore our sense of community. You can expect to hear more on this in the coming weeks.
The University acknowledges that the information in this note may evoke feelings of trauma and harm in individuals. We remind you of the resources and supports available to University community members including the Employee and Family Assistance Program (for employees), Counselling Services (for students) and 211Ontario (for people with no affiliation to the University).
Vivek Goel
President and Vice-Chancellor
Office of the President