Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
In January, we updated you on our progress on action items emerging in the wake of the Hagey Hall attack. We shared our progress on improving our Emergency Response Plan, changes to campus spaces, and on our ongoing work on campus climate and culture.
Today, we are able to share an update on changes to WatSAFE and the replacement of our Emergency Notification System, and details about how we will fulfill our commitments to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities here at Waterloo, which include the following:
We will mark our continuing support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community during Pride with a ceremony on Monday, June 3 from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. to re-raise the Intersex-Inclusive Progress flag and the Two-Spirit Pride flag (which have continued to fly on masts since last June). An invitation to this event will be sent within the next few days. In the meantime, visit the Pride website for information about Pride activities, including our support for the Glow Centre at Pride Toronto from June 28 to June 30.
June 28, 2024 marks the anniversary of the hate-motivated attack in Hagey Hall. An invitation to stand together in the Dana Porter Library Quad on June 28 at 1:00 p.m. will be sent in June. We encourage you to join us in affirming your support of gender expression and identity, and to stand with those who experienced trauma the day of the attack or trauma related to their expression of gender. We acknowledge that the approaching anniversary of the attack could be difficult, and we encourage you to reach out for support.
The Task Force on Freedom of Expression and Respectful Engagement has completed consultation sessions with the University community. Many of you have also provided feedback through the anonymous online feedback form, which will remain open until May 30, 2024. The Task Force is now working on drafting proposed principles to guide our community.
To foster our commitment to free expression and respectful engagement, the University is hosting the international interdisciplinary conference “From Targeting in Academia to Promoting Trust and Understanding” on June 27 and 28, 2024. We encourage all members of the University community to attend.
We look forward to updating you on the progress of these—and more—initiatives throughout the year.
James W.E. Rush
Vice-President, Academic and Provost
Office of the Provost
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.