Message to UWSA members re: violence in Hagey Hall

We hope everyone is doing okay and getting any necessary support following yesterday’s incident in Hagey Hall.

An event like this affects us all in different ways and we encourage our members to be understanding and compassionate toward each other, today and over the coming days and weeks. There are campus and community resources available to support you (some are listed at the end of this message), and if these are insufficient, please let us know.

The University is holding a gathering today at 3:15 in the Arts Quad and we ask that staff be given time to attend this if possible.

We thank the many staff members who were at the ready to inform their units about what was happening and who offered their support. Like many of you, we are looking forward to hearing what caused the delay in broadly alerting the campus community to the situation and the University’s plans to improve safety measures for the future. We assure you that we will be discussing this with the administration.

Update: University administrators have confirmed that employees are able to take some time away from work if needed. Campus community members who identify as Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, queer, gender non-conforming and women will likely be disproportionately impacted by these events and may require additional space, support, time away, and accommodations at this time. 

Campus and community supports

• The Employee and Family Assistance Program is available 24/7 for counselling, coaching and support. Call 1-800-663-1142 or visit Homeweb.ca. 
• Here 247 mental health & crisis support: 1-844-437-3247 (1-HERE247)
• 2SLGBTQIA+ counselling
• KW Counselling: walk-ins Thursdays 2:00–6:00 p.m.
• The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) is available to support anyone connected to UW who has been impacted by sexual or gender-based violence at any point in their lives.
• Students, faculty or staff experiencing harm related to their identities (including but not exhaustively transphobia, sexism, homophobia or racism) in need of informal supports can contact equity@uwaterloo.ca for virtual care. 

Additional sources of support for employees and students.