Gates of irony outside WLU’s Faculty of Social Work need to come down: students

When it comes to what's being taught inside Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Social Work, a group of students and staff say a new security measure outside their building sends a sadly ironic message.

“I think this is a classic example (of irony), right?” said Judah Oudshoorn, a Ph.D. candidate in social work at Wilfrid Laurier University. “I mean not only the snow coming down but yesterday was 'Giving Tuesday' in Waterloo Region and this is what we're giving to our community? We're giving gates that are shutting out people who are looking for a warm place to sleep at night?”

The university recently erected a large black security gate outside the old St Jerome's College building which is now home to WLU's Faculty of Social Work. The building is also located beside a Consumption and Treatment Services site.

“The recent installation of gates in Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work building was a response to safety concerns raised after COVID caused our students and faculty to leave the building and work remotely,” said Dawn Buzza, Dean of the Faculty of Social Work in a statement.

But some students and faculty say the gates outside the building are irreconcilable with what's being taught inside.

“It's the opposite of what we do in social work,” said Oudshoorn.”Social work is about walking alongside people when they're struggling, it's about standing up to injustice.”

“These gates really are an injustice and these gates are about saying we don't want to walk alongside our neighbours and our friends and our family members who might be sleeping on our steps at night.”

“Since their installation, many have raised important concerns about the gates and shared ideas for alternative approaches,” said the statement from Buzza. “We acknowledge these conversations should have taken place before the gates were installed, and we are committed to engaging with our community going forward in order to consider solutions.”

“We have reached out to those who have expressed their views and many have stated appreciation for the opportunity to engage in a constructive discussion about the best approach going forward.”