‘It is essential that it remain in place’: UW President on gender studies class

A gender studies class at the University of Waterloo will continue, according to UW’s President Vivek Goel.

Goel posted the update to social media on Tuesday, nearly a week after a triple stabbing that saw three people seriously hurt.

“A professor and two students were brutally stabbed, and an entire class was terrorized, simply because of the subject that was being taught,” wrote Goel. “The attack forever changed the lives of those directly assaulted.”

Police believe the stabbings in Hagey Hall were targeted, hate-motivated, and related to gender identity and gender expression.

Goel wrote that while UW cannot go on ‘as if nothing has changed’, the Philosophy 202/Gender and Social Justice 222 course will continue and there will be supports in place for students returning to class.

“While not everyone may wish to, or choose to continue with the course, it is essential that it remain in place,” said Goel.

He added that UW will ‘consider appropriate security’ on campus and in classrooms.

Members of the Faculty of Arts and Department of Philosophy will be meeting with the students in the class in the coming days to discuss how they would like to move forward with the course. Goel said ultimately it will be up to each student if they wish to continue with the course.

“If we stop teaching things because people threaten us or attack us, then those people are going to win,” said Goel on the Mike Farwell Show on Wednesday. “If we stop doing it because people don’t want us to, then we’re going to lose out on our values of inclusion.”

Students have reacted to the decision to continue the course in interviews on campus with CityNews 570.

“I don’t know how to feel,” said Monica. “I saw the e-mail from [President Goel] and I saw some changes they’re making. I was really surprised that they were continuing the class. I do think it’s important to talk about [gender] issues, but I do wonder who’s going to be able to come to class and talk about these issues with that trauma.”

Samantha is a minor in Gender and Social Justice Studies and she believes the course could be offered online.

“I think that not doing it anymore would be a mistake. It’s an important course, it’s an important topic. Maybe it needed to be moved online. It should be to protect the students in the class, but the course material itself needs to taught.”

Henry is another student who agrees with Goel and the University’s decision.

“I think people should have the option to choose what classes they want to go to and have that availability. Of course, that’s got to be one tough call, but I think they made the right decision to keep the class open for sure.”

Police charged a 24-year-old man in connection with last week’s stabbing attack.

We will continue to consider appropriate security on our campuses and in our classrooms, while also keeping in mind the openness and inclusion that enables our environment of free expression and dialogue. 6/6

— Vivek Goel (@UWaterlooPres) July 4, 2023