UofG students wore shirts with antisemitic, homophobic messages to campus event
Posted Jan 21, 2026 01:18:44 PM.
Last Updated Jan 21, 2026 01:35:04 PM.
An incident on campus at the University of Guelph prompted an investigation from the school and police after students were found attending a social event with shirts marked with racist and homophobic messages.
The event took place at the University Centre on Jan. 14, hosted by the Ontario Agricultural College. Intended to be a graffiti-themed party, guests wore shirts to the event with the intent to write on them, along with the usual cash bar and line dancing.
However, according to the university, some students arrived wearing shirts marked with racist, antisemitic, anti-Black, homophobic, and other hateful language and symbols.
This prompted a response from the school in the form of a message sent to all staff and students in the days following the event.
“Let us be absolutely clear, hate will not be tolerated at the University of Guelph,” reads the message. “For this University to live up to its purpose, we must hold ourselves and each other to the highest standard of what it means to be a community. To do anything less is a failure to each other and our mission.”
The school suspended all related events and activities and launched an investigation into the incident with the Guelph Police Service.
“An investigation is now underway. Anyone found to have violated University policies will be subject to action under the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy,” said the University of Guelph in a message to 570 NewsRadio.
“The University has resources in place to support members of the community affected, including Student Wellness Counselling Services, Cultural Diversity Advising, Multi-Faith Resource Team, LGBTQ2IA+ Advising, International Student Advising, Office of Diversity & Human Rights, and the Employee and Family Assistance Program.”
Guelph police noted that, as the investigation is ongoing, no further details can be provided at this time.
“Discrimination and hate in any form have no place in the Ontario Agricultural College,” said the Student Federation of the Ontario Agricultural College in a post on social media. “They harm individuals and weaken the sense of safety and belonging that every student deserves. We stand with those impacted and fully support efforts to address these incidents.”
In November, students at the University of Guelph reportedly had swastikas drawn on the doors of their residence and into the snow that had fallen on their vehicles.
