September 27, 2021
To our Dalhousie students and community,
This weekend’s large, off-campus homecoming parties have made waves across the community, and the time has come for an open discussion on their impacts. We can and must do better in the future, so, let’s talk about what happens next.
We must all acknowledge that hosting this party during the COVID-19 pandemic put students and community members, double-vaccinated or not, at risk of contracting a life-threatening virus. We know that this has been a long, isolating, period and that everyone is eager to get back to normal. We are allowed to grieve for the experiences that were lost because of COVID-19. Still, the reality remains that we are in a pandemic and we must behave accordingly to keep everyone safe. It may seem unfair, but we are all being held to a higher standard because of COVID-19.
If you did attend this weekend’s events, we are asking you to get tested regardless of your vaccination status. Dalhousie is asking attendees to stay home and monitor their symptoms until October 4th. You can and should come to campus to pick up rapid test kits. Our actions in the coming weeks will be vital to limiting the public health impact of this weekend.
We understand that students are going to party. Social gatherings are a part of many students’ university experiences and are an important part of how we find community. It is also true, however, that those who live in our community are rightfully upset about property destruction, not being able to leave or return to their homes, and the strain placed on Halifax’s emergency services.
The actions of some students this weekend do not represent the values of students at large, and we will have to work to repair damaged relationships. We will not see news stories about the students who went out after the party to collect trash, those who volunteered on campus, or who found other ways to celebrate. To those students, we see you and we thank you.
Some individuals who attended this weekend’s parties may be disciplined by Dalhousie through the Student Code of Conduct. If you find yourself in this position, you can contact student advocates at the Dalhousie Student Advocacy Service (dsas@dal.ca), which is a service funded by the DSU. These advocates can help navigate the process of responding to a Student Code of Conduct violation. Everyone deserves fair, due, and informed procedure.
The DSU is here to support all students. We will work with DSAS to ensure that students have fair violation hearings. We will also support students who are upset with their peers, by calling on them to do better. We will continue to connect with Dalhousie to emphasize the importance of harm reduction programming and an educational focus on discipline.
In future years, we believe it is crucial that Dalhousie University play a stronger role in providing alternative programming for our students. With an influx of students on campus, it is imperative that Dalhousie University work with students and community members to develop programming that highlights the importance of safety, consent, and harm reduction. If the University wants to welcome 20,000 students to Halifax, it must respond by providing engaging activities to encourage students to stay on-campus to celebrate without being penalized. We must also discuss the harms of bans on alcohol in residence, which drive students off campus, in to the community, and away from supports and services.
In the coming weeks, the DSU is working to lead an extremely large, community-wide effort to increase access to rapid testing. All students are welcome to volunteer. We thank those of you who continue to prioritize the wellbeing of our community. Please know that this conversation will continue as an open dialogue, and that the DSU hopes to represent students in conversations about the future of homecoming.
If you are a student and would like to share your thoughts, please email DSU President Madeleine Stinson at dsupres@dal.ca.
Let’s do our part.
Get tested.
Walk in clinics and take home testing is available on campus. If you attended this weekend’s events, we are asking you to get tested regardless of your vaccination status. You can and should come pick up rapid test kits on campus.
Click below to find out hours and locations for on-campus testing sites.
Volunteer.
We need your help! Sign up to help assemble or distribute take-home testing kits. Once you’ve filled out the forms), you’ll be able to sign up for shifts.