gazette@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (Chris Redmond) (04/17/91)
The university's news bureau issued a statement this morning which provides (maybe) the last chapter in the controversy over "No Means Harder" signs at the hockey game a few weeks ago. Text of the statement follows. ............................................ WATERLOO, Ont. -- Two University of Waterloo students have apologized for their "error of judgment and lack of foresight" for displaying a sign mocking attempts to prevent date rapes. The written apology was given to Ernie Lucy, dean of students, who discussed the implications of their action and outlined disciplinary measures that would be taken because of the incident. A photo of the students holding the sign during a March 23 hockey game at Varsity Arena in Toronto was carried in newspapers and broadcast across the country. "The whole thing was pretty traumatic for them and there is no question they've learned a great deal because of this," Lucy said. The students, who are not being identified by the university in line with a campus policy, came forward and issued a written apology to the university community. In it they acknowledge that "an error of judgment and lack of foresight on our part has resulted in a controversy over a particularly sensitive issue. This was a stupid and immature prank which has caused concern regarding the status of women on campus," they said. "The picture shown in the Imprint (the UW student newspaper) and subsequently widely published was taken after the game at the request of an Imprint photographer. It is not our purpose to justify the foolish act we committed. However, we would like to state that at no time did we have a conscious intent to belittle the date rate campaign on campus. "We want to forcefully reiterate that we regret any negative effects that have resulted for women at the University of Waterloo. It is our hope that public concern regarding this incident will result in continued emphasis on this most important issue for both men and women," they said. Lucy said the tone of their letter of apology is a "very fair statement of how they feel -- they realize it was a serious mistake." The UW administration "will not tolerate this kind of behavior," he said, adding there is a code of discipline to deal with such incidents. As part of their arrangement with the university along with the public apology, the students will: * Meet with the UW Women's Issue Board to review how the university can deal with date rape issues in the future. * Assist in the preparation of a pamphlet on date rape. The pamphlet is intended to "particularly reach people who are perhaps as unaware of the intensity women feel about this issue as these students were in the beginning," Lucy said. "After two intensive meetings with the two students, including a discussion of suspension or expulsion, I was convinced that suspension or expulsion would serve no useful purpose. I believe that they understand the seriousness of what they have done," he said. "We are an educational institution and these students in the last few days, and in completing the projects that they have agreed to undertake, will have had an intense educational experience," he added. The dean said he felt the issue has been satisfactorily resolved and acknowledged the assistance of UW Ombudsperson Matt Erickson.