Dalhousie withdraws student leader 'white fragility' online post complaint

Article content

HALIFAX — Dalhousie University is withdrawing a complaint against a student leader facing a backlash for online comments she made using profanity and criticizing “white fragility.”

Arig al Shaibah, vice-provost of student affairs, says she was concerned with posts made by student Masuma Khan, which suggested supporting Indigenous protests aimed at Canada 150 celebrations and ended with hashtags “whitefragilitycankissmya–” and “whitetearsarentsacred.”

Recommended Videos

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Dalhousie withdraws student leader 'white fragility' online post complaint Back to video

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

At this point, f--k you all. I stand by the motion I put forward. I stand by Indigenous students. ... Be proud of this country? For what, over 400 years of genocide? #unlearn150 #whitefragilitycankissmyass #yourwhitetearsarentsacredthislandis

Masuma Khan

But al Shaibah says the university is withdrawing the complaint for three reasons.

In a message to the Dalhousie community, she says the university’s code of conduct may not place two core institutional values — freedom of speech and the prevention of demeaning and intimidating behaviour — in sufficient and proper context.

In addition, al Shaibah says the case has prompted the university to examine ways to resolve the complaint outside of the regular senate disciplinary process.

She also says public conversations about the issue have become increasingly polarized, and in some instances, hateful, undermining the values of respect, inclusion and safety Dalhousie is seeking to foster.