The Dalhousie community is rallying around a professor targeted in a disturbing video that was posted for a short time last week on YouTube.
In a message circulated by email last Friday, Dalhousie President Tom Traves expressed support for the engineering professor and characterized the six-minute video as “racist and malicious.” The video and the university’s response were first reported by CBC Radio and have since generated coverage by many other media outlets.
“I am sending this note to you for several reasons: to voice my personal disgust for this sort of anonymous and hateful attack; to underline that this is not regarded as a prank, but as a vicious assault,” said Dr. Traves in the email.
The feedback to Dr. Traves’ note was immediate; he was lauded for taking a strong stand and expressing his concern. Dalhousie faculty and staff who responded to the note also expressed their support.
“Bravo to you for clearly sending a message to the Dalhousie community that malice and racism will not be tolerated,” wrote one Dalhousie staffer.
“I want to thank you for responding for the Dalhousie community. I could only imagine how I would feel if this was all about my family,” responded Susanna Morash, an administrative secretary with the School of Architecture. “I hope you do find out who did this and take very strong measures on behalf of all of us.”
Halifax police have been asked to investigate the video, which made derogatory references to the professor’s ethnicity and religion. It was sent out by someone using a fabricated email address containing the professor’s name.
Const. Jeff Carr said they have to look at the evidence and speak with the Crown and decide if it falls under criminal or civil law.
“This may be defamatory or libel and, if so, that’s covered in the criminal code,” he said. “It’s not something we deal with on a regular basis but something that the Crown would discuss.”