Dear McMaster community members,

I am writing to alert you to a disturbing incident that took place in the early hours of last Friday morning. At around 3 a.m., several individuals vandalized and defaced a university building, causing significant damage as well as threatening the building occupants. These individuals threw large rocks through a window at the occupants and spray painted several threatening messages that appeared to be targeted.

Hamilton police were immediately involved, along with McMaster’s Campus Safety Services. Special constables from Campus Safety are working closely with the police on the ongoing investigation. Members of our community are encouraged to share any information they might have about this incident.

These acts followed the Board of Governors’ approval of new Principles of Responsible Investment that do not support divestment. Earlier acts of vandalism also took place on campus during the Board meeting.

This is not an issue of freedom of expression. The university has consistently upheld the right of members of our community to hold and express a diverse range of views and perspectives, and to make such views known through appropriate channels, including protest. We will continue to do so.

The actions last Friday morning are criminal and designed to intimidate the university and individual decision makers. They are completely unacceptable, and we will pursue every possible avenue to find those responsible and hold them accountable. Threatening and violent behaviour will not be tolerated at McMaster.

It is important that we share this information given that we all have a role to play in supporting the safety and wellbeing of our university community. While such incidents at McMaster are rare, they are very serious. Everyone at McMaster — students, faculty, staff, and members of the administration and our governing bodies — have the right to study, work and live in a safe and respectful community. We all have an obligation to engage with one another in a spirit of mutual respect and regard for human dignity. We will continue to work together to make our campus a welcoming and safe place for all.

Sincerely,

David Farrar
President and Vice-Chancellor