The University of British Columbia has given in to pressure from woke student activists and opened a racially segregated “identity-affirming” space that’s “available only for black undergraduate and graduate students.”
The university says the new space, which opened at the start of the academic year in the Exchange Building of its Vancouver campus, seeks to give black students a place to “study, connect with each other, recharge, host events and sessions, as well as build community.”
The space spans two floors, and offers an impressive list of amenities; including a full kitchen, a napping area, couches and bean bag chairs, a fireplace, a television, a printer, showers and lockers as well as coffee and tea.
The space also can host events from black student groups.
“The Black Student Space is an identity-affirming space available only for Black undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at the UBC Vancouver,” notes UBC.
It adds that those of “Afro-Latinx” and Afro-Indigenous descent can also access the space.
Eligible students interested in using the space must apply to receive access. The sign up form asks students to attest that they are black and that they will abide by the space’s guidelines, which, among other things, caution against inviting non-black people to the space.
“This space is intended for students who identify as Black and are currently enrolled at UBC only. Please do not bring in any individual or animal (other than registered service animals) who is not permitted in the space without permission. Interactions in the spirit of friendship, curiosity, and openness help the space feel safer for all who belong,” the university says.
Students eligible to use the space are further urged to not make “negative comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, substance use, and employment.”
The segregated space came after months of pressure from black activists on campus.
Black Student Association member Harmela Kassa told CBC back in Feb. 2023 that “there are Black students on this campus who need a space, who want a space to connect with other Black students on campus, and we need to facilitate that.”
In launching the space, the university echoed the concerns raised by activists, noting that anti-black racism exists “in all systems such as the Canadian higher educational system.”
This is not the first time that UBC has engaged in racial segregation.
As previously reported by True North, white students were excluded from “Decolonial Dialogues” events held at the university last year amid organizers wanting to create a “safe space” for those who are Indigenous, black and persons of colour.
Segregated black student lounges have also opened at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) as well as at Trent University in recent years.
UBC did not return True North’s request for comment.
