Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) clubs and societies administrative commissioner Brandon Wallingford posted the comment “F@#% Safe Space!” on a campus free speech Facebook event page Sept. 16.
The event was presented by the Ottawa Liberty Society, the Carleton Students for Liberty, and the University of Ottawa English Debate Society. The event, held on Sept. 29, was organized by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms as a launch event for their annual Campus Freedom Rankings.
Wallingford, a history and political science student in his eighth year at Carleton, said the university safe space policy “goes too far.”
“Speech policing and thought policing isn’t . . . healthy in a university environment,” he said.
Wallingford said the term safe space doesn’t just apply to attitudes regarding sexual assault.
“[Consent] is not the only thing safe space is about,” he said. “Safe space is often used in a way that allows individuals to cry wolf . . . about feelings being hurt.”
Wallingford said anyone concerned about his opinions should write a letter to his boss. He said he is entitled to make his personal opinions public.
A statement posted online said CUSA intends to continue to organize events that raise awareness about “a variety of issues that fall under the Safe Space umbrella.”
CUSA president Folarin Odunayo said the online statement is meant to make CUSA’s stance on safe space clear.
“CUSA is committed to safe space and we are committed to the education of our leaders and our community members about what safe space means, what a safe space is, and the importance of inclusivity,” he said.
“Everybody is always entitled to their own opinions but whenever you are in a CUSA space or you’re working in a CUSA capacity, you always have to make sure you’re respectful and you’re inclusive.”
Odunayo declined to comment on Wallingford’s Facebook post.
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