Western University hides course info in wake of Waterloo gender studies class stabbing

Western University has removed course location and timing details from public facing websites, joining a number of universities that have made similar moves in response to a June stabbing at a University of Waterloo gender studies class, the institution confirmed to CBC News on Wednesday.

"The idea that we don't feel safe in our classrooms, that's new. The idea that we feel that we're targetted because of what we teach and what we research, that's not new," said Miranda Green-Barteet, the undergraduate chair of Western's gender, sexuality and women's studies department.   

Students and staff will still be able to access the removed information by logging in with their Western credentials, according to a statement from the school.

A classroom safety working group has been consulting with facilities and security experts to enhance safety at the university since the Waterloo incident, Florentine Strzelczyk, one of Western's vice-presidents, said in the statement. 

In June, an instructor and two students were stabbed in a gender studies class at the University of Waterloo in what police have described as a hate-motivated attack. The University of Waterloo attack that sent an associate professor and two students to hospital has prompted wider discussions about campus security, threats and harassment.

Since then, Waterloo removed class locations and instructor names from the public domain, and now several other post-secondary institutions have either done the same or are considering it.

York University and the University of Toronto have taken down course locations from their websites, the University of Guelph said it's in the process of making similar changes, and other universities including Wilfrid Laurier said they were reviewing safety practices.

Fanshawe College has not made similar moves, instead turning to longstanding emergency preparedness practices like drills and education.

"We have not ever made student schedules and things public," said Brenda Henry, Fanshawe's director of environment, health, safety, and emergency services.

Before last week's change, information such as lesson locations and timing was just a Google search away, and accessible by anyone who wanted it, Green-Barteet said. Locking that information behind login credentials is a positive change, she added. 

As for what's causing the shift in tone and feelings of safety at schools, especially for marginalized individuals, Green-Barteet has a potential explanation.

"I think anytime that anyone who is a woman or anyone in a marginalized position posts something publicly that challenges the norm, people that are part of the norm feel threatened," she said. "There's a real fear that change is happening and people are lashing out."

There have been discussions about how to feel safe in classes and offices, but no one has approached her to change what they're teaching, Green-Barteet said. Some have asked her how to get in touch with campus police, should the need arise. 

"One of the things we've been talking about is that every class, but particularly every gender studies classroom, should be in a class that has an entrance and exit. That would enhance safety," she said.