During the homecoming weekend at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., a sign displayed outside an off-campus house has sparked controversy for promoting rape culture. The sign, which read “Drop-off zone: Acadia girlfriends,” was seen by Tara Taylor, a mathematics department chair and professor at St. FX. Taylor, who found the sign offensive, took a photo of it to raise awareness about the issue.
The incident occurred on the same day when Acadia University and St. FX had a women’s rugby match in Antigonish. St. FX has previously faced criticism for its handling of sexualized violence on campus.
Taylor mentioned that there was another more offensive sign at the location, but she chose not to photograph it. After posting the photo on Facebook, she received support from others who shared her concerns about the sign perpetuating rape culture.
Although the sign was initially removed by Saturday morning, it reappeared later in the night. As of Sunday morning, it is unclear if the sign is still up.
In response to the incident, St. FX’s vice-president of student life, Elizabeth Yeo, issued a statement expressing the university’s commitment to investigating the matter and holding accountable any students who violate the code of conduct. The university emphasized that behavior demeaning or disrespecting others is not tolerated.
Taylor criticized the university’s statement for not strongly condemning the sign, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues related to sexual violence. She highlighted the prevalence of sexual assault cases among students and urged for more proactive measures to combat such behaviors.
St. FX later issued a second statement signed by president Andrew Hakin, denouncing the sign as degrading and concerning. The university reaffirmed its stance against any form of language or behavior that objectifies women or trivializes sexual violence. The matter has been forwarded to the university’s discipline process for further action.
Acadia University also condemned the sign, stating that it symbolizes a broader societal problem of violence against women. The university encouraged affected students to seek support from its sexualized violence response office.
The incident has reignited discussions about addressing rape culture and the importance of promoting respect and safety within academic communities.
