To the Campus Community: Statement Regarding Mark Mercer's Speaking Engagement at StFX University

In regards to Mark Mercer’s speaking engagement at StFX University

To our students,

We want to acknowledge the harm caused by this individual’s presence on campus and provide support to students impacted and affected. We stand with all of our members who were impacted negatively by this speakers presence on our campus. We hope that we can help support you and call the University to action.The Student’s Union does not condone any event that has a negative impact on our students, and we are saddened that it happened on our campus.

To our University Administration,

It has been documented that in the next strategic plan for STFX, the University aims to weave equity, diversity, and inclusion, (EDI) into the fabric of the strategic plan and, in turn, the fabric of this institution. This individual’s presence on our campus does not reflect an EDI approach to higher education. The Students’ Union asks the University how having a speaker like Mark Mercer on our campus lends itself to this direction of EDI values, and how they plan to address the negative impacts that this caused?

The Students’ Union asks on behalf of our affected members, that you clearly demonstrate your commitment to a welcoming and inclusive STFX. In reviewing past articles and comments that this speaker has made, how does this speaker represent the Xaverian Values that the University asks its students to represent when they first arrive on campus. Are these Xaverian Values also not the responsibility of the University staff and faculty as well?

Lastly, we wanted to ask the university, who was this presentation for?

To read about StFX’s commitment to EDI:

https://www.stfx.ca/about/news/Being-Xaverian

https://www.stfx.ca/about/news/respectful-communities

https://www.stfx.ca/about/news/Dimensions-Charter

https://www.stfx.ca/about-stfx/university-governance/strategic-plan-2017-22

Agenda | Students’ Union Annual General Meeting (AGM)

October 27th, 2022, 6:30 PM The McKay Room

  1. Call to order

  2. Roll Call

  3. Land Acknowledgement

  4. Opening Remarks of the Chair

  5. Approval of the Agenda

  6. Business Arising

  7. Special Reports:

    • Auditor’s report on Students’ Union Financial Statements 2021-2022

    • StFX Student Union By-law presentation

    • Annual Plan Presentation

  8. New Business:

    1. Appointment of the Auditor ‘Grant Thorton’ for the Student Union 2022-2023

      • Motion to approve the Financial Statements 2021-2022

      • Motion to approve the By-Laws as presented and replace the current By-Laws of the SU

      • Motion to approve The Annual Plan for 2022-2023

  9. St.FX’s Students’ Union President’s Report (Mr. Brendan Roberts)

  10. 10. Question Period

  11. Closing Remarks of the Chair

  12. Adjournment

Congratulations to the Pride of StFX Awards

The STFX Students’ Union was extremely excited to see the Pride of STFX Awards established this past Homecoming weekend as a collaborative effort between the Alumni Association and X-Pride. We would also like to congratulate the first winners of this incredible award, and the significant impact that their leadership has had on our Xaverian community.

We were deeply saddened by some of the recent comments made by an alumni in regard to this awards creation, however these only serve as a reminder of the work that there is still to do across the Xaverian community. There never was, and never will be tolerance for harassment, discrimination, homophobia or transphobia towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and we must strive to foster a Xaverian community of love, inclusivity, and acceptance for all.

We stand beside the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ students here at STFX as well as those within the broader Xaverian community.

Brendan Roberts, President

On Behalf of the Students’ Union Executive Board and Representative Council