Email about Kinder Morgan Protests Puts UBC Under Fire

Protesters at Burnaby Mountain facing off the police line. (Photo Credit: Burnaby Mountain Updates)

University of British Columbia is correcting what is calls “misinformation” and “unnecessary confusion” about students' participation in protests against Kinder Morgan.

The university has come under fire for an email it sent to 249 international undergraduate students in their forestry program warning about getting arrested at Burnaby Mountain for the Kinder Morgan protests.

“We wanted you to be aware of the serious repercussions which could take place for any student who is here on a study permit and who is arrested,” the email read. “It would mean an immediate end to your studies at UBC and could also mean immediate deportation since this would be considered a criminal conviction.” It finishes by saying that the choice is up to the students whether or not to protests, but asks them to “consider the seriousness of the situation”.

(Photo Credit: Burnaby Mountain Updates)

Susan Danard, UBC spokesperson has said this week that the email “was well intended, but created unnecessary confusion and the facts were not accurate. UBC wants to make it clear that students are free to protest as they see fit. UBC does not direct the actions of students off campus, when they are engaged as private citizens in non-university activity.”

Another email has been sent by Associate Dean Dr. Peter Marshall to the forestry students to clarify the previous statement. “The email was intended to assist international students to avoid inadvertently jeopardizing their immigration status in Canada, which in turn would impact their ability to study at UBC,” said Dr. Marshall. “However, the wording of the message created unnecessary confusion and the information provided regarding immigration law was inaccurate.”

Aerial view of UBC campus. (Photo Credit: UBC)

“We wish to be clear that the University will not take any action, disciplinary or otherwise, related to any involvement in the protests. It was never our intent to give the impression that the University would do so.”

See the full original letter below.

This is the email sent to #UBC international students in #forestry re: #BurnabyMountain protests. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/kPDnorNSeq

— Nadine Clark (@nadinejclark) November 23, 2014