I think we’ve all heard about the Sauder Frosh pro-rape chants, it’s been the talk of the first 2 weeks of school, from friends, news, family and teachers. In response to this event, “comprehensive measures” have been put in, which included a fact a fact finding inquiry into the chant, it the report it showed that these offensive chants have been a tradition for Frosh, but it was this particular one that shed light onto them. In the words of Mr. Robert Helsley the dead of Sauder, “”This is a deeply, deeply troubling event and one that we take very seriously…and we will take steps to ensure that nothing like this happens at UBC again.” However that wasn’t the end of the metaphorical mud that has been tarnishing the reputation of not just Sauder but also UBC. Another piece of news surfaced revealing that there have been students who witnessed a chant that mocked the Aboriginals. If we weren’t in trouble before, we sure are now.
This brings up the topic of brand reputation, UBC has a reputation of being one of the top universities in Canada. It’s a school that is often at the top of a high school student’s list of universities they want to go to. My personal thoughts on this issue are that it has been blown out of proportion, though that’s just me. In the eyes of many other people it may be a much more serious issue that can possibly dissuade them from coming to UBC. Fortunately, UBC has taken a lot of measures to emphasize their opposition to any sort of offense, but I believe only time will erase all the concern from the public’s mind.
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