The University of British Columbia is facing backlash after frosh leaders for the Sauder School of Business led first-years in a chant glorifying sexual assault against underage girls.
The incident reportedly took place on a bus during a three-day orientation for the business school.
The chant came to the attention of campus publication The Ubyssey when a first-year business student posted the chant on Twitter, prefacing the chant by writing, “an actual chant at UBC”.
“Y-O-U-N-G at UBC we like ‘em young, Y is for your sister, O is for oh so tight, U is for under age, N is for no consent, G is for go to jail,” the student posted.
CTV News spoke to a student who was on the bus. She said the students were told not to make the chant public.
"We knew that if it was into the public that they wouldn't really understand," the student said.
A video of students shouting a similar chant at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax was posted on Instagram earlier this week.
In a statement provided to CTV News, Robert Helsley, Dean of the Sauder School of Business and Louise Cowin vice-president, students, said the university is taking the reports “very seriously.”
“This is of grave concern to all members of the UBC community,” the statement read. “Such behavior would be completely inconsistent with the values of UBC and the Sauder School of Business and completely inconsistent with the instruction that the Commerce Undergraduate Society receives on appropriate conduct prior to FROSH.”
The business school and office of the vice-president students said they will conduct a joint investigation and discipline students as necessary.
“Any disciplinary measures will follow the university’s policy on discipline for non-academic misconduct. The university will also take steps to educate students about the harm caused by such behavior and ensure that all student-led activities meet the University’s standards of appropriate conduct and are consistent with the values of the institution,” the statement read.
Students leaders will receive anti-violence training from the campus sexual assault centre, and a full apology is expected on Monday.
