UBC Okanagan Student Union Ratifies Conservative Club After Initial Rejection Receives Backlash

The UBC sign displayed at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward

The Students’ Union of the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus (SUO) has reversed its decision not to ratify a student Conservative club following backlash.

The union initially rejected the idea of ratifying the club, citing views associated with Conservatives, but held an emergency meeting on March 13 to reconsider the decision, according to a statement posted by SUO on social media.

“After careful consideration, the board has ratified the club, ensuring that the decision was made in alignment with our values of equity, inclusion, and respect for all students,” the union said.

“We understand the importance of fostering a diverse  range of student groups that contribute to a vibrant campus community.”

The union’s decision not to ratify the club become public after an email reportedly from the union’s vice-president internal was posted online on March 12.

The email said that some directors supported ratification while others had concerns about the club’s stance on some issues.

“Concerns were raised regarding the political stance of the party your club would represent, rather than the club itself,” the email said. “Specifically, some directors were concerned that certain views associated with the party - particularly those regarding the black and LGBTQ+ communities - could make students from these groups feel excluded or unwelcome.”

The Epoch Times has not been able to independently verify the email.

The student union’s initial decision not to ratify the Conservative club received criticism from some other student groups and political leaders.

In a March 12 post by the Young Liberals of Canada Okanagan, the group said the decision not to ratify the Conservative club did not align with SUO’s principles of respect and inclusivity.

“There is indefensible hypocrisy evident in their supporting our Liberal club while refusing to allow a Conservative club to exist,” the social media post said.

”The freedom to express diverse opinions on our campus is crucial.”

The club also said that it was important to be “exposed to and challenged by” ideas that not everyone agrees with.

B.C. Conservative Party Leader John Rustad also weighed in on the issue.

“This is the inevitable result of out of control radical leftist activism in BC’s academia,” he said in a March 13 post on the X platform.

Rustad said the union should not be allowed to determine which political parties students associate with.

”UBCO students must be allowed to opt-out of union dues for their broken, woke union,” he wrote in the post.

‘Open Dialogue’

In response to the student union’s decision, the Conservative Club executive team said they were looking forward to “making meaningful” contributions to the UBCO campus.

“This is a win not just for our club, but for all students who believe in open dialogue, diversity of thought, and democratic representation,” the club’s executive team said in a statement posted on Instagram.

The post said the club was committed to fostering “a respectful and inclusive environment.” It also said the club does not condone bullying or harassment, including towards SUO members.

They concluded by saying they were excited to engage in “constructive dialogue” and contribute to the campus’ diverse political landscape.

UBC Okanagan president Lesley Cormack said she was aware of the issue and said the student union was an independent organization that had authority to make decisions on ratification of student clubs.

“That said, UBC Okanagan stands firmly behind its responsibility to uphold its principles of free, lawful, and respectful expression of all views and opinions, even those with which some may disagree,” she wrote in a statement on the university’s website.

“These principles are articulated in the Okanagan Senate Statement on Academic Freedom, which clearly states that UBC must be an open and inclusive forum where members of the University have the freedom ‘to engage in full and unrestricted consideration of any opinion.’”

Cormack said that civil discourse and robust debate were fundamental to the schools’ academic mission and “core also to our role in Canadian society as a place of higher learning and understanding of all points of view.”