Queen’s University student association to review history of misogynistic signs at homecoming

The Alma Mater Society said that it will also review the harmful effects of such signs and how students can report them.

The association representing undergraduate students at Queen’s University will conduct a review of the history of misogynistic signs at the school’s homecoming parties after several appeared at rowdy gatherings over the weekend, the group said Wednesday.

The Alma Mater Society said that it will also review the harmful effects of such signs and how students can report them.

“We condemn the misogynistic banners that hung from numerous houses with offensive and inappropriate statements on them,” the student association said.

“This behaviour directly contributes to a culture of misogyny and gender-based and sexual violence in our community; a culture that we continuously call on our administration, organizations, our peers, and our community members to actively work against.”

That comes after Queen’s said earlier this week that it would take action against those who displayed misogynistic signs at parties held over the school’s homecoming weekend in Kingston, Ont. The university has not specified what that action would entail.

Police made 36 arrests and issued more than 100 fines after the gatherings.

The unsanctioned parties took place even though Queen’s opted against holding traditional in-person homecoming events for a second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Alma Mater Society said while it’s disappointed by the large parties, it was concerned by what it called an “over-policing” of students at the gatherings.