Inappropriate Carleton U T-shirts Prompt Criticism

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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A picture of two Carleton University students wearing black, sleeveless shirts that said “f*ck safe space” near the campus have ignited an online denunciation streak and accusation of “rape culture.” Whereas, some replied with an explanation that the shirts were actually protesting against a “safe space” policy that forbids swearing by frosh week facilitators.

The picture was posted on Twitter by a civil litigation lawyer in Ottawa, Leslie Robertson, on Sunday afternoon. Whereas a follow-up tweet, stated that “there were many people, including women, wearing these shirts.” In response to the online reaction, the university issued a statement on Sunday evening alleging that it was investigating the incident, which happened “off-campus.” The university mentioned that “Carleton University is investigating an off-campus gathering Sunday involving Carleton students who wore T-shirts with inappropriate wording.” It was added that the “university policy prohibits activities which contravene the guiding ethics of our institution. Carleton University is a community of respect and all efforts are made to ensure that those within our community are respectful of their fellow students, the broader community and the university itself.”

Meanwhile, Robertson alleged during an interview “if I’m living in a place where people feel it’s completely appropriate to have those outward messages, like, on their T-shirts then, you know, we’re not living in a safe place.” Robertson added that “I don’t really know the intentions of the shirts are, but it’s a reminder that there are people walking around in the same places as I’m in who don’t care to respect other women or whoever it is that it was intended to.”