Sign perpetuating rape culture found outside St. F.X. student house

“Drop off zone: Acadia girlfriends,” read a sign outside of a St. Francis Xavier student house during the university’s homecoming weekend.

The university intervened to have the sign removed on Saturday. The sign was later reposted, causing the university to intervene again to have it removed once more.

St. F.X. president Andrew Hakin released a statement Sunday morning condemning the sign and the message that it perpetuates.

“The sign displayed at an off-campus house during homecoming was degrading and deeply concerning. Language that objectifies women or makes light of sexualized violence has no place at St. F.X. or in any community,” he wrote.

“We understand the concern and anger this has caused, both within our own community and beyond it. St. F.X. unequivocally rejects misogyny, sexualized and gender-based violence, and the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to rape culture.”

The incident has raised questions online about the consequences, with some community members wondering if those who put up the sign will be held accountable.

Hakin stated that the incident has been moved to the university’s disciplinary process but did not provide any details.

He said St. F.X. will continue working to prevent sexualized and gender-based violence.

Anyone at St. F.X. who has been affected by sexualized violence can access support through the Visible@X webpage, the campus sexual violence prevention and response office, or through student services.

St. F.X. and Acadia have a long-standing rivalry, but there was no competition or sports game during the weekend.

Jeff Hennessy, president and vice chancellor of Acadia University, posted a statement reacting to the sign on Sunday.

“Acadia unequivocally stands against what happened and all other actions that normalize violence against women,” wrote Hennessy. “We join our colleagues at St. Francis Xavier University in condemning the events of this weekend and thank them for the strong stance they have taken against it.

“What happened in Antigonish is a symptom of a society-wide problem. It is our collective responsibility as higher education institutions to speak out against violence against women, and rape culture specifically.”

Hennessy wrote that Acadia will continue to enforce its sexual violence policy and call out cases of sexualized violence and rape culture. He added that Acadia will continue to prosecute with “zero tolerance” in cases like this.