First, I don't agree with anything that was said in this Facebook group. It's flat out wrong and there is no excuse for it. That said, I can't believe all the stone throwers in this comment thread. Everyone is looking at the specific words he chose and challenging his sincerity and questioning the words he chose to explain himself, trying to find hidden meaning by the words he chose and that's not what people should be focusing on.
If you want to read it for what it really is here is what he is saying: "I didn't participate, but I stood by and watched for too long. However, I did come forward once I realized things were getting out of control and he apologized for not coming forward sooner."
As for anonymously posting, this was a letter he sent to his classmates to which he would have published his name and a 3rd party brought the letter to the Coast and he agreed to let it be published anonymously. This wasn't an apology letter meant for you or me so the expectation that he publish his name is ridiculous. It wasn't created for our eyes in the first place. Get over it.
Now, how does ANYONE have a right to criticize this man? If he didn't participate in the hateful conversations then this man hasn't done any more wrong than you or I have in our lives. I mean honestly, do you call the authorities when your spouse breaks the speed limit? Should you have points on your driving record because you didn't stop the driver from speeding while you were in the car? How many of you have been in a circle of people when someone makes a sexist, racist or otherwise offensive comment and you simply think to yourself, "wow, that was bad" and then kept on going with your life? Should we be calling you a racist, sexist or otherwise because you were within earshot and didn't call the human rights commission or the police? Everyone needs to get off their high horses and cut this guy a break. As far as I am concerned, if he didn't do or say any of the comments, or participate in those specific conversations then this man should not be punished. If it turns out he did then his feet should be put to the fire then and he should be judged on his specific participation. What I gather from this letter though is that he wasn't a participant.
This is exactly why mob justice is flawed and why I'm happy to see that Dalhousie is approaching the situation in a manner where they're gong to get all the facts first, they're going to evaluate the impacts on all parties involved and THEN make decisions on punishment. When the dust settles there will be punishment, but let's let the University do their job and get all of the information before they make life altering decisions for those involved. Actual rapists and murders still get a trial you know.
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If you want to read it for what it really is here is what he is saying: "I didn't participate, but I stood by and watched for too long. However, I did come forward once I realized things were getting out of control and he apologized for not coming forward sooner."
As for anonymously posting, this was a letter he sent to his classmates to which he would have published his name and a 3rd party brought the letter to the Coast and he agreed to let it be published anonymously. This wasn't an apology letter meant for you or me so the expectation that he publish his name is ridiculous. It wasn't created for our eyes in the first place. Get over it.
Now, how does ANYONE have a right to criticize this man? If he didn't participate in the hateful conversations then this man hasn't done any more wrong than you or I have in our lives. I mean honestly, do you call the authorities when your spouse breaks the speed limit? Should you have points on your driving record because you didn't stop the driver from speeding while you were in the car? How many of you have been in a circle of people when someone makes a sexist, racist or otherwise offensive comment and you simply think to yourself, "wow, that was bad" and then kept on going with your life? Should we be calling you a racist, sexist or otherwise because you were within earshot and didn't call the human rights commission or the police? Everyone needs to get off their high horses and cut this guy a break. As far as I am concerned, if he didn't do or say any of the comments, or participate in those specific conversations then this man should not be punished. If it turns out he did then his feet should be put to the fire then and he should be judged on his specific participation. What I gather from this letter though is that he wasn't a participant.
This is exactly why mob justice is flawed and why I'm happy to see that Dalhousie is approaching the situation in a manner where they're gong to get all the facts first, they're going to evaluate the impacts on all parties involved and THEN make decisions on punishment. When the dust settles there will be punishment, but let's let the University do their job and get all of the information before they make life altering decisions for those involved. Actual rapists and murders still get a trial you know.