News

The University of Canterbury Student’s Association (UCSA) has come under scrutiny recently by staff member Dr Ekant Veer. The popular lecturer of the marketing department wrote a blog post on 7 October declaring that he would hand back his Lecturer of the Year award, as well as the $50 prize.

Veer, who also won the award in 2011 and 2013, said this was due to UCSA’s response to the Engineering Society (ENSOC’s) actions in their annual RoUndie 500 event. According to Veer, “Participants of the event were encouraged to decorate their cars and come in costumes and that the more inappropriate these were, the better. This led to a series of costumes that were undeniably racist and sexist.”

The student society has so far taken no formal action on this. Veer said he is “not confident that the UCSA’s response will ensure that the behaviour is not repeated.” As a result, he said, “I have no proof that the UCSA has taken the matter seriously. With no apology and no guarantee of ensuring similar behaviour does not occur again, I believe that racist and sexist behaviour will continue.”

Veer told Critic, “Personally, I find any behaviour that purposefully goes out to hurt others to be disgusting and not one that promotes inclusiveness or respect. That's what ENSOC asked for – to cause offense. This isn't appropriate and when the UCSA fails to take a strong stance against this, then I want no part of the UCSA.”

When asked how he believed UCSA should have responded to the actions, Veer said, “That's for the UCSA to decide. I am not them and, despite having my own opinions, I only want to know that this sort of behaviour won't ever be repeated. How this is elicited is up to the UCSA; however, their ongoing 'we will educate' hasn't worked in the past and I have no faith it will work again.”

UCSA President Sarah Platt believes the decision was made “pre-emptively.” She said, “It was upsetting that Ekant felt that the only action he could take was to return [his award].” In regards to formal action against ENSOC, Platt said UCSA “are working very closely with the University of Canterbury” on a decision to “make really tangible change.”