supporting student rights, opposing VIU lockdown culture

The following letter was sent to BC’s Minister of Post-Secondary Education & Future Skills, along with VIU’s Senior Administration & Board of Governors in response to VIU’s actions related to the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on the Nanaimo Campus.

Dear Minister Beare, 

I am writing on behalf of the Vancouver Island University Students' Union to urgently address the recent severe security measures at Vancouver Island University (VIU), and to express our deep concerns regarding the administration's leadership decisions. The response to what has been described as a "peaceful and calm" student-led protest—including stringent security protocols like mandatory ID checks, building lockdowns, and the implied police presence—has significantly disrupted the open campus environment and shifted governance away from transparency and collaborative decision-making. 

The necessity for both institutional and government-issued IDs to be verified by private security personnel is an excessive measure that unfairly criminalises not only the protesters but also the entire university community, deviating drastically from our core values of free expression and open dialogue. 

The implementation of these measures was abrupt, with no clear safety concerns articulated, creating an atmosphere of unease. Communication has been poorly executed, leaving many students confused and uninformed about the ongoing changes, impacting their ability to access classes and navigate campus life. Additionally, the reduction in access to essential facilities like the library, coupled with the halt in regular updates to the Students’ Union, demonstrates a disregard for the needs and rights of all students. This approach not only affects protesters but the entire student body and can set a concerning precedent across the province, potentially stifling open dialogue and eroding academic freedom. 

We urge the provincial authorities to: 

1. Direct VIU to immediately reverse the campus lockdown, remove security checkpoints, and reopen the library. 

2. Ensure VIU provides the Students’ Union with ongoing public communications to better serve our members, addressing the current issue and preventing future communication breakdowns. 

3. Encourage VIU's Board of Governors to review these actions thoroughly and engage in meaningful oversight, ensuring decisions are made transparently and with full stakeholder involvement. 

4. Support and facilitate good faith dialogue between VIU and the protesters to address and resolve the underlying issues constructively. 

We seek your immediate intervention to ensure that future decisions at VIU are made with proper consultation, transparency, and respect for the rights of all university members. It is vital that VIU's leadership be held accountable, and that governance reflects the high standards expected of a leading educational institution. 

We look forward to your support in fostering a leadership environment at VIU that is accountable, transparent, and truly reflective of the values of our educational community. 

Sincerely, 

Sarah Mei Lyana | she/her | Chairperson

Vancouver Island University Students' Union

Local 13 BC Federation of Students