Jay MacDonald/StFX Student
A second year student at StFX sent an open letter to President Andy Hakin.
In his letter, Jay MacDonald says StFX claims to be one of the most upstanding, active, and supportive members of the community.
MacDonald goes on to say the latest incident with COVID-19 is proof of the university’s lack of regard for the well-being of Antigonish Town and County, and the lack of adequate response to this situation is not only disheartening as a student, it is infuriating as a lifetime citizen of Antigonish.
He says the damage isn’t limited to people living in Antigonish County, but also to the businesses that already dealt with the effects of this pandemic.
MacDonald ended his letter with “Hail and Health” in quotation marks.
Here is a full version of the email:
Dear Dr. Hakin,As a second year student, all the time I have spent at St. F.X. has been during the pandemic. It is both surprising and commendable that the administration and the campus community have worked so well to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that those who have not followed public health guidelines have been held accountable – until now. As a lifetime resident of Antigonish County, I have always held the character of the university in low esteem. Every year, St. Francis Xavier University claims to be one of the most upstanding, active, and supportive members of the Antigonish community, yet this always amounts to little more than lip service. This latest incident is proof of the university and its administration’s lack of regard for the well-being of Antigonish Town and County, and the lack of adequate response to this situation is not only disheartening as a student, it is infuriating as a lifetime citizen of Antigonish, if unsurprising.While public health has made clear that “smaller private gatherings” are responsible for the outbreak in Antigonish, it is my greatest hope that you and the university are subject to the full force of the laws regarding the current restrictions for the complete lack of restriction enforcement at the “Super-sub” event. While I fortunately was not in attendance at this event, anecdotally, I have seen through social media and heard from peers, that the current public health restrictions were not enforced, in any way, shape, or form during this event. What was described as a free-for-all by peers was not only condoned by this university, but was hosted by it. While we are subject to the university’s draconian waivers, this school is not immune to the law. Our hands are tied in holding you accountable, but I pray that Public Health and the Government of Nova Scotia, investigate this incident and hold the university and the administration accountable, whether for indifference to the rules, or lack of competence in pandemic administration.The damage that this university has caused is not only limited to people living in this county, but also to the businesses which have already been subject to the woes of recovering from the effects of this pandemic. Many of these small businesses, run by local entrepreneurs, have decided to close. They have done so for the safety of themselves, and for the safety of the people of Antigonish, and in response to this university’s poor choices. Despite this, the university feels so entitled and self-righteous as to continue on course, no matter the detriment to students, staff, faculty and Antigonish. I can not overstate the disgust I feel at being part of the St. FX “community”, and the embarrassment that I feel to be seen by people I have known my entire life, and to be judged for belonging to this school which has now put our town and county in such jeopardy.To be a Xaverian, according to university literature, is “an understanding that there’s an expectation of being a Xaverian. It’s in the way we do things, the way we respect and care about ourselves and the community in which we live.” I wonder when St. Francis Xavier University will start being a Xaverian. I hope for the health and well-being of the people of Antigonish County, the students, staff, and faculty of St.FX, that its sooner rather than later.“Hail and Health”,Jay MacDonaldClass of 2024
