UBC student rep receives threatening email after in-person learning delayed by Omicron

With UBC announcing a delay to in-person classes, the vice president of Academic and University Affairs at the Alma Mater Society says she’s been receiving vile insults and threats.

An email sent to Eshana Bhangu, which she posted a screenshot of and shared online, was riddled with profane language and threats directed at her from an anonymous person.

The person, telling from the communication, is angered by the school’s decision to keep students online, a decision made amid the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

“There was misogyny and it was a bit disturbing. It was very sexual, but I was very uncomfortable with that. You can send criticism, whatever, but I know for a fact that anybody who doesn’t identify as a woman is not receiving that kind of an email with sexual insinuation,” she told CityNews Wednesday.

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Bhangu says this kind of thing happens far too often, especially to women.

“Just the first thought that goes through (your mind) when you open it is, ‘Here’s another one,’ quite frankly. I have been on the receiving end of a few of these in the past. I would say this is by far the most horrific, and profane, and misogynistic.”

UBC announced on Wednesday its plans to delay the majority of in-person teaching and learning until Feb. 7. It says the decision was made after consultations were held with deans, academic heads and directors, student leadership, union groups, and associations.

Some in-person learning is able to move forward, depending on the program.

“We will continue to assess the situation from the perspective of our students, faculty and staff, and during the week of 24 January we will provide a further update regarding our full return to in-person teaching and learning,” UBC President Santa J. Ono and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Lesley Cormack said in a statement.

UBC has made the decision to continue to deliver the majority of programs online until February 7. Read the complete update: https://t.co/lM90oVGno4 pic.twitter.com/vzm1a6KOjC

— University of British Columbia (@UBC) January 12, 2022

However, the note sent to Bhangu, which is littered with profanity, claims the choice has robbed students of their “student experience.”

An email littered with profane and offensive language was sent to Eshana Bhangu, UBC’s vice president of Academic and University Affairs at the Alma Mater Society. CityNews has blacked out the extremely offensive language from the screenshot. (Courtesy: Twitter/@eshanabhangu)

Bhangu notes the AMS was among the groups consulted by UBC, and adds the organization has, in the past, pushed for things like vaccine and mask requirements.

Even then, she says, she received threatening and offensive emails.

She admits it’s difficult because she recognizes there’s a “diversity of views” among students. However, Bhangu stresses the decision to continue with virtual classes until February was not made lightly and that, ultimately, the final call was made by the school.

“I’m a student as well, I understand how hard it is to study online … It’s not something I prefer either. But at the end of the day, when I’m thinking about stuff like that, I would also hope that others are thinking that there’s immunocompromised students and students with disabilities, and also students with family members who are vulnerable,” she explained, adding she’s also received emails from others about concerns over virtual learning, but those have been “constructive” and “reasonable.”

Ainsley Carry, UBC’s vice president of students, says he is aware of the offensive email, denouncing it as “sexist, offensive, and violent.”

“This type of language is unacceptable and not consistent with what it means to be a member of the UBC community. No one — students, faculty, or staff — should be exposed to this type of harassment.”

“I have requested a full investigation of the source of this communication. We stand with Eshana and members of our student leadership community that help serve this university,” he added in a statement shared with CityNews by the university.

Despite how vile some of the language and threats in the email were, Bhangu is trying to be understanding of the person who sent it to her.

“I think this is just indicative of people really getting carried away and feeling very strongly. It could be pandemic fatigue as well,” she said.

“I don’t want to fault the person who sent it because I can’t imagine what they must be going through if they felt the need to express it like that. It’s just a tough situation, and it’s hard to [keep] everyone happy.”

The AMS is a student-led, non-profit organization that represents tens of thousands of students at UBC.

Carry urges anyone who has been impacted by this to contact the Sexual Violence and Prevention Office or the AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre.