Statement on genocide denial by a University of Alberta lecturer

News Staff - Thu Nov 28, 2019

Edmonton, AB (28 November 2019) - We condemn Dr. Dougal MacDonald's denial of the Holodomor, the Soviet genocide that killed millions in Ukraine. Dr. MacDonald persists in calling the Ukrainian genocide an “anti-communist, pro-Nazi myth” that was created by “Hitlerite Nazis to discredit the Soviet Union.” We call for Dr. MacDonald to take back his statements or resign. In solidarity with the Ukrainian Students’ Society (USS), we also call upon the University of Alberta to condemn Dr. MacDonald’s remarks.

The University administration has stated that it is not aware of Dr. MacDonald sharing these opinions in his professional interactions with students. The University of Alberta Students’ Union is committed to protecting the right of every student to have a safe learning environment. The University's policies and principles on free expression protect this right. We encourage any students who may have had related experiences with Dr. MacDonald to contact the appropriate authorities so they can receive any necessary support.

If you have been negatively affected by this or similar situations, or have been discriminated against on campus, we encourage you to reach out to the Office of Safe Disclosure & Human Rights (OSDHR) at osdhr@ualberta.ca. Students can also reach out to resources such as the Peer Support Centre (SUB 2-707).

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact your UASU Executive:

Akanksha Bhatnagar
UASU President
780 492-4241
president@uasu.ca

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