Tensions over the ongoing protests in Hong Kong are growing globally, spilling over onto university campuses as far afield as Brisbane, Auckland — and now to Burnaby.
At Simon Fraser University, a controversy over three “Lennon Walls” — fixtures where people can post notes of support or inspirational wishes — shows how tensions related to increasingly violent protests in Hong Kong may get harder to manage on Canadian campuses. At least one academic is calling on all involved — both students and universities — to take a more formal, respectful approach.
“There are currently two walls,” said Joel Wan, founder of Vancouver Hong Kong Political Activists, a weeks-old, student organization whose Facebook page has posts about the situation at SFU.
The original Lennon Wall, located outside the main Bennett Library, was “repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, with post-it notes taken down. It’s gone for now,” said Wan.
On Wednesday, some students set up a temporary, second Lennon Wall with post-it notes at a booth. Plans for a third, more permanent Lennon Wall to be established Wednesday were scrapped after assessing security concerns.
“What’s been happening is that we have been reading about other universities having issues where the peaceful and respectful intent of the (Lennon Walls) hasn’t been respected,” said Sylvia Ceacero, executive director of the Simon Fraser Students Society, which supported the third wall.
“We are concerned about the safety of our board and staff and of all students. We just want to ensure and minimize the potential for altercations and conflict that has been seen at other universities.”
Lennon Walls have sprung up in Hong Kong in the wake of citizen protests against its government, with people sticking hundreds of post-it notes in an array of colours on pedestrian underpasses and outdoor staircases. They are handwritten scribbles of support and inspirational wishes for demonstrators protesting a controversial extradition bill that would ease the transfer of fugitives to mainland China.
Other cities have now picked up on mounting Lennon Walls, a concept that originated in Prague, Czech Republic, in the 1980s as an homage to the late John Lennon, assassinated in 1980.
Videos posted on social media show how disagreements over the political situation in Hong Kong between pro-Beijing students and those who support Hong Kong protesters have ended in shoving and punching at the University of Queensland in Australia and at New Zealand’s University of Auckland.
Leo Shin, a professor of Asian Studies at UBC, said Canadian campuses should consider what they can do to head off any serious conflict here.
“I think it is a matter of concern. That we have seen clashes among students in Hong Kong, in Australia and in New Zealand. We should anticipate similar kinds of conflicts to spill over to Canadian campuses,” he said.
“What’s happening in Hong Kong is of a great deal of interest to students who are migrants and among students, in general. There is a large population on Canadian campuses and here at UBC and SFU of students with ties to the Chinese-speaking world. China, Hong Kong and, to some extent, Taiwan. And there are also many second-generation and ‘1.5’ generation students,” he continued.
“There are all kinds and not all are equally concerned, but many are. There are some in the student population supporting the Hong Kong movement and some on (Beijing’s) side, and of course there will be differing opinions. The conflict or clashes in Hong Kong will spill and touch us.
“The tricky thing is what can be done? (A solution will involve finding ways to promote dialogue) in a manner that befits a university where we can disagree in a peaceful manner.”
Simon Fraser University spokeswoman Angela Wilson said it is aware the board of the student society is “considering erecting a Lennon Wall for students’ use. The society has shared that it is currently reviewing protocols to ensure that all safety considerations are met. SFU Campus Public Safety continues to monitor this situation and support campus safety.”
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
