A video circulating on social media showing a confrontation between a female student and a male, Matt Linder, wearing a hat with the message, “Make America Great Again” has spurred a public response from Mount Royal University (MRU).
“We are aware of the post and will not comment on the specifics of this instance,” reads the statement posted online. “Mount Royal University respects individuals who exercise their constitutionally-protected right to freedom of expression.”
The video, posted by Ian Soliterman, begins with the female approaching Linder wearing a red ballcap often found on Trump supporters in the United States.
The female student appears to take offence with the message, suggesting it promotes a hateful message of bigotry, racism and an anti-gay message.
The video shows the two in a heated discussion.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO BELOW: (Editor’s note: the following video contains profane language)
People can be heard in the background of the video shouting various comments, including opinions promoting free speech.
At one point the female in the video threatens to go to university president David Docherty to try to force Linder to stop wearing the hat.
The video ends when another male starts to yell at the two, who are arguing. He appears to take the hat from Linder.
Global News contacted MRU to see if there is any sort of policy against wearing clothing in support of a political message. A spokesperson said the statements in the video do not reflect any MRU policy, as the university wholeheartedly believes in supporting freedom of expression.
Facebook user ZoE SlusaR claims to be the female from the video posted a statement on Facebook Wednesday. In it she stands by her position to create safe spaces.
“I do want to state that I stand by my belief that every space, but especially university spaces, should be made to make everyone feel SAFE. We need to seriously change our culture. We need to equally support and express movements and gestures of inclusive acceptance.”
Global News has reached out to the female in the video and Linder but have not heard back by publication time.
Here is the full Facebook post from the woman responding to the video.