HALIFAX – A former student at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax has returned two degrees that he earned 18 years ago to the school, saying he’s outraged by a chant sung at frosh week that glorified the sexual assault of young girls.
Trailed by reporters, 42-year-old Daren Miller walked to the school campus today carrying his bachelor’s degrees in arts and commerce where he was met by the university’s registrar, Paul Dixon.
READ MORE: Saint Mary’s University frosh chant cheers for rape, underage sex
The two exchanged few words before Dixon took the scrolls and walked away.
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Miller says he travelled from Calgary to Halifax to return the degrees he earned in 1995 as a symbolic gesture to distance himself from the university and sexism on campus.
READ MORE: Saint Mary’s University names experts on panel looking at sexual violence
The school has made headlines in recent weeks after a video surfaced online showing student leaders singing a chant about sexually assaulting girls to about 400 new students at a frosh-week event.
University spokesman Steve Proctor says the school respects Miller’s right to protest and hopes to regain his trust.
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Proctor says the university is taking steps to ensure students feel safe and respected, pointing to the creation of a special panel that will look at ways to prevent sexual harassment on campus.
READ MORE: Saint Mary’s University names experts on panel looking at sexual violence
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