Motivated By Hate

"Once the attacks occurred it was obviously of great concern to everyone. There was shock and there were those seeking to actively involve themselves to stop the attacks."

"Objects were thrown at the attacker. ... I applaud those who really thought to stand up and intervene in the best way they could."

"Officers quickly identified him [attacker] and placed him under arrest once he was identified based on the description provided."

"Investigators have reason to believe this was a planned and targeted attack, motivated by hate related to gender expression and gender identity."

"We have ... sought judicial authorizations to search the suspect’s home to further our investigation. At this point, there’s no information to suggest the suspect coordinated with anyone else in carrying out this attack." 

Waterloo (Ontario) Regional Police Chief Mark Crowell

Members of the Waterloo Regional Police investigate a stabbing at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ont., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

 

"Yesterday's violence is not Waterloo Region. It is not the community we call home."

"We must make it exceptionally clear that hate or prejudice in any form is unacceptable."

"Gender-based violence undermines the dignity and the rights of all residents."

Karen Redman, chair, Waterloo Region

"Our community continues to come to grips with the attack that occurred in Hagey Hall yesterday."

"[We must] focus our energy on support [for] one another during this traumatic time, and let the investigation unfold."

University of Waterloo president, Vivek Goel

 

Police arrested a 24-year-old international student, charging him after he stabbed a university professor at University of Waterloo during a gender studies lecture. The man, identified as Geovanny Villalba-Aleman, a recent graduate of the university, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, four counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief under $5,000.

The attack injured the female course professor, a 38-year-old from Kitchener, along with a 20-year-old Waterloo woman and a 19-year-old Waterloo male, all three of whom sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries. The latter two, students, had acted in an attempt to defend the professor. The attacker had approached and spoken with the professor in the classroom. He was not himself enrolled in the class. In confronting the professor he verified the class title before beginning his knife attack.

After the attack, once police were called on scene, the suspect "sought to blend in and essentially to hide in plain sight" until he was identified by witnesses as the attacker. From the man's Facebook page came the information he is originally from Quito, Ecuador. In April he graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has worked at a local Tim Hortons for the past year. Police recommended he not be given bail, although he has no criminal record.

"I think we all know there is a polarization in society right now, both online and in the real world and there are conversations that are spilling over into everyday life", remarked Chief Crowell. The region has seen an upward trend of gender-expression targeting, he added. In this instance the man entered the Hagey Hall class, asked the professor what the lecture addressed, then he closed the door, drew two knives out of a backpack and attacked the professor.

People in the classroom ran toward an exit at the back of the classroom, shouting for people to run. Students barricaded entrances to other classes until informed the attacker was in police custody. The attack occurred on the very day the school was celebrating being named among the world's top universities, ranking 112 overall in the latest QS World University Ranking of 1,500 institutions globally. The class interrupted by the knifer was for a lecture on the philosophy of gender issues.

According to the course calendar, the class is described as a "philosophical analysis of issues relating to sex/gender". Questions that might crop up for discussion might include: 

• What, if anything, is the difference between sex and gender?
• How much of a role do facts about biology play in our ideas about sex and gender?
• How many sexes are there?
• What ethical issues arise for us in virtue of our gender?

A rally "to stand against misogyny and hate" was promoted online, to take place outside the hall where the attack took place. "On June 28, a Gender Studies Class was Violently Attacked", reads a notice for the rally. "Show your support! Take a Stand! Hate has no Place Here! Everyone Belongs!"

A Facebook page in the name of Geovanny Villalba-Aleman said he graduated from the University of Waterloo in April with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. Photo by Geovanny Villalba-Aleman / LinkedIn