UBC, Guelph look into posts made by profs after Trump shooting - Action News
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British Columbia

UBC, Guelph look into posts made by profs after Trump shooting

The University of British Columbia and University of Guelph both say they are aware of and looking into social media posts apparently made by their professors shortly after the attempted assassination of former U.S. president Donald Trump.

Profs at UBC and University of Guelph have hidden posts made to social media platform X

A composite of a man and a woman.
University of B.C. professor Karen Pinder, right, is facing online flak after seeming to make light of an assassination attempt on former U.S. president Donald Trump, left. (Chris Szagola/The Associated Press, Karen Pinder/UBC)

Two Canadian universities are investigating posts made to social media following the assassination attemptat a Donald Trump rally on Saturday.

University of Guelph biology Prof.Shoshanah Jacobs posted on X, formerly Twitter, a video of the aftermath of the shooting along with the words, "When 4 inches really matters."

In response, Karen Pinder, who is listed as a professor of teachingat UBC'sfaculty of medicine,said, "Damn, so close. Too bad," and then later, in response to a comment, "What a glorious day this could have been!"

A screenshot of a tweet from Dr. Karen Pinder saying 'Damn, so close. Too bad', a reply from IR_AMauntie reading, 'Damnit, so close! And now he'll milk being a victim for more votes. I reeeeally wish the person had better aim.' and a reply from Pinder reading 'What a glorious day this could have been!'
These tweets from UBC Prof. Karen Pinder were responding to a post commenting on the shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania. (X)

Pinder's account has since been deleted, while Jacobs' has been set to private.

The University of British Columbia says it is "aware" of the posts and is "looking into" them, while saying it "does not condone violence of any kind."

Pinder did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CBC News.

The University of Guelph, meanwhile, has released a statement confirming it is investigating the incident, sayingthat it's taking the professor's social media post "seriously and are currently looking into the matter."

"The University of Guelph does not condone violence of any kind. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with those affected by the events of Saturday," reads the statement.

A clean-shaven older man with blood on his face raises his right fist while surrounded by a handful of people who, like him, are wearing dark suit jackets.
The image of Trump pumping his fist into the air with an American flag in the background, as blood trickles down the side of the former presidents face, came at a critical time in an increasingly polarized political climate for the United States. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)

Jacobs replied to a handful of people in her comments, saying her post was taken out of context and was meant to be a comment on the closeness of the bullet to Trump, not a statement of a desired outcome.

"Four inches towards the centre of his head would have killed him. Therefore, they really mattered," one of Jacobs's replies said.

CBC News reached out to Jacobs and her lawyer. Both said they would notcomment on the situation.

Guelph police report at least one physical threat in response to the social media posts.

"There were some comments that were received by operators at the university, essentially just negative comments," said Guelph police spokesperson Scott Tracey.

"The only specific threat that I'm aware of was a threat to cause harm, and it was sent by email from an unknown sender,"said Tracey without explicitly naming the professor as the target.

CBC News has also reached out to law enforcement in B.C. and at UBC to see if they are aware of any threats being made to Pinder.

Local politicianscondemn the social media post

The UBC professor's posts havegenerated outrage online, including fromB.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon who said in a statement, "Celebrating violence of any sort is unacceptable."

In a statement to CBCNews, Minister of Post-Secondary Education Lisa Beare called Pinder's comments "abhorrent."

"I am aware that UBC is looking into this matter. I want to be clear that political violence of any kind should never be tolerated," she added.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustadtook to social media to share a screenshot of the post,calling it "disappointing" and saying that "no classroom in this province should have room for this kind of radicalism."

"I was horrified," Rustad told CBC News. "Anybody that is in a position of authority, a position who is responsible for educating our futurekids ... radicalization in our schools should not be happening."

Rustad is among otherB.C. politicians who have condemned the shooting in Pennsylvania where Trump's ear was struck, a bystander was killedand two others were wounded.

Premier David Eby also posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Saturday after the shooting, saying he was "deeply concerned."

"No matter your politics, the attempted assassination of a former president and presidential candidate is horrific," Eby said in the post. "The people of British Columbia abhor political violence in all of its forms."

With files from The Canadian Press, Karis Mapp, Shaurya Kshatri and Michelle Morton