Offensive Sign at St. FX Homecoming Condemned by Universities as Promoting Rape Culture
A sign reading "Drop-off zone: Acadia girlfriends" was displayed outside an off-campus student house in Antigonish, N.S., during St. Francis Xavier University's homecoming weekend. Both St. FX and Acadia University condemned the sign, which appeared around the time of a women's rugby match between the two schools, and the incident has been referred to St. FX's disciplinary process.
During St. Francis Xavier University's homecoming weekend in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, a sign reading "Drop-off zone: Acadia girlfriends" was hung outside an off-campus student house. The display coincided with a women's rugby game between Acadia and St. FX played on Friday in Antigonish. 
St. FX professor Tara Taylor photographed the sign and described it as a taunt that treated girlfriends as objects, calling it part of rape culture. Taylor has been at the university for 22 years.
The sign was removed by 11 a.m. Saturday but was reposted later that night, prompting further intervention by the university. On Sunday morning, St. FX President Andrew Hakin issued a statement calling the sign degrading and deeply concerning, stating that the university unequivocally rejects misogyny and rape culture. The incident has been referred to St. FX's discipline process, though specific details were not provided. 
Acadia University also denounced the incident. Acadia President Jeff Hennessy stated that the sign encouraged sexual violence against its students and called it a symptom of a society-wide problem.
Initial reporting contained conflicting information regarding campus events that weekend. SaltWire initially reported there was no competition or sports game during the weekend, while CBC News clarified that a women's rugby game between Acadia and St. FX occurred on Friday.