University of Waterloo students hoping to fit in some time in the lap pool between mid-day classes are out of luck this semester, unless they’re members of the “correct” racial group or “transgender” identity.
The public university in Ontario, which enrolls a significant number of American students from nearby Buffalo and Detroit, recently introduced a segregated pool policy that applies during select hours, three days of the week.
Schedule listings discovered by the New Guard state that “Afro Swims” will be held every Monday and Friday at 11:00 AM, during which only “black folx [sic]” are allowed to enter the facility.
On Wednesdays during the 10:00 AM hour and Friday evenings at 8:00, only “trans and non-binary” swimmers are allowed to swim.
The New Guard contacted the university to ask whether these rules are strict requirements or mere recommendations.
A Waterloo Athletics & Recreation employee said that the segregation designations are actively enforced “in order to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons.”
Of course, by excluding students from the pool based on race and “transgender” or “non-binary” status, the university isn’t doing anything remotely close to fostering a “welcoming” environment. Instead, they’re imposing inconvenience and division.
Unfortunately, it’s probably only a matter of time until an American university tries something similar.
Editor’s Note: The “Pool Rules” sign shown is a mock-up for illustrative purposes.
