Racism controversies at the University of Ottawa

At the time, the majority of classes were offered virtually due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Canada and in Ottawa.

Dodek stated that the academia, including the University of Ottawa's law school, had a long history of systemic discriminatory practices.

[7][8] In October 2020, a part-time University of Ottawa professor, Verushka Lieutenant-Duval, was suspended after she used the word nigger in one of her lectures.

A student who attended this lecture filed a complaint to the University of Ottawa's president, Jacques Frémont, and demanded an immediate assessment of the situation.

The students from various faculties at the university supported demands for punitive action as the news of the incident made its way to the headlines.

Students walking on campus at the university
Photo of Tabaret Hall with the Desmarais Building in the background, on the University of Ottawa campus.