Graffiti and signage

UBC’s protocol for handling graffiti and signage on campus.

UBC is committed to fostering learning and working environments where the human rights of all students, faculty, and staff are respected and where every member of the community can enjoy a sense of dignity, inclusion, belonging, and safety. In accordance with UBC’s Discrimination Policy and Respectful Environment Statement, the university strives to create a learning and working environment are free from discrimination and harassment and all UBC community members have the opportunity to fully participate in the life and work of the university.

Inquiries related to human rights or equitable treatment and inclusive experience may be directed to the Equity & Inclusion Office Human Rights Advising Team: humanrights@equity.ubc.ca.

UBC’s Discrimination Policy or Respectful Environment Statement may apply to campus community members found to be responsible for graffiti or signage that is discriminatory or harassing. Below is information describing UBC’s protocol for handling graffiti and signage on campus.

Graffiti

UBC Facilities on the Vancouver campus and Facilities Management on the Okanagan campus remove all graffiti on university property as it is considered vandalism – the intentional destruction or damage of property to another person without their consent.

UBC has authorized its staff to remove all unauthorized graffiti on our campuses, whether or not it breaches the university’s Discrimination Policy, Respectful Environment Statement, or the law.

Signage

UBC’s Signage Policy (UP8) states that only authorized signage is permitted on designated internal boards in buildings and that exterior signage is only permitted on designated external boards. The Signage Policy also states that no material shall be attached to building exteriors, trees, lamp standards, grounds furniture or statuary, traffic controls, building signs, directional signs, warning signs or other fixtures.

UBC has authorized its staff to remove signage, notices, posters, bills, or like materials that breach the university’s Signage Policy. In addition, UBC has authorized its staff to remove signage, notices, posters, bills, or like materials that are in breach of UBC’s Respectful Environment Statement, Discrimination Policy, or the law, regardless of their location. Examples may include materials that:

• contain profanity;
• contain caricatures of individuals or groups based on a protected Human Rights Code grounds;
• promote violence or advocate for violence against others;
• promote or advertise groups listed as terrorist groups by the federal government; and/or
• are sexually explicit.

Protocol

UBC members who encounter graffiti or signage that may contravene UBC’s Discrimination Policy, Respectful Environment Statement, or other policies should follow this protocol:

REPORT: Submit an online Incident Report to UBC Community Safety (604-822-2222), including photos, location and description of the nature of concern.

REVIEW: UBC Community Safety will review the report, engaging appropriate campus and community partners to assess whether materials breach UBC policies or the law. UBC Community Safety may refer the matter to other campus units for further investigation or review, as appropriate.

REMOVAL: UBC Community Safety will contact UBC Facilities to request the removal of materials in breach of UBC policies or the law. UBC Community Safety may initiate or support other appropriate steps, beyond removal of the materials, based on the context of the situation and guidance from relevant campus partners.