The University College Literary and Athletic Association (UC Lit) Equity & Outreach Commission received complaints for its third annual Date Auction, which features bidding for a date with a University College (UC) student to raise money for charity.
This year, the chosen charity was Walk With Me Canada Victim Services, a survivor-lead initiative that provides comprehensive services in Ontario and across Canada to victims of human trafficking.
After some UC students expressed concern, the UC Lit responded by agreeing to change the charity, for which UC students can now vote.
Candi (Kimberly) Chin-Sang, a UC student, expressed concern that the nature of the event was insensitive and trivialized the experiences of human trafficking survivors. “I think [UC’s] Equity Commission… did not completely think through or try to problematize linking a date auction to human trafficking,” she says.
Chin-Sang believes that the UC Lit Equity & Outreach Commission intended to promote bodily autonomy and agency through selling dates with students, but says that the nature of the event was disrespectful towards the charity’s cause.
“[Throwing] our agency and autonomy to choose to go on a date is insensitive,” Chin-Sang says, adding, “[A] date auction may be triggering to survivors of human trafficking…. I believe that linking human trafficking to a date auction is problematic for the date auctionees themselves, as it makes it seem as if the Equity [& Outreach] Commission is selling bodies rather than dates with students.” Chin-Sang raised similar sentiments on a post to the event’s public Facebook page.
In principle, Eric Schwenger, UC Lit president, says that he does not have any concerns with the concept of a date auction. “We definitely appreciate, however, the need for care and hesitancy when approaching an event of this nature due to the necessary connotations that come associated with it and the sensitivity of the larger issues that can find themselves affiliated with these issues,” he adds.
According to Schwenger, the purpose of the event is to raise money for a good cause. “[If] our students have a specific preference of what that cause is, we’re more than happy to listen and ensure our constituents know that their voices are being heard,” Schwenger says.
To Chin-Sang, the decision to change the charity is indicative of the UC Lit’s willingness to address criticism. “They are not afraid to admit when they are wrong or that there was an issue,” Chin-Sang says.
Although Chin-Sang was concerned about potential backlash for criticizing the Equity & Outreach Commission, she says she has received support and understanding from Schwenger and Munira Lila, UC Lit vice-president.
Schwenger believes that that the event is an honourable project and would like to see it continue for future years. “If we can keep this thing going and continue to raise tons of money for great local charitable enterprises, while continuing to make sure our students are behind us and that their interests are put first, I think it’s a great event that has a huge potential for good among the student population here at UC,” he says.
The auction is scheduled for January 21.
