By Canadian Press

UBC Board of Governors chair resigns after ‘liking’ anti-protest tweets

Jun 21, 2020 | 10:28 AM

VANCOUVER — The chair of University of British Columbia’s Board of Governors is stepping down after “liking” tweets deriding protests against anti-Black racism.

In a resignation letter Saturday, Michael Korenberg apologized for  “thoughtlessly” supporting “regressive voices” on social media working to undermine “necessary protest.”

The move comes after UBC Students Against Bigotry posted a Twitter thread last week showing Korenberg had “liked” several tweets boosting U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for “law and order” and disparaging attacks on protesters.

Korenberg acknowledged that these online interactions have “been interpreted in a manner that creates questions about who I am and what I believe in.”

He maintained that he’s committed to eradicating racism and discrimination, and said he hopes his departure will allow UBC to continue working towards those goals.

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Sandra Cawley, vice-chair of the UBC Board of Governors, issued a statement reaffirming those values, and said the board would hold “internal conversations” about how to further them on campus.

Cawley said she’d step in as interim chair, and thanked her predecessor for his years of service.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2020.

The Canadian Press