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Henri Ouellette-Vézina
Press
“In any case, UQAM did not wish nor does it wish to proscribe freedom of expression, a value which is dear to it. It does not harbor any prejudices about sex work either. She reiterates the fact that the legal proceedings are in no way intended to prohibit the student from disseminating intimate photos of herself on social networks or otherwise, ”it was indicated in a statement released on Tuesday .
Monday, Hélène Boudreau’s lawyer, Me David Banon, had confirmed to Press that the legal proceedings against the student had “indefinitely postponed”. According to the University, this agreement was finalized on March 31, postponing the continuation “to an unspecified date to allow the parties to continue to negotiate the terms of this agreement in principle”.
In its statement, UQAM also says it takes note of the movement of support for Hélène Boudreau that has been observed in recent days. Under the hashtag #papauqam, graduates have notably denounced the “hypocrisy” of their alma mater. Authors, researchers, scholarship holders or doctoral students have indeed posed in their underwear alongside the logo of the University or their diploma to support Hélène Boudreau.
Papa UQAM, you must understand that your students have bodies, have sexualities and that for many of them, the body nourishes intellectual work.
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Cato Fortin, one of the instigators of the movement and winner of the Joseph-Armand-Bombardier scholarship for her doctoral thesis project.
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“All the chances” in the negotiations
UQAM ensures that it remains an “open and inclusive university, a pioneer in feminist studies and renowned for its excellence and innovation in training, research and creation in the arts”. “Freedom of expression cannot however justify an attack on the name and logo of the University or their commercial exploitation without authorization”, she insists.
To give “every possible chance of success” to the out-of-court negotiations, management adds that it “will refrain from making any further comments for the time being”, but remains “confident” that the two parties will be able to reach an agreement. agreement “soon”.
Remember that UQAM is suing Hélène Boudreau for $ 125,000 in connection with explicit photos accompanied by the logo of the establishment published by the student, in particular on OnlyFans. This platform is mainly used to share suggestive content in exchange for a monthly membership fee.
In early April, the student targeted by the lawsuit hammered in a sworn statement that the University’s plea is “unfounded” and illustrates an “outdated” conception of art. “In our modern society, the fact that a woman reveals herself, partially or otherwise, in a photo, when the photographer has authorized her to do so and she has paid to acquire those photos, should not be characterized as act that could damage reputation, ”she said.
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