In June 2026, Seth Scott Hatfield, a University of Lethbridge student who studied philosophy, travelled to Montreal to assassinate the head of Pornhub. In trying to carry out this crime, Hatfield shot and killed a police officer and injured another, and was then killed by police himself. Violent images were found on his social media accounts.
Hatfield also wrote a manifesto two weeks before he drove to Montreal.
This raises the question of whether the Hatfield shooting is related to the climate that this student may have absorbed at the University of Lethbridge. Shortly after the violence occurred, Anthony Hall and Frances Widdowson were contacted by another student at the University of Lethbridge who alleged that a philosophy professor was talking about how fertilizer from farming areas could be used to make bombs. This professor also talked about “blowing up data centers”. At this time, it is unknown whether Hatfield took classes from this professor.
As was shown on February 4, 2026 and its aftermath, however, it is clear that the University of Lethbridg, some faculty, and the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association condone and even encourage violence when students believe that they are fighting what they perceive to be oppression. This is what is known at “woke-ism” or Marcusianism.
This was especially exemplified by Vice-Provost Leroy Little Bear’s comment:
It was also shown by the “Sweetgrass over coals” ceremony organized by University of Lethbridge President, Digvir Jayas, along with Vice-Provost Little Bear.
The same support for violence came from faculty members, such as Patrick Wilson, an anthropology professor, and Jessica Copley, a professor of Contemporary Literature.
It was also the case for the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association.
The day the violence occurred, President Jayas stated, contrary to evidence, that the students had “engaged lawfully while sharing their views through multiple means of expression”.
This was also the position of Provost Michelle Helstein when she sent a letter to the police two days later. She denied that violence had occurred by stating that the students had engaged in “lawful expression and assembly” and had embraced “broader principles that guide democratic and academic institutions”.
Frances Widdowson is fighting the University of Lethbridge’s encouragement of violence, and on October 27, 2026 she will appear at the Lethbridge Court of Justice to plead not guilty to the offense of Trespass, which occurred on April 25, 2026 when she went to the university to have a coffee with a student to discuss the Spectrum Street Epistemology method. Widdowson will be represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
This is a video that Widdowson did before she arrived on campus on April 25, 2026.
The University of Lethbridge supposedly issued Frances Widdowson a trespass notice on February 4, 2026 for “engaging in the ‘interference in or disruption of the operation of the University…'”. Widdowson never received a copy of this notice until April 20, 2026.
Although Widdowson was merely involved in an academic discussion in a Spectrum Street Epistemology session about the claim of “residential school genocide” and did not approach anyone, and it was Widdowson who was subjected to violence, intimidation, property damage and theft on February 4, 2026 by a mob of deranged students who were encouraged by faculty members and administration, no one else received any legal sanction.
The assaults were drumming intended to damage hearing
Intimidation
Damage and theft of property is shown here.
This was even recognized by student activist Harley Galarneau in her article in The Meliorist.
