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After the video went viral, Slusar said she was inundated with the hateful Facebook messages and phone calls. She said MRU officials have been supportive and she’s talked with campus security.

“It’s been pretty hard. I just went to class today and came straight home. I don’t feel safe at all.”

Ironically, she says that’s what spurred her to act in the first place.

“I just want people to see the bigger issue here. It’s about oppression and power and what it means to make people feel safe. But this …” she quietly broke off.

“This is a totally different world.”

Mount Royal University also received a threat relating to the controversy. Calgary police spokesperson Emma Poole confirmed officers went to the campus Friday after someone called an MRU line and left an anonymous message.

“They were using threatening language and the threats were in general to the whole student body, not her in particular. But it did reference this controversy and the hat.”

MRU officials are watching the situation but will not wade into the fray over the hat.

“Both of these students are free to express their political opinions on campus, and university administrators will not interfere in their right to do so,” MRU president David Docherty said in an emailed statement.

He noted that post-secondary institutions are exactly the kind of place where debate over different points of view should occur.

“I have seen the video and want to emphasize that I believe, both as an individual and as the President of Mount Royal University, freedom of speech is fundamental to post-secondary institutions and to society as a whole,” said Docherty.

“Students can express differing opinions in a respectful way to increase understanding of each other’s views. Universities play a critical role in society as places where students and other groups can share and listen to different perspectives in a respectful and peaceful way. We will continue to protect this freedom of expression.”

mjarvie@postmedia.com