Current and former councillors of the union that represents 5,000 students at the University of St. Michael’s College are apologizing for their part in videos criticized as Islamophobic.

In one, originally posted to Snapchat and later to Twitter and Facebook, former St. Michael’s College Student Union councillor Sara Gonsalves is seen reading from the book Islam for Dummies at a party.

In another, she is seen singing and dancing to the tune of Estelle’s “American Boy,” substituting the lyrics “You’ll be my Muslim boy.” A caption on the top of the photo reads “Islam edition.”

In an email to the Star, Gonsalves said she is not racist and the videos do not reflect her beliefs. “I actually have Muslim friends and family,” she said. “There was no malice or ill intent because I am in no way, shape or form against Islam or any religion. I do not condone racism of any kind.”

“I was at a party having fun,” she said. “I did not bring the book to the party. Other people checked out the book, and for some reason the focus seems to only be on me.”

The short clips were shot by Kevin Vando, vice-president of the union. Vando resigned after the videos surfaced online late last week.

“Reflecting on the concerns that were raised with me, I completely understood the perspective of those who saw the words and actions depicted in the clips as problematic and offensive,” Vando said in an email, adding that he was raised by a Muslim family and respects the Muslim community.

“I ... regret having filmed and posted the clips,” he stated. “When the videos were posted publicly, I acknowledged my part in publicizing the hurtful conduct. It was unfortunate that these short clips have been used to negatively characterize everyone at that party, including myself.”

The party on Nov. 19 was hosted by Joseph Crimi, last year’s union vice-president. He said he regretted the videos.

“I do not condone racism, Islamophobia, or intolerance of any kind under any circumstances,” he said in an email. “Having watched the videos, I am disgusted by the message they appear to convey.”

St. Michael’s College president and vice-chancellor David Mulroney condemned the videos. “While it happened off-campus, while it was private, we want to be very clear that absolutely, the language that was used is unacceptable,” he said.

Mulroney said the incident was “doubly disappointing” for him, as he said he recently discussed the importance of social media with the union.

“You don’t really have a private persona, you have a public persona if you’re associated with government,” Mulroney said. “I said ... ‘be sure that your use of social media doesn’t hurt the people that you serve and doesn’t hurt the institution that you serve.’”

Mulroney said he planned to meet with U of T’s Muslim Students’ Association to hear their concerns.

“Having worked with a lot of the people who are part of (the union), it was kind of shock, mixed with a bit of disappointment,” Ammara Wasim, the Muslim Students’ Association’s vice-president of communications, said of her reaction to the videos.

The association’s president, Dalia Hashim, said student leadership should be held to a higher standard.

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“They are representatives of all students whether in their college or on campus in general and you would hope that they wouldn’t unintentionally or intentionally mock those students, whether in public or private spaces,” she said.

The two said they want the videos to be used as a learning opportunity to improve leadership and equity training, something Mulroney says he is committed to.

“People who are reasonably aware should understand immediately that that kind of thing is unacceptable,” he said. “That said, these are very young people, and young people sometimes make mistakes, even serious mistakes. Our job now is to work with them to make sure those mistakes don’t happen again.”

Gonsalves said she was “devastated and horrified that things were taken out of context and has put me in a bad light.

“I feel violated and bullied as my privacy has been invaded and I’m so distraught,” she stated.