Task Force on Campus Racism
The Taskforce on Campus Racism is an initiative of the members of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. During second semester, hearings will be scheduled and advertised across college and university campuses to hear from students, faculty and staff about how they experience racism. If you are a racialised staff person, student or faculty member, attend a hearing of the Task Force and be part of a process of change. For a list of hearings or for more information about the Task Force, please visit the Students United Against Racism website.
Task Force to study racism on Ontario campuses
Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario launches Task Force to study racism on Ontario campuses
February 18, 2009
Toronto – The Canadian Federation of Students Ontario launched the Task Force on Campus Racism today at George Brown College in Toronto. The Task Force is going to investigate racism on college and university campuses in Ontario and compile a report of strategies for challenging individual acts or race-motivated discrimination and hate, as well as deeper systemic causes of racism in post-secondary education.
“There have been numerous high-profile instances of racism over the past few years on Ontario campuses,” said Shelley Melanson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario. “Students have launched this Task Force in order to bring our campus communities together to challenge racism and share ideas and strategies for making colleges and universities more inclusive places.”
The format of the Task Force on Campus Racism has been modeled after the successful Task Force on the Needs of Muslim Students that was conducted in 2006-2007 to identify not only incidents of Islamophobia but also structural ways in which Muslim students were excluded from campus life and academic programming. “What we learned from the Task Force on the Needs of Muslim Students was that the challenges we face aren’t isolated to one campus,” said Hildah Otieno, Ontario National Executive Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. “We are hoping to identify common challenges and learn from successes and achievements on different campuses.”
“If you want to understand a problem, you need to go to the people most affected,” said Sandy Hudson, National Students of Colour Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students and President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union. “If left unaddressed, racism can really divide a campus but challenging it can be a empowering experience.”
“We hope to gather experiences that can illustrate the structures that perpetuate racism in colleges and universities and develop a guide for all campus community members to use to combat racism, discrimination and hate,” said Krisna Saravanamuttu, Students of Colour Commissioner of the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario and Vice-President Equity of the York Federation of Students.
Task Force members will travel to hearings across the province and take statements from racialised students, faculty and staff about their experiences and possible solutions to racism on campus. The Task Force will compile a report summarising the content of the hearings, identifying themes and making recommendations for change at various institutional and governmental levels. For more information on the Task Force visit: www.noracism.ca.
The Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students at 35 students' unions across the province.
February 18, 2009
Toronto – The Canadian Federation of Students Ontario launched the Task Force on Campus Racism today at George Brown College in Toronto. The Task Force is going to investigate racism on college and university campuses in Ontario and compile a report of strategies for challenging individual acts or race-motivated discrimination and hate, as well as deeper systemic causes of racism in post-secondary education.
“There have been numerous high-profile instances of racism over the past few years on Ontario campuses,” said Shelley Melanson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario. “Students have launched this Task Force in order to bring our campus communities together to challenge racism and share ideas and strategies for making colleges and universities more inclusive places.”
The format of the Task Force on Campus Racism has been modeled after the successful Task Force on the Needs of Muslim Students that was conducted in 2006-2007 to identify not only incidents of Islamophobia but also structural ways in which Muslim students were excluded from campus life and academic programming. “What we learned from the Task Force on the Needs of Muslim Students was that the challenges we face aren’t isolated to one campus,” said Hildah Otieno, Ontario National Executive Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. “We are hoping to identify common challenges and learn from successes and achievements on different campuses.”
“If you want to understand a problem, you need to go to the people most affected,” said Sandy Hudson, National Students of Colour Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students and President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union. “If left unaddressed, racism can really divide a campus but challenging it can be a empowering experience.”
“We hope to gather experiences that can illustrate the structures that perpetuate racism in colleges and universities and develop a guide for all campus community members to use to combat racism, discrimination and hate,” said Krisna Saravanamuttu, Students of Colour Commissioner of the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario and Vice-President Equity of the York Federation of Students.
Task Force members will travel to hearings across the province and take statements from racialised students, faculty and staff about their experiences and possible solutions to racism on campus. The Task Force will compile a report summarising the content of the hearings, identifying themes and making recommendations for change at various institutional and governmental levels. For more information on the Task Force visit: www.noracism.ca.
The Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students at 35 students' unions across the province.
We Won't Back Down
Student representatives receive racist hate mail and death threat for launching study of racism on campus
Toronto – One week after launching a province-wide Task Force to study racism on Ontario campuses, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario received a racially-motivated death threat in the mail. Inside an anonymous envelope delivered last week were two newspaper clippings, one a photo of Task Force panelist Hildah Otieno, an international student from Kenya and the other a racist editorial cartoon that met with controversy when it was originally printed in the New York Post and that depicts two police officers shooting a monkey. On the pictures were hand-written epithets such as “REFUGEE DOG”, “KKK” and “DIE N____ DIE.” A police report was filed and an investigation is underway.
“Receiving a hateful letter wishing death upon me and members of my community was a very upsetting experience,” said Hildah Otieno, Ontario National Executive Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. “There is no way that threats and insults are going to intimidate students out of confronting racism. We won’t back down.”
“This is a deplorable act and speaks volumes about the importance of the work that we are doing to challenge racism,” said Krisna Saravanamuttu, Vice-President Equity of the York Federation of Students and the Ontario Students of Colour Commissioner of the Canadian Federation of Students. “When we launched the Task Force some media outlets reacted with surprise, asking if racism still existed. This hate mail is stark evidence that, yes, it does.”
The Task Force on Campus Racism was launched by the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario on February 18 and will include hearings on campuses across the province during the month of March, including one at the University of Toronto later today. The purpose of the Task Force is to collect verbal and written statements about experiences with racism on college and university campuses with the goal of releasing a report containing strategies to combat racism within the post-secondary education sector.
“Unfortunately, on campuses across the country many racialised students, faculty and staff have their own stories about experiencing racism, prejudice and discrimination,” said Sandy Hudson, President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union and National Students of Colour Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. “We need to work together to challenge racism and send a message that this kind of bigotry has no place on any campus or in any community.”
The Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students at 35 students' unions across the province.
Toronto – One week after launching a province-wide Task Force to study racism on Ontario campuses, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario received a racially-motivated death threat in the mail. Inside an anonymous envelope delivered last week were two newspaper clippings, one a photo of Task Force panelist Hildah Otieno, an international student from Kenya and the other a racist editorial cartoon that met with controversy when it was originally printed in the New York Post and that depicts two police officers shooting a monkey. On the pictures were hand-written epithets such as “REFUGEE DOG”, “KKK” and “DIE N____ DIE.” A police report was filed and an investigation is underway.
“Receiving a hateful letter wishing death upon me and members of my community was a very upsetting experience,” said Hildah Otieno, Ontario National Executive Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. “There is no way that threats and insults are going to intimidate students out of confronting racism. We won’t back down.”
“This is a deplorable act and speaks volumes about the importance of the work that we are doing to challenge racism,” said Krisna Saravanamuttu, Vice-President Equity of the York Federation of Students and the Ontario Students of Colour Commissioner of the Canadian Federation of Students. “When we launched the Task Force some media outlets reacted with surprise, asking if racism still existed. This hate mail is stark evidence that, yes, it does.”
The Task Force on Campus Racism was launched by the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario on February 18 and will include hearings on campuses across the province during the month of March, including one at the University of Toronto later today. The purpose of the Task Force is to collect verbal and written statements about experiences with racism on college and university campuses with the goal of releasing a report containing strategies to combat racism within the post-secondary education sector.
“Unfortunately, on campuses across the country many racialised students, faculty and staff have their own stories about experiencing racism, prejudice and discrimination,” said Sandy Hudson, President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union and National Students of Colour Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. “We need to work together to challenge racism and send a message that this kind of bigotry has no place on any campus or in any community.”
The Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students at 35 students' unions across the province.
Student group examines racism in Ontario universities
The Canadian Press
TORONTO — The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is launching a task force to examine the issue of racism on university and college campuses.
The task force will travel to campuses across the province to learn more about what it calls "individual and systemic racism."
The federation says over the past few years, there have been a number of high-profile and racially-motivated instances of hate on Ontario campuses.
Task force members will hear about the experiences of targeted students, faculty and staff and listen to possible solutions to racism.
The eventual goal is the release of a report in September outlining strategies to combat racism in the post-secondary education sector.
The first hearing will be held today at George Brown College in Toronto followed by hearings at several campuses throughout Ontario.
TORONTO — The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is launching a task force to examine the issue of racism on university and college campuses.
The task force will travel to campuses across the province to learn more about what it calls "individual and systemic racism."
The federation says over the past few years, there have been a number of high-profile and racially-motivated instances of hate on Ontario campuses.
Task force members will hear about the experiences of targeted students, faculty and staff and listen to possible solutions to racism.
The eventual goal is the release of a report in September outlining strategies to combat racism in the post-secondary education sector.
The first hearing will be held today at George Brown College in Toronto followed by hearings at several campuses throughout Ontario.