Over the last couple of weeks, we have watched in horror as the very worst expressions of anti-Black racism play out on the news. Many of us are angry and frustrated, but it is important that we acknowledge that many of us also are watching these events from a position of privilege. Our Black colleagues and classmates may be experiencing these events on a much more personal level. For them, racism is not new.
We have seen these incidents take place in the past, and we continue to see them today. We’ve watched the news cycle amplify stories of racism and then disappear. This is not okay. The difficult work of dismantling systems of oppression should not require the bright glare of news cameras—our friends, families, and classmates deserve more from us.
Today we are announcing several measures towards a fairer, more equitable Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), beginning with a series of open forums for students, faculty, and staff. These forums will be safe spaces where people can share their experiences and concerns as they would like and bring forward their ideas for change. Our next steps will be community-driven and collaborative.
In the coming weeks, we will invite members of our community to attend these sessions and have their voices be heard, as we work together to address these issues and make York University a more welcoming and inclusive place. We are committed to continuing these sessions and other community engagements for at least the next 12 months. From these conversations and your input, we will develop our next steps and identify concrete structural changes in our Faculty.
We understand that some of you may not feel comfortable sharing your experiences or your feedback publicly. As an alternative to these group forums, you can reach out to the Dean’s Office anytime at lapsdo@yorku.ca. What you share will be completely confidential, unless you wish for us to share it with others.
Counselling services are available to students, faculty, and staff who are in need of extra support.
- Students: Please reach out to Student Counselling & Development at 416-736-5297 or visit their website to learn about remote access of services. You can also access 24/7 counselling services through Good 2 Talk at 1-866-925-5454. Other resources are also available on the University’s Mental Health and Wellness website.
- Faculty & Staff: York’s Employee Assistance Program can be accessed for immediate confidential help at 1-800-268-5211. TTY service is available at 1-800-363-6270.
York’s Centre for Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion also has remote services available at this time, and offers a variety of helpful tools for education and training, including:
- Understanding Racism: A Guide for Students, Faculty, and Staff
- Education and professional development sessions
- Summer 2020 Respect Equity Diversion Inclusion (REDI©) Workshop Series
Change won’t happen overnight. We can’t fix everything for our classmates and colleagues that experience racism in their daily lives—but we can work to build a space here in LA&PS where we listen to each other, support one another, and ask hard questions of ourselves and others for the sake of change. We encourage everyone in the Faculty to engage with this work, as openly and as best they can.
Sincerely,
Dean J.J. McMurtry
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies