Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
To: Principal Woolf and Provost Bacon,
In light of the recent Queen’s student costume party which stereotyped racialized people, we call upon you to recognize that the University could do far more to end the longstanding culture of White privilege.
The party violates two of the Four Pillars of the Queen’s Academic Plan (the focus on global awareness and inclusion; and community health and wellness). Furthermore, recent political developments have implicitly given sanction to expressing racist, homophobic, xenophobic, sexist, and classist views. In such a political climate, it is all the more imperative for Queen's University to stand emphatically against these developments, and to implement and enforce policies that not only respect but promote and uphold difference and diversity. Therefore, we demand that the university investigate the incident, and apply its own code of conduct and non-academic disciplinary procedures, where applicable, in order to signal to all students that we are a multi-ethnic, multi-racial university, where everyone should and must feel safe and welcome.
As members of the Queen’s community, we know that this is not an isolated event. The Diversity and Equity task force (2011) had specific recommendations that were never implemented. These were based on previous reports and recommendations of the DARE panel, the Breslauer report, the Henry report and the PAC-Berry report. We call on the university to implement the many recommendations of its own Diversity and Equity task force.
Principal Woolf and Provost Bacon- we are educators who are committed to teaching global citizens. But we cannot perform our job as individuals, and without a commitment for structural changes by you. It is time you step up and lead this institution away from its culture of whiteness and into the diverse reality of Canada.
Queen’s faculty members
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Updates
Reached 100 supporters
November 26, 2016
17 Comments
Please note that this petition isn't asking you to do anything more than what you've already promised: to enact the recommendations of the previous Diversity and Equity task force.
I sign with this petition with one major reservation. While I support a strong institutional response to this incident, I do not believe that disciplining the students concerned is the correct strategy. In my view, this would be counter-productive to the long-term goal of moving the entire Queen's community forward.
As a relatively new faculty member at Queen's, I am profoundly disappointed to learn that none of the 2011 Diversity and Equity Task Force recommendations have been implemented. I can't help but wonder about the current Truth and Reconciliation Task Force's work and whether we will see uptake from the Senior Administration as well as from the Deans and their respective Department Heads. It's 2016, we must be Idle No More.
I have either studied or worked at 5 higher education institutions and can say that, while certainly not alone in this regard, Queen's has a long way to go in addressing entrenched privilege and racist, classist attitudes among students and faculty. Please show some leadership at this juncture. Regards, Dr. Aaron Franks
I am an adjunct professor teaching human rights law at Queen's. I am also a member of Queen's alumnae and I am deeply concerned about issues of racism in Canada. At a time when Queen's is making commitments to honour the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it is important that there is a serious response to this indication of harmful racism at Queen's.
I hope that future leadership on this issue will emphasize educating students in diversity and tolerance rather than punitive measures. This is a "teachable moment". Let us take advantage of it!
Like some others, I doubt that disciplinary or punitive actions towards students is the way forward. The incident calls for leadership in making the university a place where all "feel safe and welcome."
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
To: Principal Woolf and Provost Bacon,
In light of the recent Queen’s student costume party which stereotyped racialized people, we call upon you to recognize that the University could do far more to end the longstanding culture of White privilege.
The party violates two of the Four Pillars of the Queen’s Academic Plan (the focus on global awareness and inclusion; and community health and wellness). Furthermore, recent political developments have implicitly given sanction to expressing racist, homophobic, xenophobic, sexist, and classist views. In such a political climate, it is all the more imperative for Queen's University to stand emphatically against these developments, and to implement and enforce policies that not only respect but promote and uphold difference and diversity. Therefore, we demand that the university investigate the incident, and apply its own code of conduct and non-academic disciplinary procedures, where applicable, in order to signal to all students that we are a multi-ethnic, multi-racial university, where everyone should and must feel safe and welcome.
As members of the Queen’s community, we know that this is not an isolated event. The Diversity and Equity task force (2011) had specific recommendations that were never implemented. These were based on previous reports and recommendations of the DARE panel, the Breslauer report, the Henry report and the PAC-Berry report. We call on the university to implement the many recommendations of its own Diversity and Equity task force.
Principal Woolf and Provost Bacon- we are educators who are committed to teaching global citizens. But we cannot perform our job as individuals, and without a commitment for structural changes by you. It is time you step up and lead this institution away from its culture of whiteness and into the diverse reality of Canada.
Queen’s faculty members
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
November 26, 2016
17 Comments
As an alumn I am appalled that the university is putting public image above student safety
Please note that this petition isn't asking you to do anything more than what you've already promised: to enact the recommendations of the previous Diversity and Equity task force.
I sign with this petition with one major reservation. While I support a strong institutional response to this incident, I do not believe that disciplining the students concerned is the correct strategy. In my view, this would be counter-productive to the long-term goal of moving the entire Queen's community forward.
As a relatively new faculty member at Queen's, I am profoundly disappointed to learn that none of the 2011 Diversity and Equity Task Force recommendations have been implemented. I can't help but wonder about the current Truth and Reconciliation Task Force's work and whether we will see uptake from the Senior Administration as well as from the Deans and their respective Department Heads. It's 2016, we must be Idle No More.
I have either studied or worked at 5 higher education institutions and can say that, while certainly not alone in this regard, Queen's has a long way to go in addressing entrenched privilege and racist, classist attitudes among students and faculty. Please show some leadership at this juncture. Regards, Dr. Aaron Franks
I am an adjunct professor teaching human rights law at Queen's. I am also a member of Queen's alumnae and I am deeply concerned about issues of racism in Canada. At a time when Queen's is making commitments to honour the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it is important that there is a serious response to this indication of harmful racism at Queen's.
I hope that future leadership on this issue will emphasize educating students in diversity and tolerance rather than punitive measures. This is a "teachable moment". Let us take advantage of it!
Like some others, I doubt that disciplinary or punitive actions towards students is the way forward. The incident calls for leadership in making the university a place where all "feel safe and welcome."
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As an alumn I am appalled that the university is putting public image above student safety