The iSchool finally agreed to our terms and will implement every single one of the changes we requested. I am physically drained from fighting this for so long but I am deeply grateful that we held firm. Now we must stay alert and ensure they actually follow through on these …
August 8, 2020
Final supporters
This is an opportunity for the iSchool to stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for reform and to increase the faculty’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. While we value the statement the iSchool has made, we believe that further resources and support can better amplify the faculty’s sincerity for equity, diversity, and inclusion within our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community especially during a time when they need it most.
We believe that there are pressing items that need to be addressed that will help speak to the concerns of our students, such as:
- A banner across all iSchool website pages that links to the iSchool’s statement on the recent protests, as well as available resources for students affected such as group discussions.
- The permanent creation of BIPOC financial aid, and heightened BIPOC scholarship awareness.
- Recognition of the mental stress that this situation can cause, and provision of accommodations for students experiencing emotional distress such as: paid note taking made available for classes, encourage professors to provide extensions, and ensure lectures are recorded.
- Data from the iSchool’s partnerships with other organizations (e.g., co-op) and information about whether the iSchool will be working to partner only with those that are speaking out about anti-Black racism.
- Cultural competency training for all staff to create a safer learning and community environment.
- Hiring a full-time, student-approved, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator for the iSchool so that the burden of labour no longer has to be fully performed by students who are offering their input and consultation. No longer ask the students who are vulnerable, who hold far less power than their faculty counterparts, to do the bulk of this work.
This initiative is a combination of the efforts of students and alumni involved in Master of Information Student Council (MISC), Diversity Working Group (DWG), Museum Professionals of Colour (MPOC), Accessibility Interests Working Group (AIWG), Indigenous Connections Working Group (ICWG) and multiple concentrations within the iSchool.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
June 19, 2020
June 17, 2020
The administration remains silent despite the volume of names attached to this cause. I am exhausted by the lack of progress but I am still emailing their offices every morning until someone finally acknowledges the reality of the situation.
Reached 100 supporters
June 6, 2020
56 Comments
I was one of the only black students in the iSchool, and one of only two in my museum studies program. I felt underrepresented and unsupported by the faculty in so many ways. I hope the university is willing to put in the time and resources necessary to make future black students feel more welcome and respected.
I am a wider member of the iSchool community and work as an archivist & records manager with iSchool-educated professionals. I support these demands, which are highly implementable & will create broader positive impacts in the archival, library, museum, and information fields. I ask the iSchool to robustly fulfill each demand by the end of 2020.
I am a current iSchool student and I fully support the requests outlined in this petition. Thank you to all of the groups involved with putting this together. As your colleague - a white male one - I hear this and will not forget these demands through this year ahead.
As a UofT staff member who works with iSchool students, I want to express my support for these calls and gratitude for the work of the Diversity Working Group who has supported my own learning as a professional.
"Hiring a full-time, student-approved, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator for the iSchool so that the burden of labour no longer has to be fully performed by students" !!!! This is so important! Students can't be the only ones putting in the work. Thank you Jace & Lo (& the many others who were involved) for pushing this forward.
I had the worst breakdown of my life as a student at the faculty of information in 2019. The way the department and most of the faculty (not all, but many) handle equity and accessibility issues is really bad and I definitely believe that it's even worse for BIPOC students, faculty, and staff. Thank you to the petition organizers.
I was coming to terms with my disability, mental health disorder, and queerness during my time as an MMSt student. There was next to no space, representation, support or inclusion for myself and other marginalized folx in my program. Like others, I could never articulate the depth of this struggle and left the faculty drained. Nobody should have to labour so hard in order to be seen and treated as an equal, whole person. MPOC is doing lifesaving work for the students of today and tomorrow. Thank you from the depths of who I am.
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The iSchool finally agreed to our terms and will implement every single one of the changes we requested. I am physically drained from fighting this for so long but I am deeply grateful that we held firm. Now we must stay alert and ensure they actually follow through on these …
August 8, 2020
Final supporters
This is an opportunity for the iSchool to stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for reform and to increase the faculty’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. While we value the statement the iSchool has made, we believe that further resources and support can better amplify the faculty’s sincerity for equity, diversity, and inclusion within our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community especially during a time when they need it most.
We believe that there are pressing items that need to be addressed that will help speak to the concerns of our students, such as:
- A banner across all iSchool website pages that links to the iSchool’s statement on the recent protests, as well as available resources for students affected such as group discussions.
- The permanent creation of BIPOC financial aid, and heightened BIPOC scholarship awareness.
- Recognition of the mental stress that this situation can cause, and provision of accommodations for students experiencing emotional distress such as: paid note taking made available for classes, encourage professors to provide extensions, and ensure lectures are recorded.
- Data from the iSchool’s partnerships with other organizations (e.g., co-op) and information about whether the iSchool will be working to partner only with those that are speaking out about anti-Black racism.
- Cultural competency training for all staff to create a safer learning and community environment.
- Hiring a full-time, student-approved, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator for the iSchool so that the burden of labour no longer has to be fully performed by students who are offering their input and consultation. No longer ask the students who are vulnerable, who hold far less power than their faculty counterparts, to do the bulk of this work.
This initiative is a combination of the efforts of students and alumni involved in Master of Information Student Council (MISC), Diversity Working Group (DWG), Museum Professionals of Colour (MPOC), Accessibility Interests Working Group (AIWG), Indigenous Connections Working Group (ICWG) and multiple concentrations within the iSchool.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
June 19, 2020
June 17, 2020
The administration remains silent despite the volume of names attached to this cause. I am exhausted by the lack of progress but I am still emailing their offices every morning until someone finally acknowledges the reality of the situation.
Reached 100 supporters
June 6, 2020
56 Comments
I was extremely disappointed in the iSchool's lack of resources for BIPOC students, and especially let down by the incredibly Eurocentric curriculum during my time in the MMSt program (2019). Thank you for putting this petition together as there is A LOT of work to be done in how the program educates and supports its students.
I was one of the only black students in the iSchool, and one of only two in my museum studies program. I felt underrepresented and unsupported by the faculty in so many ways. I hope the university is willing to put in the time and resources necessary to make future black students feel more welcome and respected.
I am a wider member of the iSchool community and work as an archivist & records manager with iSchool-educated professionals. I support these demands, which are highly implementable & will create broader positive impacts in the archival, library, museum, and information fields. I ask the iSchool to robustly fulfill each demand by the end of 2020.
I am a current iSchool student and I fully support the requests outlined in this petition. Thank you to all of the groups involved with putting this together. As your colleague - a white male one - I hear this and will not forget these demands through this year ahead.
As a UofT staff member who works with iSchool students, I want to express my support for these calls and gratitude for the work of the Diversity Working Group who has supported my own learning as a professional.
"Hiring a full-time, student-approved, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator for the iSchool so that the burden of labour no longer has to be fully performed by students" !!!! This is so important! Students can't be the only ones putting in the work. Thank you Jace & Lo (& the many others who were involved) for pushing this forward.
I had the worst breakdown of my life as a student at the faculty of information in 2019. The way the department and most of the faculty (not all, but many) handle equity and accessibility issues is really bad and I definitely believe that it's even worse for BIPOC students, faculty, and staff. Thank you to the petition organizers.
I was coming to terms with my disability, mental health disorder, and queerness during my time as an MMSt student. There was next to no space, representation, support or inclusion for myself and other marginalized folx in my program. Like others, I could never articulate the depth of this struggle and left the faculty drained. Nobody should have to labour so hard in order to be seen and treated as an equal, whole person. MPOC is doing lifesaving work for the students of today and tomorrow. Thank you from the depths of who I am.
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I was extremely disappointed in the iSchool's lack of resources for BIPOC students, and especially let down by the incredibly Eurocentric curriculum during my time in the MMSt program (2019). Thank you for putting this petition together as there is A LOT of work to be done in how the program educates and supports its students.