The Ontario branch of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) released its final report of the task force on campus racism March 22, two days after the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination.
The report assessed racist or prejudice behavior on 19 campuses across the province and attempted to make positive recommendations for change.
The CFS Ontario represents more than 300,000 students at universities and colleges across the provinces at 37 student unions. It has been the driving force behind a variety of province-wide lobbying and education campaigns such as “Drop fees” and “No means no.”
The initiative was launched in 2008 at the CFS Ontario General Meeting when representatives voted to assign a task force to investigate and report on the issue of racism. The task force consisted of nine union members who traveled to hearings across the province to listen to student testimonials and examine the conditions of racial prejudice on the campuses.
“The ultimate goal was to outline the flaws that exist within campuses and see how we could change them,” said CFS Ontario national executive representative Hamid Osman, from amidst the bustling press conference in York University’s student centre.
According to the report, its principle aim is “provid[ing] a forum for racialised students, faculty, staff and campus community members to speak out about racism and racial discrimination.”
After examining all the participating universities, the task force members identified four major themes of study: individual and systemic racism in campus life, institutional racism in hiring and curriculum, institutional racism in university policy and governance and systemic racism in broader society.
The report also features a variety of personal accounts from students, faculty and staff who have felt the sting of racism or racially based prejudice on their respective campuses.
“Post-secondary institutions should be healthy and inclusive educational environments, and administrators have an obligation to be aware of whether their policies, programs or practices result in systemic discrimination toward racialised people," said task force member Sandy Hudson in an online press release.
Recommendations suggested by the report range from training sessions for faculty and staff, to including equity statements in course syllabi and even offering what Osman described as “anti-oppression” training.
“I have faith in these reports, but now it is up to our member locals to go out and implement these recommendations,” said Osman. “It takes a report like this to actually make positive changes within institutions.”