Student group demands action from University of Regina against campus racism

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A group of BIPOC graduate education students at the University of Regina sent a list of calls to action to U of R President Jeff Keshen after a racist email was sent to students by a teacher in May.

“When are we going to be able to exist in Canada and not have to face the repercussions of ignorant people who think it is okay to say these things?” Asked Aysha Yaqoob, co-author of the letter.

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“I can’t wait. Time is up.”

Read more: Calls to action launched after racist email was sent to University of Regina students

Days like today, I remembered that no amount of diversity training or diversity statements can fix a racist and colonial institution.

Someone contacted me to share their experience with @UofRegina Prof. Allan East. It’s 2021. pic.twitter.com/6H45ER94Hn

– Aysha (@msyaqoob_) May 28, 2021

Yaqoob said the letter specified three main calls to action.

She says she would like to see the university develop and enforce continuing education against racism and oppression for all faculty and staff.

Former U of R interim president Thomas Chase told Global News in May that while new hires are encouraged to review the college’s policy to be respectful of the school, this is not obligatory.

“We know there is some kind of training at the university but it is not compulsory,” Yaqoob said.

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“While this is great, it is not mandatory, so what form of training can we offer all of the current staff, and not just something you do for the first month you are in college?” ? “

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The letter also calls for the introduction of some sort of third-party structure on campus where students can report racism and seek independent support.

Yaqoob told Global News about an experience she had shortly after the 2017 shooting at a Quebec City mosque that symbolizes the importance of this demand.

“In fact, I was chased around campus by someone who threatened to take off my hijab and told me he had cut off my head,” Yaqoob said.

“And when I approached the appropriate means to report this incident and have it taken seriously, it was suggested that if I did not feel safe, I should take off my hijab.”

Yaqoob, who was unwilling to share specifically who she shared her experience with, says she ended up withdrawing her report.

“This was the university I finally went to and I ended up withdrawing my statement to say ‘You know what, it’s okay.’ I’m not comfortable leaving that out anymore because the option was, well, why don’t you take it out? ”She said.

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“It’s not what I needed. Instead of telling the victim what to do, maybe you should take care of the oppressor. I really felt like I was written off. I already don’t feel safe, I already don’t want to talk about it and now I have to confront someone who could be friends with the person who was racist towards me?

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The letter also calls on the university to hold faculty and staff accountable through disciplinary action and to make the results of investigations public.

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A May statement released by the University of Regina said an investigation had been opened in accordance with respectful university policy and that corrective and disciplinary action had been taken after Professor Allan East sent a email accusing 14 students with “East Indian surnames” of cheating on an exam.

He added, however, that “due to its obligations under privacy legislation, the university is unable to discuss details related to specific actions taken.”

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Yaqoob said the experience mentioned above is just one of many experiences of racism on campus that have left her cautious whenever she sets foot on college grounds.

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“During my four years of undergraduate studies at the University of Regina, I think every year I have faced some form of racism,” she said.

“It was to the point that I was going to class and leaving campus as soon as possible because I wasn’t sure if I had the capacity to cope with what other students might say about me or tell me. , or university staff. “

She says her first experience happened a few weeks after class started when she was only 17.

“A teacher told me that I probably shouldn’t go to a field where I study English because English is not my first language,” she said.

“It is without the teacher knowing that English is in fact what I have learned to learn. If I had taken advantage of this experience and decided not to pursue a career in English, I would not be an English teacher today.

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Global News also spoke to a chemistry student who says he was one of East’s email recipients.

The student, who asked to remain anonymous, said he didn’t cheat on the exam but was more alarmed by the message in the email.

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“I couldn’t help but notice that all 14 of you cheaters have East Indian surnames. None of the Canadian or international students cheated. You must not cheat in Canada. Canadians don’t like cheaters, ”the email said.

The student said receiving the email was demoralizing.

“Hearing this stuff from professors you admire, who are literally in charge of society right now because they are shaping you and cultivating you the next generation, if you hear them saying this stuff, how do you think? you feel a person inside? He asked.

“And all of the students he pointed out weren’t even international students. I may be from another country, but I have been a Canadian citizen for a very long time. It was very hurtful to watch. And in his email he mentioned that he had been a teacher for almost 21 years. You would think he had dealt with students of all ages, races, ethnicities, nationalities, you would think they were a bit more sensitive and accepting.

He also said the incident was not the only time he experienced racism on campus. He says that during his freshman year at school, while living in residence, he encountered a group he described as “football guys” who made “disrespectful gestures” and makes racist sounds stereotyping Middle Eastern people.

“It wasn’t a welcoming spectacle, especially as a first year kid. And in the bathroom, I once saw graffiti that said “too many smelly international students here,” he added.

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He says the incidents made him feel uncomfortable in college and even led him to reconsider the U of R for his future studies after graduating from an undergraduate degree.

“I want to continue my masters afterwards, and after these incidents I don’t think U of R will be my first option,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to be fired. I just want the right steps taken, the proper training given and the person genuinely accepting everyone from different ethnicities, countries and nationalities. “

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Speaking in response to the letter sent by the group of graduate students, President Keshen called the demands “reasonable.”

“I understand where they are coming from on this, and I want to sit down with them and the professors who have been their mentors in this regard and find ways for them to know that we are very responsive and that we take the issues. seriously. that they are raising. This is the only way we can do it, “he said.

“They have the lived experience, they have the authentic voice, they have to tell us what will really matter and what will resonate.”

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When it comes to making anti-racist training mandatory for new recruits, Keshen said, “We are looking at this.”

“This is something we should discuss with our unions. It would be a problem and I think the students understand that. We have the “4 seasons of reconciliation” course. At this time, strongly encouraged. I think it’s something that we should consider as something that everyone should do on campus, something that I should do, ”he added.

“In principle, am I against it? No. In reality, I have to sit down with everyone to see if this can be implemented or not.

As for establishing a third-party structure to report racism and discrimination, Keshen said the respectful University Services office was a resource for students, but added that he was open to establishing something independent.

“I would say someone has to foot the bill for whoever is there. it is a consideration. But I would say once again that we have to welcome any suggestions in this regard that will make a difference for our students who do not feel safe. We need to address these concerns, ”he said.

Regarding the call for the results of investigations to be made public, Keshen said that while the university takes the protection of the privacy of those involved in investigations seriously, those involved should be confident in the appropriate results.

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“What they want to see at the end of the day is that we respond in a meaningful way and have implemented the conclusion of the process that shows that we have taken these issues seriously and that justice has been served. in the response we undertake. “

At this point, no meeting date between Keshen and the group of students has yet been set.

© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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