Ryerson releases Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report
The university released its Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report, outlining the experiences of Black students, faculty and staff on campus. Photo: NESA by Makers via Unsplash.
On July 17, more than 700 Ryerson community members tuned in to learn how the university will be confronting anti-Black racism to ensure Black students, faculty and staff feel welcomed, valued, seen and heard on campus.
The university hosted a virtual event, in honour of Nelson Mandela International Day, releasing the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report. The review highlights the real-life experiences of Black students, faculty and staff with anti-Black racism at Ryerson and lists a variety of recommendations put forth by each participating group.
The full report can be found on the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion’s newly relaunched website and a recording of the virtual event is online for those who missed it.
New committee formed
During the event, President Mohamed Lachemi announced the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism, which has been tasked with addressing the recommendations included in the report. The committee will be co-chaired by Denise O’Neil Green, vice-president, equity and community inclusion; Deborah Brown, vice-president, administration and operations; and Anver Saloojee, assistant vice-president, international.
The committee will be responsible for working with the university community in a collective effort to make each recommendation a reality.
More details and next steps for implementation to confront anti-Black racism will be released in the fall.
A work in progress
In 2010, the Taskforce on Anti-Racism at Ryerson University released a report that examined systemic racism on campus. The report culminated with 59 sub-recommendations to address the systemic issues and barriers outlined in the report. 52 have been put into action, either fully completed or in progress, with adaptations from original recommendations.
A few years later, the student group Black Liberation Collective–Ryerson raised concerns regarding the prevalence of anti-Black racism on campus. In response to these concerns and as the 10th anniversary of the report approached, Ryerson embarked on the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review in 2019 to better understand the realities Black students, faculty and staff face in order to create an environment where they can thrive both academically and personally while at Ryerson University.
While Ryerson is considered a leader in equity, diversity and inclusion among universities, it’s recognized that more work is to be done in improving the overall campus climate. This review and the new implementation committee are the next steps in Ryerson accepting its responsibility to combat these inequities and create a genuine culture of inclusion on campus.
Visit the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion website to read the full report.
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