Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review
In 2010, the Taskforce on Anti-Racism at Ryerson University released a PDF filereport that examined systemic racial issues and barriers on campus. A few years later, the student group Black Liberation Collective–Ryerson, raised new concerns regarding the prevalence of anti-Black racism on campus.
In response to these concerns and as the tenth anniversary of that report approached, the university embarked on the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review in 2019. Anyone from the Ryerson community who self-identifies as a Black person was invited to participate.
Ryerson would like to thank the Black students, faculty and staff who shared their personal experiences with us as well as the changes they would like to see on campus.
Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report
Ryerson released the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report on July 17, 2020 during an online event in honour of Nelson Mandela International Day (July 18).
The report highlights the real-life experiences of Black students, faculty and staff to foster a greater understanding of the realities they experience with anti-Black racism in a Canadian post-secondary institution.
The findings were gathered from focus groups in which over 60 Black-identified students, staff and faculty were interviewed. The 14 recommendations outlined make clear what needs to be accomplished in order to create a campus environment:
- where everyone feels they belong;
- that is reflective of our school’s entire population; and
- where people feel welcomed, valued, seen and heard.
Download the PDF fileAnti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review Report.
Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism
In tandem with the release of the report, the Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism was announced and tasked with addressing the recommendations included in the report.
The committee will be co-chaired by:
- Dr. Denise O’Neil Green, Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion
- Deborah Brown, Vice-President, Administration and Operations
- Dr. Jennifer S. Simpson, Provost and Vice-President, Academic
For students
- The Centre for Student Development and Counselling, opens in new window
- Brave Space Discussions for Black-Identified Students, opens in new window hosted by Student Affairs
- We Heal Together: A Monthly Support Group for Black identified Ryerson student, opens in new window hosted by Consent Comes First
- Tri-Mentoring Program, opens in new window
For faculty and staff
For students, faculty and staff
Human Rights Services, opens in new window is available to offer support, coaching and provide you with information so you understand what options are available to you as it relates to human rights concerns. If you choose to file a complaint, we can guide you through the process.
Black-identified students were asked to participate in sessions led by Dr. Walcott, lead facilitator for Ryerson’s Anti-Black Racism Climate Review. There were a total of:
- five sessions for students
- five sessions for Ryerson Faculty Association members
- three sessions for CUPE Local 3904, Unit 2 members
- six sessions for staff
Participants also had the option of setting up one-to-one interviews.
About Dr. Walcott
Dr. Walcott is the director of the Women and Gender Studies Institute in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as well as a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Walcott is also a member of the graduate program in Cinema Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. Recognized as an international expert, his teaching and research is in the area of Black diaspora cultural studies and postcolonial studies with an emphasis on questions of sexuality, gender, nation, citizenship and multiculturalism.
Questions?
If you have any questions or require additional information about the Anti-Black Racism Climate Review, please email abr.review@ryerson.ca.