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Calgary academics to take part in national, anti-racism strike with universities' support

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The University of Calgary and Mount Royal University have expressed support for professors taking part in a national, anti-racism strike over the next two days.

Inspired by strikes by professional sports athletes to promote anti-racism, scholars across North America have arranged similar action. The Scholar Strike in Canada runs from Sept. 9 to 10 and is a public call for racial justice, an end to anti-Black police violence and adds a specific focus on anti-Indigenous, colonial violence.

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“Universities are at the heart of strong societies,” Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor of the U of C, said in a statement online.

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“One of the key roles of a university is to have difficult conversations and fearlessly tackle big issues for the betterment of all. Research is not done in a vacuum and learning is in service of change. Teaching, learning and a commitment to act have always been tied.”

Scholar Strike Canada will host a lineup of speakers during the virtual strike in a YouTube series that is available for anyone to view. The series is meant to offer academics a space to speak about their experience, research and knowledge of Canada’s systemic racism.

The dates for the strike were chosen for their proximity to Labour Day and the fact many of Canada’s post-secondary institutions begin classes this week.

An online statement states that signatories to the Scholar Strike will commit to actively ending all forms of racism and systemic forms of violence. This includes demanding to defund police and redistribute funds to Black, Indigenous, racialized, queer and trans communities, demanding campus police are removed, addressing historic and under-representation of Black and Indigenous faculty, and committing to meaningfully recruit, admit, retain and mentor Black, Indigenous and racialized students, among other things.

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The statement has been digitally signed by five MRU faculty members, and 24 U of C faculty members and students.

McCauley said the U of C “strongly condemns” racism in all forms.

The U of C is scheduling a series of conversations and workshops on the topic of anti-racism. The university also has a stronger action plan under development by their vice-provost of equity, diversity and inclusion, and vice-provost of Indigenous engagement.

“We encourage active participation in these conversations. We all have a role to play,” said McCauley.

In a similar statement, MRU interim provost and vice-president academic Dr. Elizabeth Evans said the university “condemns racism against those who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC).”

“MRU fully supports these days of action and acknowledges that members of the MRU community may want to use this time to engage with colleagues, peers and classmates in broad dialogue and reflection,” said Evans.

MRU has also established the President’s Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, comprising students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. The committee is mandated to “guide the campus community in ways to take meaningful action.”

“History has proven academia has a key role in advocating for a just society. Supporting this strike is just one thing we can do to help bring about necessary and overdue change,” said Evans.

sbabych@postmedia.com

Twitter: @BabychStephanie

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