Human Rights Office: Anti-Racism

Anti-Racism

Racism and Race Examples of racism include, but are not limited to: What You Can Do... Be aware of your actions and their effects Be pro-active Where to go for help

Race and Racism
Queen's University believes in the necessity of providing safeguards for its members against all forms of impermissible discrimination, including racism and racial harassment. By racism we mean the negative valuing and discriminatory treatment of individuals and groups on the basis of their race; which is used to include all race-related grounds: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship and creed. Racism can be manifested in both personal attacks and insults,and in the structure of social institutions. This has been described as the distinction between personal racism, i.e. insults, harassment and discrimination directed at individuals, and institutional or systemic racism, i.e. the conventional practices or structures of institutions which has the effect of excluding, or discriminating against individuals or groups.

Up to Menu

Examples of racism include, but are not limited to:

1. interpersonal behaviors such as name calling, derogatory remarks, gestures and physical attacks.
2. racial bias in academic decisions such as grading, marking, scheduling of academic activities and decisions related to curricular offerings.
3. racial bias in administrative decisions, tenure, promotion, appointment, leave, salary increases.
4. stereotyping language: the use of language which universalizes experience and ignores the differences between people and cultures.
5. discriminatory language: the use of language which has offensive overtones including adjectives such as "black" to convey negative values and "white" for positive ones.

Up to Menu

What You Can Do...

• If you are physically threatened you should call Campus Security at 533-6111 or the police at 911 or 549-4660.
• If something makes you feel uncomfortable, it's something worth discussing. Call a friend, a counsellor of the Anti-Racism Co-ordinator.
• Keep a written record of all incidents: including the dates, times, locations and witnesses.
• If you are a member of a union, you may wish to contact a union representative.
• Contact the Human Rights Office. The Anti-Racism Co-ordinator is available to assist you with your concerns, informally or formally
• Consulting with the Co-ordinator does not mean that you are lodging a complaint.
• Any reprisal for consulting the Office or the Anti-Racism Co-ordinator, or for pursuing a complaint in itself constitutes harassment.

Up to Menu

Be aware of your actions and their effects

The effect of certain actions can constitute racism, even in the absence of intent. In other words, racism may be intentional or unintentional.

Up to Menu

Be pro-active
Anti-Racism means to:

• be sensitive to other's feelings
• actively listen to what others are saying
• educate yourself about an issue before approaching it
• resolve situations cooperatively; defensiveness prevents understanding.

Up to Menu

Where to go for help
The Anti-Racism Co-ordinator can provide you with advice and support, or can refer you to other available services.
The Co-ordinator is able to assist with informal procedures, formal complaints and with training and educational workshops.
Confidentiality will be maintained.

For further information, contact:

HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE BUREAU DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE Old Medical Building Queen's University Kingston, Ontario   K7L 3N6 Telephone:  (613)533-6886 Fax:  (613)533-6576 TDD:  (613)533-2755

Up to Menu

Human Rights Office Main Page
General Information | Policy & Procedure | Anti-Racism | Sexual Harassment
Sexual & Gender Diversity | Stop It Program | Positive Space Program
Transgender/Transsexual Policy Group | The End to Hate Project
Important Faith Dates | Dear Jen | Human Rights Initiative Award