EDII and the Changing Academic Mission of Universities—a personal reflection

In our most recent blog post, Dr. Fahim Quadir, Dean and Vice-Provost of Graduate Studies and Professor of Global Development Studies, reflects on the crucial role universities have to play in building a more equitable future after COVID-19

A recent discussion at a meeting with my colleagues in the School of Graduate Studies somewhat unexpectedly provided the context for my deep reflection on the topic of EDII. Are the normative principles of EDII at odds with academic excellence? What is EDII all about? Is this primarily a matter of representation?

I find the current general interest in and support for equity, diversity, inclusivity and Indigenization to be enormously exciting. The debates are intense, engaging, and truly thought-provoking. In most cases, they are no longer about paying lip service to cultivating the civic commons. Nor are they about promoting a political rhetoric without substance. Continue Reading »

The Language of Anti-Asian Racism

Photo from cnn.com

Our March blog post was written by Jenny Lee Northey, Career Counsellor. In this piece, she talks about the importance of language when doing anti-racist work

As we mark the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of a global pandemic, we have witnessed how the pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated all types of longstanding inequities in our society. In the early months of 2020 as the novel coronavirus spread, overt discrimination and acts of racism towards Asian communities spiked as people associated COVID-19 with people of Asian descent. There was heightened fear and anxiety, not only with the uncertainty of the coronavirus itself, but of the growing anti-Asian sentiment.

As the pandemic continues, we have seen anti-Asian racism and hate crimes continue to persist. There has been heightened media coverage of recent violent and fatal attacks on people of Asian descent, Continue Reading »

Canadian Disability Benefit – A historic opportunity to end poverty for persons with disabilities

In her February piece, Heather Aldersey, Associate Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Disability Inclusive Development, talks about how COVID-19 has impacted Canadians with disabilities disproportionately and offers an avenue to reduce inequity for persons with disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted for us the deep societal inequities facing particular segments of our society. Equity-deserving groups saw the disadvantages that they already experience further exasperated. When speaking about the challenges that families with members with disabilities face, a parent researcher with whom I work expressed: “the faucet was leaky in the best of times, and the pandemic just turned a drip into a deluge”.

The Canadian government’s 2020 speech from the throne also recognized that for those in Canada already struggling, the pandemic has made the burden heavier. Specifically, the Canadian government noted that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Canadians with disabilities, Continue Reading »

Hope for the New Year

The first blog post of the year is written by Lavonne Hood, Queen’s University Ombudsperson. In her piece, Lavonne reflects on the impacts of 2020 and shares her hopes for 2021

As the seconds ticked down to midnight on December 31st, there was the usual sense of excitement and celebration for the new year. But this time felt a bit different. When 2021 arrived, it felt as if we took a collective sigh of relief after finally turning the page on the last year.

2020 was a year that few could have predicted, and one we won’t soon forget. From social justice issues regarding police brutality against Black and Indigenous people to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 was full of challenges. Yet through it all, what it taught us was the ability of the human spirit to adapt to change and reminded us of our resiliency. Continue Reading »

The Intersectional d-20

For December, Yara Hussein, Queen’s student currently completing her second year as a biochemistry major with a minor in global development, shares with us the unique perspective that the intersection of her identities has awarded her

d-20: a dice used in the game of Dungeons and Dragons and is unique due to its 20-sided nature rather than the traditional 6-sided dice. Used to depict the multiple social identities of people. Note: one can have more or less than 20 sides to their own d-20.

Intersectionality: a framework that conceptualizes a person, group of people, or social problems as affected by a number of discriminations and disadvantages. It takes into account an individual’s identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face (Crenshaw, 1989).

The d-20 as The Person

Growing up in the west, I’ve had many unique experiences that have shaped my growth and my vision of the world. Continue Reading »

Think not forever of yourself

In this blog piece, Ann Deer, Indigenous Recruitment & Support Coordinator for the Smith Commerce program and the Faculty of Law, shares her story and invites us to think about the importance of building community

Think not forever of yourself, O Chiefs,

nor of your generation.

Think of continuing generations of our families,

think of our grandchildren

and of those yet unborn,

whose faces are coming from beneath the ground.

Words spoke by the Peacemaker founder of the Iroquois Confederacy, circa 1000 A.D.

Wisdomkeepers, 1990

When asked what my job is? I say my title has recruitment and support in it. Continue Reading »

Together We Are

Your place for conversations on equity, diversity and inclusion at Queen's University