Student AffairsThe murders in Atlanta and the subsequent lack of accurate media coverage and public intervention underlines the active nature of white supremacy in our communities. These headlines have reignited conversations and needs for direct support of Asian students at Queen’s. It is gravely important to call such events what they are – overt anti-Asian racism – and to be clear that such bigoted conduct should not be tolerated anywhere – not here in Canada, not in Kingston, and certainly not here at Queen’s. Hate crimes and violence against the Asian diaspora have been on the rise during COVID. They must be acknowledged as systemic in nature to create the longstanding change required to enable health, safety, freedom and wellbeing for all. These statements may be read as obvious to some, while others have felt the pain of silence within their networks to acknowledge these truths. If even one person on this campus feels invisible or alone right now in the face of silence that is one person too many. For this reason alone, this must be written. Statements are not a solution but are an important start to active dialogue.
Community building, collective healing and solidarity for BIPoC students, faculty and staff
The recent murders in Atlanta also underline longstanding systems of oppression impacting Black, Indigenous and all racialized people – notably, this month marks the trial for Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd. In Canada, there is ongoing inquiry into systemic racism embedded within RCMP policing of Indigenous communities involving the family of murdered Indigenous youth Colten Boushie well as an investigation into the 2020 death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, the Afro-Indigenous woman who fell from her High Park apartment in the presence of police - amidst what reads as blatant and obvious systemic racism throughout history. The onus on BIPoC communities to bring attention to these issues within oppressive structures that are not built to serve us persists as an unfathomable reality. This work is hard and it creates a brutal tax on the wellbeing of those engaging in and affected by it.
The list of stressors impacting BIPoC communities can unfortunately go on and continues to grow exponentially every day. We also know that as this list grows, so do the names of individuals and groups who are working hard to create meaningful systemic change. The list of people who persist despite the myriad of distractions to their academic, professional and social lives. The list of people who try every day to support themselves and their peers during challenging times while making sense of the overt and subtle ways oppression shows up in their own daily lives. I am very grateful to be able to work with many students, staff and faculty at this University who are engaged in this challenging and important work.
At the Yellow House, I want to enhance opportunities for BIPoC students to build community and to explore their collective strength. This is a challenging and precarious time amidst final exams and projects, but I believe we owe it to BIPoC communities at Queen’s to offer support, collegiately, friendship and encouragement to get through it. Click here for a working list of immediate resources and events being led by students and teams across the University. For longer-term planning please email me if you have ideas or want to collaborate with us. I am eager to work with others to move forward collectively towards change. Students are faced with a lot right now, and I take the responsibility of engaging, supporting, uplifting their ideas very seriously.
With hope and sincerity, Deanna.