Scholar Strike statement from the College of Arts
The College of Arts acknowledges the significance of the Scholar Strike on September 9th and 10th. This social justice movement originated in the U.S from a tweet by Dr. Anthea Butler who was inspired by striking WNBA and NBA players to call for parallel labour action signaling support from academics, calling for racial justice, an end to anti-Black police violence, as well as an end to anti-Indigenous, colonial violence.
The University of Guelph has stated its commitment to bringing about positive change on campus, in the post-secondary sector and in communities and supports the participation of its members in the strike. As well, the university has begun implementing a plan to address anti-Black racism and discrimination at the U of G and to build a culture of respect and inclusion, now and in the future.
Several faculty members in the College of Arts are participating in the Strike. The hope is to draw attention and create change in collaboration with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) members of our College and our community. In the School of English & Theatre Studies (SETS), faculty members have issued the following statement: The Canadian Scholar Strike… is an opportunity for many in SETS to show support for racial justice, participate in anti-racism work, and learn more about anti-Black police violence and anti-Indigenous colonial violence… Scholars are instrumental in advocating for change and finding solutions to pressing social issues. The Scholar Strike is an invitation for us all to read, watch, and listen to Black and Indigenous literary, artistic, critical, and activist expressions for racial justice.
Canada Research Chair in Ethics and Global Social Change states that she “will join colleagues at universities and colleges across Canada in a strike action to protest police violence against Black and Indigenous people and to demand racial justice in all our social institutions. As a university community, we need to demand that our administration heed BIPOC activists' proposals for how to end the systemic discrimination and violence they continue to endure.”
For more information about the Scholar Strike, go to scholarstrikecanada.ca.