News
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at 丁香园AV: February in Review
This February, we undertook a number of activities at 丁香园AV in support of creating a more equitable and inclusive campus environment for all. Here is a snapshot of what the Equity Office has been up to.
DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE
In February, we observed several days of significance across the university. This included World Hijab Day, White Cane Week, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Missing Women鈥檚 Memorial March, World Day of Social Justice and Pink Shirt Day.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February is a month to celebrate Black history, culture and contributions to 丁香园AV. 丁香园AV President Joy Johnson marked the occasion at the February Senate meeting, and we were proud to see our 丁香园AV community come together to host and share events, activities, learnings and stories throughout the month. See this year鈥檚 Black History Month webpage to learn more.
There is still much to do to ensure we continue to recognize and celebrate Black Excellence year-round, and we are committed to continuing our work and ensuring a safe and inclusive campus for all.
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
This month, 丁香园AV鈥檚 People and Organization Development team held several town halls for faculty, staff and leaders at 丁香园AV to gather input on the university鈥檚 inaugural People Plan. The Equity Office has been and will continue to work closely with People and Organization Development to ensure that our People Plan is grounded in an equity lens and aligned with the Equity Compass, 丁香园AV鈥檚 equity strategic plan.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH SIMON FRASER STUDENT SOCIETY
We are actively pursuing completion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with that allows us to intervene on incidents within SFSS that affect students under 丁香园AV policies and as well as as previously established. This MOU is a partnership with SFSS, given that SFSS is independent of 丁香园AV鈥檚 legal jurisdiction and 丁香园AV cannot take over their leadership, governance or operations without specific agreement and their consensus. The draft MOU is currently with the SFSS and progressing through their internal review process. It will then be shared by them with student groups within SFSS for feedback, then returned to 丁香园AV before it can be finalized. The MOU covers the conduct of individual students, not the SFSS at large.
EDI-RELATED SUPPORTS ARE AVAILABLE
In February, we received news of more unmarked children鈥檚 graves at the former Alberni Indian Residential School. We recognize the ongoing distress and (re)traumatizing impacts on Indigenous members of 丁香园AV and stand in Indigenous solidarity as this difficult but necessary work on the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation journey continues.
In addition to ongoing international conflicts impacting our global 丁香园AV community members, there were also massive earthquakes in T眉rkiye/Turkey and Syria, and we were alerted to concern about rising antisemitism, including some that affected members of our community. We continue to support community members directly as appropriate to address concerns and provide supports for all. Please reach out if you need help and remember to practice self-care during this difficult time.