Research Projects that Focus on Racial Equity In Higher Education
Many Canadians will question why research projects focussing on higher education matter. After all, for far too many in our society, universities remain an ivory tower institution, out of touch with the needs of most. In many ways, we agree, and that is why universities need to change.
Equity of employment for racial minorities is foundational in making higher education more accessible and relevant to Canadian society. Privilege based on race only undermines the expected positive outcomes that stem from taxpayer money and student fees.
The idea of White privilege is a social ill marketed by Canadian universities for student consumption, yet this public space remains overwhelmingly White. Our research aims to do what universities are unwilling to do beyond words designed to pacify.
Our aim is to reveal the reality of systemic racism in higher education, so that we can start to foster a better academic environment that serves all Canadians.
Below are the initial research projects we are developing. If these ideas correspond with your own interests, please feel free to contact us.
Research and Creative Project Objectives:
1) Create an “early stage” checklist for victims of systemic racism;
2) Understand how racial differences in Academic Mobbing situations are utilized in attacking the BIPOC academic (racial stereotypes);
3) Chronicle experiences of BIPOC academics and systemic racism to build a collective voice and alleviate feelings of isolation and depression through community;
4) Reveal typical tactics of faculty and administration in creating trigger points of stress in victims of systemic racism to justify reprimand, suspension or termination;
5) Build a ranking system of Canadian Universities that are most accountable and transparent about addressing systemic racism, and:
6) As a completely creative output, develop a satiric “how to” book for administrators on “enacting systemic racism and getting away with it”. There are far too many similarities in how universities respond to complaints of systemic racism, and we believe it is time to put forward the typical tactics in a manner that can be discussed through humour to take control away from the perpetrators. We are also in development of a BIPOCAC podcast, that we hope will bring attention to a phenomenon that is both widespread, yet leaves the target with deep and damaging feelings of isolation.