What’s New for November 2016

Unfiltered: Truth Talks

UNFILTERED is a space for students, facilitated by students, to openly discuss race, culture, creed and their intersections.

UTM

Theme: Privilege on Campus
With partnership support from the UTM Equity & Diversity Office
This discussion will unpack privilege in its various manifestations inside and outside the classroom. We will attempt to answer questions like who has power in the campus community and who has the privilege to confront that power? Is privilege visible and if so, is there variation in this visibility? We will explore how privilege impacts those who have it and those who do not; and how privilege can be used to benefit marginalized groups.

Thursday November 10, 2016
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: UTM, 3359 Mississauga Road, Davis Building, Room 2122A.
Free Food!

UTSC

Theme: Safety Should Not Be A Privilege
With partnership support from the UTSC Student Life and the UTSC Equity and Diversity Office
This discussion will unpack issues of students feeling safe in classrooms to express themselves verbally as well as safety outside the classroom. We will attempt to explore the meaning of safe space in a campus setting and how safe space is fostered.

Thursday November 24, 2016
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Ralph Campbell Lounge, Bladen Wing (BV380)
Free Food!

The Cultural Club Network

For student executive members of recognized student clubs at U of T.

Do you hold a leadership position in a Cultural Club at U of T?

Are you looking for an opportunity to network with other clubs?

The Cultural Club Network (CCN) is organized by the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office and will meet once per semester. Student leaders will have the opportunity to connect with a broad diversity of cultural clubs within the University while learning from and with one another, networking, collaborating and engaging in facilitated skills development.

The CCN aims to establish relationships and collaborations between cultural clubs across the University. The topic of this semester’s CCN workshop and networking event is “Thinking About and Creating Accessible Spaces”. A presentation will be provided by Students for Barrier FreeAccess (SBA), a non-profit U of T organization that advocates for equity, access, and the rights of disabled students and the greater disability community. We will also have a guest from the University’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Office. SBA and AODA will offer helpful insight and advice on how student leaders can make their clubs more accessible. It will also encourage club executive members to think about how ability can impact students experiences based on their multiple identities (for example disability and race) and therefore how they can be accommodating to students with all disabilities whether they are visible or non-visible.

This event is for student leaders. If you would like members of your executive to attend this training and networking opportunity please RSVP to the Eventbrite with your club name and the number of execs that will be attending. If you would like to attend and need accommodation please email antiracism@utoronto.ca.

Tuesday November 15, 2016
Time and Location: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Multi-Faith Centre, 569 Spadina Avenue, Main Activity Hall
Free Food!

Connections and Conversations

Connections and Conversations is an affinity group for racialized staff at the University of Toronto and their supporters. The staff-driven initiative offers discussions and a support network for racialized staff to flourish at U of T. The focus is to create an open and empowering environment for racialized staff to celebrate their accomplishments and contribute their unique ideas and talents to the University through networking, mentoring and other activities. Local chapters were created on all three campuses – earlier this year.

LOCAL CHAPTER MEETINGS:

St. George Campus:

The next local chapter meeting is scheduled on November 2, 2016 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm at Woodsworth College, 119 St. George Street, in Room 119.

Erin Jackson, Executive Director, Integrated HR (iHR) will discuss what is currently happening within the Human Resources portfolio in the area of equity and diversity such as the new Employment Equity Survey, upcoming anti-discrimination and anti-bias training, and work within strategic recruitment.

BYOL (Bring your own lunch).

RSVP to e-mail: connectionsandconversations@utoronto.ca.

Student Accommodations for National Day of Action – November 2, 2016

Students will participate in The National Day of Action on November 2, 2016. Amongst other objectives seeks to persuade the province to increase per-student funding.

At U of T student governments have requested that instructors accommodate students who are unable to meet their academic obligations on November 2nd as a result of their participation in the day of action. Read the full memorandum:
Student Accommodations for National Day of Action – November 2, 2016.

November 2nd – 9th is Holocaust Education Week (HEW)

The 36th annual Holocaust Education Week, presented by the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. Through the theme the Future of Memory, HEW 2016 will explore how future generations will perpetuate and innovate in the field of Holocaust education and remembrance. Neuberger HEW will provide students and young people with opportunities to hear firsthand testimony from Holocaust survivor speakers. There are a series of events taking place here at the University of Toronto in association with HEW 2016. Following is a list of some of the events taking place at U of T:

November 3, 7:00 pm, New College, 40 Willcocks Street, William Doo Auditorium: The Power of Memoir and Storytelling: How do we Teach Others about the Pain of the Past of the Past? Explore two distinct narratives that examine loss, trauma and the use of memoir in the journey toward healing.

November 7, 4:00 pm, Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies, Jackman Hall, 170 St. George Street, Room 100: The Future of Holocaust Memory. The Neuberger’s panel of distinguished experts will discuss the potential opportunities and challenges facing the future of Holocaust testimony.

November 7, 7:00 pm, George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire Place: Helping the Jews in German-occupied Poland. Aid to the Jewish people is one of the most important and discussed topics of the history of the German occupation of Poland during the Second World War. A panel discussion with five outstanding specialists in the field will explore the contested. Further information, please contact the Centre for Jewish Studies (e-mail: cjs.events@utoronto.ca; tel: 416-978-1684).

November 8, 6:30 pm, New College, 45 Willcocks Street, William Doo Auditorium: Unheard Voices from the Asia-Pacific War. Youth will share how they carry the responsibility of remembrance through oral history projects and digital archive initiatives. The future of the Asia-Pacific War memories lies with their engagement. Books will be available for purchase and author signing following the program.

November 9, 3:00 pm, The Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility, Munk School for Global Affairs, 1 Devonshire Place: Community Safety, Insecurity, and Radicalization: Holocaust Memory and Education in the 21st Century. A panel discussion focusing on issues of antisemitism and community safety in Europe. Concern over Jewish community safety continues to be prominent, including apprehension over Holocaust denial and trivialization. Registration required.

November 9, 4:00 pm, OISE, Peach Lounge, 7th Floor, 252 Bloor Street West: Traumatic Memory, Narrative and Identity – Pathways to Understanding. This session will explore how dialogue enhances present and future understanding by increasing knowledge and acceptance of experiences and memory of the historical other.

Decolonizing Conference: Race, Anti-Racism and Indigeneity: Anti-Colonial Resurgence and Decolonial Resistance – November 3rd – 5th

Register for the Decolonizing Conference: Race, Anti-Racism and Indigeneity: Anti-Colonial Resurgence and Decolonial Resistance taking place from November 3rd – 5th at OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), 252 Bloor Street W. To view the program brochure or to register for workshops, please visit the following URL: http://www.decolonizingconference.com/.

Ulead Anti-Racism Training Open to All Students!

DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS: OPENING MINDS AND SPACES

Presenter: Sandra Carnegie-Douglas, Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Officer

What is anti-racism? How can you, as a student leader, help advance anti-racism through your club and events? Participants in this session will build on basic understandings of race and racism and discuss key strategies for creating safer and more inclusive spaces for dialogue. How do we work through and across differences? How can we challenge each other in constructive ways that support a common goal? How do we anticipate and recognize the signs of exclusion? Join us as we explore these questions and more.

Learning Outcomes

Identify some of the challenges from current and past semesters that have led to conflict and exclusion within the group.
Review individual and club goals, as it pertains to advancing anti-racism and creating more inclusive spaces going forward.
Explore anti-racist strategies for inclusion.

Wednesday November 23, 2016
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College Street, Room 313

Cyber Aggression Focus Groups: Looking for students to participate

Since February, Student Life, University of Toronto has collaborated with the Faculty of Social Work on a cyber-bullying research project. Cyber-aggression refers to intentional harm delivered by the use of electronic means to an individual person or a group of people of any age, who perceive(s) such acts as offensive, derogatory, harmful or unwanted. Examples include when someone shares your personal photos without your consent or when someone publicly posts rude/negative comments about you on social media.

We want to learn about your experiences online with social media – face to face! We are hosting focus groups across the university and would love to have your participation.
http://ca.studentvoice.com/uot/cyberaffressionfocusgroups16

If you have any questions or want to learn more, please e-mail: jeff.burrow@utoronto.ca.

More Events

(If you wish to request that your event be included in our monthly newsletter, please submit requests to antiracism@utoronto.ca at least one week prior to the beginning of the new month.)

November 1, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Centre for Women and Trans People, North Borden Building, 563 Spadina Avenue, Room 100: Resisting Oppression and Reclaiming Spirituality. ROARS is a student-led peer support group that provides a safe(r) space for self-identified women, trans, two-spirited, and gender non-binary/non-conforming people to discuss, critically analyze, and take action on issues of sexism, misogyny, racism, transphobia, homophobia, biphobia, xenophobia, ageism, ableism, classism, White supremacy, colonialism, and settler colonialism, in relation to our lived experiences within religious institutions and spiritual journeys. This is a space to examine the impact of oppressive -isms and reclaim your own spirituality. ROARS is a collaborative initiative between the Multi-Faith Centre for Spiritual Study & Practice and the Centre for Women & Trans People at the University of Toronto.

November 3, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Willcocks Commons, 5 Willcocks Street: Mac ‘N Cheese Smackdown 2016. Food Services will be hosting their 5th Annual Mac ‘N Cheese Smackdown. Try every dish from six campus chefs for $5. Vote for your favourite cheesy dish and one chef will walk away with the title of 2016 Mac ‘N Cheese Champion.

November 4, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (SGDO), 21 Sussex Avenue, Room 421 (Lounge): Gender Talk: Accessing Resources. Gender Talk is a monthly discussion group for trans+ members of U of T. All members of U of T who identify as trans, transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, or who are questioning their gender identity are welcome to come meet with other member of U of T and talk about topics that matter to you. The theme “Accessing Resources” explores: What resources and information have helped you recently with exploring your personal identities? How did you come across these resources? What are resources you are still trying to find?.

November 9, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Room 701, South Ross:
EU Policing of Minorities and the Refugee Situation. Dr. Joachim Kersten presents on the findings of resent EU research on police and minorities. It will put special emphasis on the 2015-2016 ‘refugee crisis’ in the EU and Germany, in particular the New Year’s Eve attacks in Cologne and the ‘climate change’ caused by these incidents. All are welcome. Further information, please contact Lori Wells (tel: 416-978-3722 x226; e-mail:lori.wells@utoronto.ca).

November 15, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Centre for Women and Trans People, North Borden Building, 563 Spadina Avenue, Room 100: Resisting Oppression and Reclaiming Spirituality. ROARS is a student-led peer support group that provides a safe(r) space for self-identified women, trans, two-spirited, and gender non-binary/non-conforming people to discuss, critically analyze, and take action on issues of sexism, misogyny, racism, transphobia, homophobia, biphobia, xenophobia, ageism, ableism, classism, White supremacy, colonialism, and settler colonialism, in relation to our lived experiences within religious institutions and spiritual journeys. This is a space to examine the impact of oppressive -isms and reclaim your own spirituality. ROARS is a collaborative initiative between the Multi-Faith Centre for Spiritual Study & Practice and the Centre for Women & Trans People at the University of Toronto.

November 16, 6:00 pm, UTSC, 1265 Military Trail, Social Sciences Building – MW, Room MW130: Film Screening and Discussion of “The Pass System”. From the Northwest Resistance of 1885 and for over 60 years, the Canadian Government denied many Indigenous peoples of the prairies the basic freedom to leave their reserves, all the while knowing there was no basis in law for the policy. This investigative documentary features Cree, Saulteaux, Dene, Ojibwe, and Blackfoot Elders and their stories of living under and resisting the system, revealing a little-known picture of life under segregation in Canada. Traditional teacher Lee Maracle and the director of the film Alex Williams will be on campus to facilitate the discussion of the film. Free admission and refreshments. This event is organized by SOS (Students of Sociology at UTSC); UTSC Equity & Diversity Office; and the Department of Sociology, UTSC.

November 29, 11:45 am – 2:00 pm, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, Great Hall: 5 Buck Lunch at Hart House. The $5 lunch for students ($7 for non-students) at Hart House offers a tasty and balanced meal. Experience the flavours and cultures of the world. Whether you like sweet or savoury, comfort fare or spicy dishes, there is something for all taste buds. Everyone that attends a 5-buck lunch will go home with a copy of all of the recipes used for their lunch and directions to recreate the meal at home. All of the recipes will be easy, budget friendly and delicious.