Update from the QMUCU anti-racist working group:
We are writing to inform you of ongoing representations on tackling racism at QMUL, and to invite you to a workshop organised by QMUCU anti-racism working group, on Friday Nov 13, 1.30pm-3pm. Recent representations join with other QMUL colleagues dedicated to equality and anti-racist work to call on QMUL to publish their Inclusion Report complete with ALL appendices and staff testimony about experiences of bullying and harassment.
1. Call on QMUL management to publish the Inclusion Report 2020 IN FULL.
This week, after persistent efforts by QMUCU reps to persuade QMUL management to share the findings of its recent Inclusion Report with all colleagues, we wrote to the relevant VPs once more requesting that the report be released IN FULL, without redactions.
You can read our letter by downloading it here:
We are deeply concerned at the gap between senior management’s rhetorical commitment to an inclusive university and the lived everyday reality of exclusion for QMUL staff and students. In order to make an inclusive university a reality, management need to show that they are actually engaging in anti-racist action. This is even more imperative given the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of colour. Instead our requests for open acknowledgement of the problems, in order that we all can come up with some realistic solutions, continue to be met with evasion.
We ask QMUCU members to raise these issues in any university forum available to you, and to demand that anti-racist action is taken, including through the full publication of the Inclusion Report (2020).
2. Save the date – 13 November, 1.30-3pm: Anti-Racist Training and Workshop
In order to better mobilise against these examples of institutional racism within Queen Mary, and UK Higher Education more generally, we are developing a series of trainings on how to build anti-racist spaces, communities and systems, within the union, itself.
The first of these trainings will be led by Professor Gargi Bhattacharyya, Dr Akanksha Mehta, and Christopher Nicholas (UCU Equality support official for race, religion or belief) and will take place on Friday 13 November 1.30-3pm. The training, which will be held online, is open to all QMUCU Members. We will share additional details as well as the link, closer to the date.
If you would like to join QMUCU’s anti racism working group, or would be interested in collaborating on anti-racism work please contact h.dee@qmul.ac.uk and we will get in touch.
qmucu.org 