The QMUCU Anti-Racism Working Group (ARWG) was formed in 2020 to focus attention on institutional racism at Queen Mary University of London, but also to address questions of equality and diversity within the Union itself. The ARWG builds on a series of conversations jointly hosted by QMUCU and QM Unison in 2019, which invited Black, Asian, Global Majority and People of Colour to discuss their experiences of racism in the university. 2019 was the same year that Sandra Brown, QMUL’s own Diversity and Inclusion Manager, resigned from her post, criticising the university for its “tick box mentality”, culture of bullying and the absence of dedicated support for staff and students. The ARWG is committed to holding the university to account and to organising spaces for critique, solidarity and anti-racist action. It supports the QMUCU Branch Committee in equalities, diversity and inclusion work; coordinates campaigns, workshops and training with and for QMUCU members; and is currently devoting its energies around building community accountability for racial justice, developing a programme authored by the UCU Black Members’ Standing Committee. 

If you would like to get involved, please contact: qmucuarwg@gmail.com. The ARWG typically coordinates via WhatsApp and hosts planning meetings (currently over Zoom) 2-3 times per semester, with at least one public event/workshop per semester. The group is highly flexible in terms of time commitments, and even occasional contributions are welcome and encouraged.