Conversations on racism
Issues of race and racism were at the forefront last week when over 50 students, members of staff and part time teachers from across the university met to talk about racism on campus. The event which was organised by Lara Choskey, an English PhD was supported by the Race Equality Charter Mark working group. The event was kicked off by five staff panellists who made brief remarks about race and racism at the university bothgenerally and particularly in the wake of Brexit and the American Election result.
Dr. Aditya Sarkerdiscussed racism in liberal democracies and the challenges of using traditional methods of fighting racism in a digital era. Dr.Meleisa Ono-George gave a more personal take on racism within the academy and her experiences of it at different academic institutions.Prof. Pablo Mukherjee talked about the PREVENT agenda and the need to build bridges with communities outside the university as an effective long-term strategy to counter racism. Prof. Gurminder Bhambra talked about the attainment gap and the university’s efforts to tackle racism through the Race Equality Charter Mark. Prof.Stephen Shapirorecommended some books that illustrated the long-term organization and strategies taken by the civil rights movement and gay and lesbian groups to achieve their aims.
There was also time for a roundtable discussion during which staff and students discussed their experiences of racism both within and outside the university. Some of this focused on students feeling that they did not know whom to go to when they encountered racism.Students and staff from BME backgrounds felt that they were not heard or validated in classrooms and in meetings. Attendees also discussed reasons behind the attainment gap and whether serious consideration should be given to ways in which the hourly-paid system for part time tutors contributes to the issue of insufficient academic support for BME students.
There was great enthusiasm for several follow-on ideas, including a blog, a network to bring together students and academics more regularly to discuss race in safe spaces, and a list of BME staff members who are happy to be contacted by students to discuss racism.Some student-led research was proposed on race-related subjects, which would utilize the expertise of the staff who were present, and there were also discussions about how race issues could be woven into the university’s Public Engagement.
The event was a welcome way of sharing experiences and bringing together a cross-section of people from across the university. Members were also reminded that Warwick’s application to the Race and Equality Charter mark illustrates that there is a commitment at the highest levels of the university “to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of minority ethnic staff and students.”
If you would like to join further conversations about racism on campus, please go to