An open letter from Dean Brown regarding Scholar Strike Canada
Dear students, faculty, staff and alumni,
I want to acknowledge the Scholars Strike that is taking place across Canada today and tomorrow. The Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement and empowers faculty and students to participate in this protest in ways that are meaningful and impactful. In his message to the University of Manitoba community, President Benarroch noted that participation in the Scholar Strike can take many forms. He emphasized that:
Participation in this action is voluntary, and the University supports its community members using this time in the way that will benefit them most. Participation can also take many forms. Some in the academic community will choose to directly participate in these two days of reflection and learning, while others will search for different ways to advocate for change, such as in-class exploration, deepened research, or joining online anti-racism sessions.
I encourage everyone to visit the Scholars Strike website to learn about the online program, resources for digital teach-ins, podcasts, documentaries and articles. Some ways of participating include: signing the statement of support, attending the teach-in sessions available online on Sept. 9 and 10 (with students if possible), teaching students about racial injustice and engaging in labour action or advocacy that addresses systemic violence and institutional racism.
While this two-day protest amplifies the goals of the Black Lives Matter Movement, it is important to acknowledge that this work must be ongoing. I hope that all of our engagement with the Scholars Strike will help us identify concrete actions that the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management can take to end systemic racism.
Sincerely,
Dr. Douglas Brown
Dean