{"id":13052,"date":"2021-05-10T17:41:48","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T21:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/president\/?p=13052"},"modified":"2022-02-14T13:02:05","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T18:02:05","slug":"a-message-from-yorks-senior-administration-about-our-commitment-to-combat-racism-and-strengthen-equity-and-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/president\/2021\/05\/10\/a-message-from-yorks-senior-administration-about-our-commitment-to-combat-racism-and-strengthen-equity-and-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"A message from York\u2019s senior administration about our commitment to combat racism, and strengthen equity and inclusion | Message de la haute direction de York quant \u00e0 son engagement pour combattre le racisme et renforcer l\u2019\u00e9quit\u00e9 et l\u2019inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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La version fran\u00e7aise suit la version anglaise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear York community,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All members of our community must be able to enjoy a safe environment for work and study, free of violence, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While 快播视频 considers paramount its obligations to maintain the privacy surrounding personnel matters, and carefully follows the collective agreement processes designed to ensure fairness, we find ourselves in a situation where harmful innuendo and inaccuracies about a specific case, involving multiple colleagues, are being shared widely on social media and beyond. We therefore feel it is important to clearly state that the University administration has taken great care to respect the due process rights of all those involved in the case in question and is fully seized of the need to respect their privacy and to provide a safe workplace, free of harassment and discrimination, to all of our employees.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent stories shared online by many without the benefit of the full set of facts, and by many who are not subject to the same confidentiality constraints, are understandably a cause of concern, especially regarding the potential for additional trauma. Statements attributed to senior members of the University are simply inaccurate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University senior administration recognizes that criticism is an essential part of a healthy society, and that faculty members are fully entitled to criticize and call for changes to the University itself, its policies, practices, and norms. We believe that debate, disagreement, and open dialogue help us make needed change in systems and institutions \u2013 and society \u2013 where racism and discrimination have long been structural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would like to provide an update on some of the important actions being taken at York to combat racism in all its forms. We acknowledge that to dismantle the deeply ingrained structures of power and privilege that have long allowed racism to thrive, we require a strong, accountable, and action-oriented way forward. We also acknowledge the hard work done by many racialized people, including Black and Indigenous peoples, who have carried the burden of progressive change in public institutions for too long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

York\u2019s first VP of Equity, People, and Culture was appointed in July 2019 and has moved forward with important work in consultation with members of our community to further advance equity and inclusion. This new role was created to shape how the institution supports all community members, especially those who are traditionally underrepresented. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to extensive work underway across all of the University\u2019s Divisions and 11 Faculties, we want to highlight new and existing initiatives that reflect our collective commitment to strengthen and advance equity and inclusion at York, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n