Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario releases Report of the Task Force on
Campus Racism

TORONTO, March 22 /CNW/ - The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario has released the Final Report of the Task Force on Campus Racism at York University. The Task Force investigated racism on college and university campuses across Ontario through 17 public campus hearings and individual submissions in 2009. The Report includes testimonials from racialised students, staff and faculty, and outlines recommendations to address systemic racism within Ontario's post-secondary education institutions.

"The Final Report from the Task Force on Campus Racism highlights the many ways in which racism is present at Ontario's college and university campuses," said Hamid Osman, National Executive Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "The Task Force has shown that racism is not isolated to one campus and that structures that perpetuate racism and create barriers must be removed."

The report collected information from students, faculty and staff about their experiences of acute and structural racism on Ontario's campuses. It tracked this through students' involvement in on-campus events, problems students have had with exclusionary course curricula and academic policies that disproportionately affect students who are racialised.

"Post-secondary institutions should be healthy and inclusive educational environments, and administrators have an obligation to be aware of whether their policies, programmes or practices result in systemic discrimination toward racialised people," said Sandy Hudson, a Task Force member and President of the University of Toronto Students' Union. "This report outlines several recommendations that will help to address individual and systemic racism in post-secondary institutions and students hope that college and university administrations will make this a priority and ensure that these recommendations are implemented."

"The recommendations of the Task Force Report will not only help to make our campuses more inclusive for racialised students, they will help to improve the learning and campus environment for all students, promoting safe and equitable space for everyone," said Osman.

The Final Report of the Task Force on Campus Racism was released following the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, recognising the need to address institutional discrimination on Ontario's campuses. A full copy of the report is available for download at www.noracism.ca.

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students at 37 students' unions across the province.

For further information: Hamid Osman, National Executive Representative: [phone] or [phone] (cell); Sandy Hudson, Task Force Member, President, University of Toronto Students' Union: [phone] (cell); Joel Duff, Organiser: [phone] or [phone] (cell)