Rector’s Digest: Solidarity in action

Navigating activism in a post-secondary institution

While there is less hustle and bustle than the rest of the year, I am team Kingston summer.

After spending the previous two summers on campus, the joy June brings is always the highlight of my year. Marked with Indigenous History month, Pride month, and a week of convocation ceremonies, there’s always an event to be found.

While participating in a traditional medicine walk, dancing through the Pride parade alongside my peers, and watching graduates beam as they cross the stage at convocation, I can’t help but think about the efforts that went into making these moments possible.

The Yellow House chose “solidarity through activism” as their theme for Pride month this year—something I think we should all strive to do. While change may be slow, my heart takes solace in knowing that even if we may not see our efforts come to fruition during our stay at Queen’s, there are future students who will feel safer and happier entering our community.

There’s a whole lot that can be done, so here are examples of solidarity in action.

There are three students elected to serve on Board of Trustees, but that doesn’t mean others can’t become involved. Students can learn what’s happening during open session and even request a discussion item.

The Board is responsible for overseeing financial matters and has a process for special requests to review Queen’s Responsible Investing Policy. Through the years, there has been several calls for divestment such as during the South African racial apartheid, where the 1987 Trustees voted 19 to five in favour.

Most recently, students have established divestment campaigns in response to worsening realities of the climate crisis and the ongoing war in the Middle East.

There are also more obvious ways to get involved, like running or voting in a campus election. We need good people doing good things in office. If an executive role is not something you’re interested in, apply for a part-time job at the AMS where you can help write policy papers or participate in lobby days with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance.

The most important thing you can do for me as your Rector is to show up with your voice.

Please come to AMS Assembly, SGPS Council, and Queen’s Senate or write into my inbox with your perspective and experiences. During my first speech to the Board of Trustees in May, I made a commitment that I will spend my time seeking out and listening to the voices of our student body to ensure I’m prepared to advocate for our wholistic needs as learners—and I can’t do this without you.

The campus clubs, jobs, and advocacy work we choose doesn’t have to line up with our degree path. I’m a Fine Arts graduate and certified teacher who somehow found myself leading major policy overhauls for the AMS Board of Directors and am now advising our administration in who should be hired for senior leadership roles, for example.

While addressing the class of 2024 at convocation last week, I expressed my wish for graduates: that wherever they go in the world and however they choose to spend their time, they create change in a way that makes sense for them.

I am inspired by my peers and faculty who are doing just that on our campus. Look to students like Hill Werth, Ed ’24, who’s providing Queen’s and Kingston businesses with a way to combat LGBTQ+ hate through artwork so powerful its caught the attention of the House of Commons. Or consider the remarkable career of recently retired Associate Vice Principal, Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill), who, amongst a long list of accomplishments, created Queen’s Indigenous Teacher Education Program that I’m just four weeks away from graduating from.

This month, I prioritized celebrating progress and wins with you. Today, I get to wake up,head to the office, and keep moving forward in a good way. Together, we can ensure there will be more to celebrate next year.

At your service,

Niki

Tags

Advocacy, Column, Pride, Rector's Digest

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