Undergraduate Trustee looks to add definition of racism to the Student Code of Conduct

Provost says community can expect “to hear more” about addressing racism in the Code

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The definition of racism doesn’t currently appear in the Code.

In light of campus-wide calls for social justice reform, Undergraduate Trustee Shoshannah Bennett-Dwara has engaged the Non-Academic Misconduct Subcommittee (NAMSC) in discussion about the inclusion of the definition of racism in the Queen’s Student Code of Conduct.

The definition of racism doesn’t currently appear in the Code.

This conversation led to a formal discussion on the Board of Trustees agenda, where issues of legality and human rights were addressed. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for November.

Bennett-Dwara shared this initiative with AMS Assembly at its September meeting.

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Bennett-Dwara also proposed implementing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity training for Board and Senate members, with the goal to present the training details at the joint Board-Senate retreat planning committee this month. 

Acknowledging possible revisions to the Student Code of Conduct, Provost and Vice Principal (Academic) Mark Green addressed the topic of racism in the code in an Oct. 7 memo, writing that there’s been “considerable discussion” within the campus community and NAMSC regarding what changes may be required to more fully address issues of racism on campus. 

“These conversations are ongoing and will result in further dialogue with the university community about the Code,” Provost Green wrote. “We believe that it is important to have a separate and distinct conversation about that matter, rather than combining potential changes with this proposal, which would involve an omnibus approach and dilute the focus that addressing racism more fully on campus requires.” 

“The community can expect to hear more about addressing racism in the Code in the coming months.”  

Neither the University nor Bennett-Dwara responded to The Journal’s request for comment at the time of publication.

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Tags

student code of conduct, Undergraduate Trustee

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