A fist and 'BLM' (Black Lives Matter), images associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, are seen here during a protest in Red Deer in June 2020. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

education and social injustice

RDC faculty and admin join ‘Scholar Strike’ against racial injustice

Sep 11, 2020 | 4:22 PM

Staff and admin at Red Deer College threw their support behind a national social justice movement this week.

Scholar Strike originated in the United States following a tweet by Dr. Anthea Butler addressing recent strikes led by pro athletes in the NBA and WNBA. The cause was adopted into Canada by professors Min Sook Lee and Beverly Bain, both of whom instruct at universities in Ontario.

It called for instructors and admin at Canadian institutions to pause their duties on Sept. 9 and 10, while organizers offered teach-ins about police brutality and racial violence live on YouTube throughout the two days.

“This is an extension to my commitment to ending all forms of oppression, and of the actions happening here in Red Deer by some unbelievably great young men and women,” says Elaine Spencer, a member of RDC’s Social Work faculty.

“It’s also a commitment as a registered social worker and as a member of the faculty to model the anti-oppressive goals we have through our code of ethics, and our program’s mission to graduate compassionate social workers.”

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Spencer’s students were given the two days to participate in the teach-ins, which were led by such names as Erica Violet Lee, El Jones, and Red Deer-born Desmond Cole.

“I’m originally from England, but no one ever asks or tells me to go back to my own country,” she says. “The white privilege I have is laid very bare, even in the academy where we think everybody’s really learned, supportive, open and informed. But if you talk to colleagues of colour, they may have different stories to tell about life in academia. Racism is everywhere.”

Spencer says looking back at the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, his cries for his mother resonated with many more moms worldwide, including herself.

RDC’s Social Work department drafted a letter addressed to admin asking for support of the Scholar Strike Canada. Kylie Thomas, RDC’s new vice president, academic and research, says the support was easy to give as a person with First Nations heritage.

“I certainly stopped and appreciated what the movement was attempting to do,” says Thomas. “When I received the email from Elaine, I really felt it was something we could provide support for as a college.”

Thomas is formerly an admin member at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in BC, a school focused on Indigenous education. She sees racism in various forms every day, she says.

“I really want to contribute to initiatives that create parity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous members of society, and that starts with closing the education gap,” says Thomas on how educational institutions can inject their influence into the greater discussion on racial injustices.

“The Truth and Reconciliation Commission established education-related calls to action which identify the need to create opportunities that are culturally relevant. It al starts with education and an informed society.”

Thomas does see positive signs that change is happening.

“Where I’m encouraged is seeing that these situations are coming to light. It’s tragic that these incidents still occur, yet there seems to be a real social movement to be an informed society and toward preventing further social injustices; toward a place where all members of society can participate equally.”

Thomas adds that it was expressed to staff throughout the school that if they wished to participate in the Scholar Strike, administration had no problem with them doing so.

In the social work departments call for support, administration was asked to see through four actions, including issuing a statement of support, hosting its own teach-ins at a future date, commitment to revitalizing RDC’s diversity committee with a wider scope of representation, and finally, continuing education of all RDC community members to transform the college into a leader in racially just, decolonized and future focused education.