UWSA addresses claims of institutional racism

Statement comes after a turbulent year for the association

The UWSA has released a statement outlining an anti-racism plan following allegations of systemic racism both by, and against, former executives.

Supplied photo

As Black Lives Matter protests occurred around the world following the police killing of George Floyd earlier this year, the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) faced its own accusations of racism. 

The Uniter has reported on former executives Jibril Hussein and Breanna Belisle, who resigned from their positions after their public accusations of a “toxic environment” and “pervasive racism” against the UWSA. Furthermore, a photo of David Teffaine, an associate of Hussein’s and a UWSA board member, in blackface surfaced. He promptly resigned.

Teffaine’s resignation came after Mahlet Cuff and Nawal Sagher, both members of the UWSA’s 2019-20 executive, accused Teffaine and his colleague Sam Cohn of engaging in a campaign of racist and misogynist harassment against them.

The UWSA seems to be entering a new chapter in its history with a new president, Shawna Peloquin, and vice-president external affairs, Jonathan Henderson. They join vice-president student affairs, Melanie William, who was invited back to her position following a suspension. 

On Oct. 27, the UWSA board of directors and staff released a statement outlining the steps they are taking to address institutional racism and their path forward. This framework discusses everything from improving the election process to engaging with students to tackle certain long-term systemic issues.

Clare Blanco, a U of W Filipino Student Association executive, is “glad that the UWSA is taking actions in dealing with institutional racism.”

“It is very important that the UWSA be a model for anti-racism, because they are an association that represents the students, as well as an association that students could depend on when they are in need of help,” she says.

Blanco particularly likes the part of the statement which discusses the nuanced role that social media plays.

“Social media is a good platform to begin educating people about the racism currently going on, but at the same time, this shouldn’t be the only place it should be seen,” she says.

Sanjam Panag, facilitator of the Menno Simons College Students Association, agrees that the UWSA’s statement is “a positive step in the right direction.” She does note, however, that “change does not only come from good intentions.”

“I would like to state that, although the emerging conclusions point towards positive change, it does not outline what concrete steps and strategies are going to be implemented to ensure the future goals of the UWSA in engaging an anti-racist agenda are met,” Panag says.

“I hope to see the concrete plan as part of the final report of the organizational process,” she says. That report is currently in progress.

According to the UWSA’s statement, “the UWSA board has established a code of conduct and is committed to creating a safe working and learning environment at the UWSA.” It also notes that the current board and executives will be joined in a “sharing circle” to learn from their collective experiences.

“Through a transformative approach to institutional change, the University of Winnipeg could be an agent of change by ensuring meaningful and equitable educational experience for all students,” Panag says.

In an email to The Uniter, the UWSA stated, “We’re very concerned for the experiences shared by Jibril, Breanna, and other students and former executive, and acknowledge our part in creating an environment where students of colour have been unsafe and unsupported. We’re listening and are committed to changing the way we work to address the gaps in our organization for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.”

Published in Volume 75, Number 09 of The Uniter (November 12, 2020)

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