BUZZ
Is ‘alarmed’ at the ‘presence of microaggressions, stereotyping, and tone-policing’
A branch of the Canadian Federation of Students is demanding an investigation into “racism” regarding the departure of Memorial University‘s diversity, equity, and inclusion chief.
Delores Mullings has been Memorial’s “inaugural vice-provost of EDI-AR” since 2021 (Canadians use “EDI” instead of “DEI”; “AR” stands for “anti-racism”). According to The Hamilton Spectator, Mullings complained of “a lack of understanding among senior administration about what equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism mean” and how they “should interact” with the EDI-AR office.
Mullings said her job left her “feeling lonely,” adding that “while I’m the one in the role, it doesn’t mean that I’m the only one that needs to be talking about equity issues.”
She also bemoaned that Memorial’s new president, who took office last August, “not once reached out to [her] to arrange a meeting.”
“Because of my very bold personality and character traits, it wasn’t long before people stereotyped me as the angry Black woman,” Mullings said.
Upon hearing of her upcoming exit, The Canadian Federation of Students’ Newfoundland and Labrador chapter said in a statement it was “alarmed” at the “treatment” with which Mullings had to deal, along with the “presence of microaggressions, stereotyping, and tone-policing” among Memorial’s administration.
It added “We need a President who prioritizes EDI-AR, not one who sees it as an afterthought.”
CFS Chairman Nicolas Keough said Memorial “has failed for years to adequately address issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism,” and that the new president’s “failure to connect with Mullings is symbolic of a greater institutional failure.”
Keough noted he wants an “independent third-party investigator” to look into racism, and for Memorial U. to “publicly respond to its findings.”
According to its website, the Canadian Federation of Students is a 45-year-old “bilingual national union, composed of over 530,000 students from more than 60 university and college students’ unions.” Its National Executive Committee has a “2Spirit and Trans Commissioner,” a “2Spirit & Queer Representative,” and a “Racialised Students’ Representative.”
Mullings university page notes her “scholarly interests fall under the umbrella of Anti-Black racism and Critical Race theory,” including “decolonizing post-secondary education,” “racialized LGBTQ+,” and “black and racialized elders.”
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