Students call for accountability after UW professor uses racial slur in class
Posted Jun 6, 2020 02:15:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Over 12,000 people have signed a petition that calls for accountability from the University of Waterloo and St. Jerome’s University.
The petition alleges that an associate professor at the Department of Psychology used an anti-black racial slur in class, along with equating the usage of the word “gay” to that slur.
In an email to 570 NEWS, the professor confirmed that a racial slur was said in an academic lecture on harmful language in society and the need for sensitivity and mindfulness.
“After class, two students approached me and expressed concern that, in my discussion of harmful language, I had spoken aloud a racist word,” they said in a statement. “After discussion with the students, I apologized in writing to them and then to the entire class (March 12 & 14, respectively). Shortly thereafter, I voluntarily committed to reframe my lecture, to replace the offensive word with a euphemism, never to speak the word aloud, and to implement an anonymous feedback system for students who may feel unsafe or uncomfortable in my class. I took it upon myself to enrol in university training seminars on racial diversity and sensitivity.”
The professor says they have been the subject of “significant online harassment and threats” as a result.
In response to the incident, Interim President of St. Jerome’s University in the University of Waterloo, Dr. Scott Kline, has apologized.
“The students who raised concerns are, I would say, courageous,” said Dr. Kline. “They’re speaking out, and that’s what universities are for. They’re supposed to be places where ideas can be exchanged.”
Dr. Kline also called the professor’s judgement ‘questionable at best,’ adding that the school has been working hard to become more inclusive and diverse.
“Just this past Monday, we raised the LGBTQ flag to welcome all of our LGBTQ students on campus, and in April we launched a strategy around equity, diversity and inclusion,” said Dr. Kline. “That has invited students, the St. Jerome’s Student Union for example, and speaking to them – students who identify as black, indigenous, people of colour – to sit on that project.”
Dr. Kline said that he cannot speak to the next steps as it is a personnel issue, but he added that they will follow the guidelines set out in the Human Rights Code, and act in a way that’s consistent under law.
