Following recent high-profile incidents of racist behaviour at Nottingham Trent, De Montfort and Exeter, we at Keele Students' Union and Keele Postgraduate Association think it important to address these incidents.
For those who are unaware, the following incidents have been covered by National media in the last few weeks:
These incidents have highlighted experiences that are all too familiar to many BAME students. This is a critical opportunity for us as students and staff to challenge the myth that universities are accepting, tolerant and liberal spaces free of racism and other forms of discrimination. As Ilyas succintly puts, 'The reality is our institutions aren't places where racism doesn't happen but places where institutional racism is embeded into its foundations'. Over the coming months and years we will continue to work to decolonize our curriculum and reform our institution, but in the meantime we should all bare in mind those whose lives are continually affected by racism whilst doing our upmost to promote their voices.
If you have been affected by racism or any form of discrimination there are a number of options for support and people who are willing to listen on-campus:
- ASK, based on the ground floor of KeeleSU is a newly established third-party hate crime reporting centre. You can contact them on 01782 734800.
- Student Support are based in the Tawney Building. You can contact them on 01782 734481.
- KeeleSU Welfare and Internationalisation Officer is based on the top floor of the SU. You can contact them on su.welfareofficer@keele.ac.uk.
- Keele Postgraduate Association is based in Keele Hall. You can contact the VP on kpa.vp@keele.ac.uk.