— SPOKE,
Page 8
April 4,
News
2005
Canadians
victim to racism
fall
Recent study shows one By PAIGE HILTON
and students with
A recent Canadian study reports one in six Canadian adults have been victims of racism.
disabilities, said
college
the
works racism on campus. “There are things
to
eliminate
like posters that
I’ve seen in the halls
where
The Ipsos-Reid poll was held to mark the International Day for the
says that any sort of discrimination or violence is not tolerated on any
Elimination of Racial Discrimination,
level,”
March 2
The survey was held March
1
2 to
15 and reports 13 per cent of people asked said they would never
many
or have a relationship with
someone from another race. One in 10 people said they would not want people from another race living next door to them.
The Dominion missioned
the
Institute
report
com-
and
is
responsible for other public opinion research.
The
institute’s
director said the
study shows Canadians can't be complacent about racism.
“We knew
racism was
that
problem of the
last
a
generation.
Well, according to four million of our fellow citizens, they feel that
they’ve been a victim of racism.”
Rudyard
Griffiths
Canadian Press
in
told
an
article
the at
cbc.ca.
a
if
behaviour
comment
some
or
done in the classroom, teachers are expected to model appropriate behaviour and call a student on that right then and is
there.”
heard
said
incidents
of are
usually
she
has
resolved
informally, without involving the school’s human rights co-ordinaa student does wish to
tor. If
make
who also has a leaderwith international students, said she tries to determine Bernard, role
exactly what happened and how the student feels when he or she has been a victim of racism.
Then she can inform the student of his or her rights within the Student Procedures Guide and
issue.
Shawna Bernard, a counsellor Student Services. “But perhaps about once a year I have a student
come to me in a counselling context who is concerned about something
might have happened the classroom or on place-
that
while in
ment.
Human
Bernard said she encourages dents to Write
down
stu-
everything that
happened so they are clear about
own
in their
minds.
She also said she will
it
“Usually
somebody makes the come in to talk to a
if
counsellor, they’re feeling strongly
about their feelings and needing to talk about it.” Kelly Nixon, a counsellor for Aboriginal students at Conestoga
the issue was resolved after speaking with the teacher, Bernard said. That was a really good resolution. If she had felt that the situa-
if it is
recommend
safe to
do
so,
students speak
with the person who made a racial comment and tell them how it made him or her feel,
come
to her after the student felt
isolated during a class discussion.
“She
felt the
teacher didn’t say anything inappropriate but she felt the teacher should have monitored the
class
allowed
it
discussion to
and not continue. She was
and
if
she had
someone was making racist comments toward her then I would felt
have told her of her right to take that to the tor,”
human
Bernard
The college
rights co-ordina-
said.
currently provides
full-time
all
students with
orientation where they are intormed of the college’s services as
well
as
Human
the
Rights
Policy.
Bernard said international students receive more orientation and culture shock
workshops to teach them what is OK and not OK in Canadian society and to inform them of what they can do if they are ever discriminated against.
Bernard said the college also trains its resident advisers to deal
with these issues and informs all faculty about the college’s
new
services. But “we don’t directly address the topic of racism or cultural sensitivity”
Bernard said she had one student
decision to
the student discussed the incident with the teacher. The student felt
an
Rights Policy.
of racism being reported.
in
She said she helped the student understand what happened and
Guide or the college’s Human
Rights Policy, and what he or she can do to resolve the
said
to
first-year,
But counsellors at Conestoga College said they do not have a lot "There could be incidents that happen that we don’t know about,”
said.
a formal complaint, details can be lound in the Student Procedures
ship
international student in
and she felt uncomfortable saying anything,” Bernard
tion wasn’t resolved
Nixon
heve been targeted
the class
it
she said.
“(And)
1
the only
in six
Bernard
with
new
faculty,
said.
Nixon and Bernard both said there is always room for more education on racism. “I find
education is the best way to prevent or reduce the amount of discrimination discrimination
because,
I
think,
comes about from
lack of information edge,” she said.
and knowl-
(Internet photc
.
,
a recent Canadian study, one in 10 people said they wouldn’t want people from another race living next door to in
them
added.
we
“Those are the courses I really think the college could have more of. Even policing, they do have
to offer
more
opportunities for students to take a cultural diversity course, Nixon
diversity within (their program). social workers, nurses -
all working with clients with different needs (and) differ-
report written up about the incident or ultimately being expelled.
Nixon pointed
“Hopefully by doing that we’re
out.
getting the
message across that this meant to be an environment where people can study and work
“I’m not sure if there’s a job where we wouldn’t encounter peo-
is
ple of differences. a peaceful
I think we could world one day if
in a
harassment-free (school,)” she
said.
SUMMER JOB
OPPORTUNITY! Peer Services is now hirina O R MENTATION ASSISTA NTS Fall Orientation
August 29 - September THIS Apply _
(Photo by Justin Bast/n)
Only you can prevent forest
fires
Devon Cadieux, 2, of Burlington, greets Smokey the Bear Springwater Maple Sugar Festival near Aylmer March 26.
at the
in
IS
act.”
for a student who has made a racist comment could include having a
they’re
have
we
Bernard said the consequences
.
The college needs
reached outside of ourselves what we’re going to
say or think before
Police,
ent backgrounds,”
all
to think about
2,
2005.
A PAID POSITION.
Student Services (2B04)