BU’s Discrimination And Harassment Prevention Policy

                In this upcoming academic year BU is making a concerted effort to combat discrimination and harassment on campus. The Brandon University Sexual Violence Education and Prevention Office is ensuring through its “I Believe You” campaign, which it launched right at the beginning of the year, that sexual assault is treated in the proper serious manner. The idea is to encourage victims of sexual assault to come forward and disclose the trauma they suffered, thereby beginning the healing process and seeing to it that justice is served. This year will mark the last of the campaigns 4 year running period. All together the participation throughout the years, numbering in the millions, would indicate that the program was a huge success. The reason for this campaign is that many victims of sexual harassment are reluctant to talk about what they went through by fear of facing disbelief and ridicule if they do take a stand. It is in combating this phenomena that the campaign was particularly successful as there has been an increase in reporting of Sexual Harassment cases.

                 On the 11th of September there was a #IBelieveYou selfie booth set up on the Courtyard where students would stop to take a picture with a temporary #IBelieveYou tattoo which could later be uploaded to social media. The Farm 101.1 FM as well as Star 94.7 FM radio stations were on the scene as well handing out free Subway coupons amongst other stuff for those that decided to stop by. Furthermore Bystander training was held on campus to teach students more about how to intervene and prevent sexual assault from happening.         

                According Brandon Universities Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy "every member of the University community must adhere to University policies and support the aim of the University to create a climate of understanding and respect for the dignity and rights of all,” as well as "support the University's efforts to ensure that the working and learning environment is free of discrimination and harassment". With this in mind all of us should take care that we do our best to create a campus that is a safe environment for everyone to study at. It is events the “I Believe You” campaign that can provide the training and awareness needed to effectively approach a case and correctly deal with it. We all benefit from the awareness surrounding the struggles of different people. It both ensures that actions are taken to reduce the number of victims created and allows those already victimized to heal.

Ontario Universities And Free Speech: Continued

In following up on last week’s article on the free speech issue in Ontario Universities I conducted the following interview of the CFS spokesperson Nour Alideeb. 

The Quill: What is the background? What prompted the government to believe this new directive to be necessary?

Nour Alideeb: “Protecting free speech is fundamental to academia. It allows for the open exchange of ideas, creative and critical thinking, and is key to our ability to grow intellectually. The concept of free speech is being co-opted to give people who carry extreme views a platform at Ontario colleges and universities. The Ford government is using this policy to protect those who wish to continue to argue for racist, sexist and homophobic ideologies that people have fought for generations to prove wrong. We believe that this policy is in response to a number of high profile incidences over the past 3 years that were successfully shut down at various campuses by students, staff and faculty.”

TQ: Does the CFS have any way of currently monitoring the state of free speech on campuses? If so in what ways is it preferential to monitoring by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario? 

NA: “The Federation has no way of tracking and keeping records of such incidents other than when they are high profile and make it to the media or if members reach out to the Federation to report them and seek support.” 

TQ: How are the Universities or the CFS-O fighting back against this attack.

NA: “The Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario is supporting students across the province who want to be apart of the consultation sessions between now and January 2019. We are committed to ensuring that students’ voices and concerns are heard and reflected in this policy. In addition, we are working with other campus organizations, faculty and labour unions to challenge this policy. Though we are the largest and oldest organization representing students in post-secondary education, the government has not consulted us on this new policy. We will be contacting the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to share our concerns and opposition to this policy.”

The question laying at the heart of this issue goes as follows. Should all viewpoints be protected with the right to free speech, or do the ones that we perceive to be harmful need to be limited? What are the full ramifications of this decision? Try and find the faults in whatever conclusion you make and attempt to see the matter from the other side. Some topics require education, experience and open-mindedness, so don’t hastily rush to condemn one side or the other. How would one justify totally free speech and what are the reasons to support the limiting of certain ideas?

CFS Free Speech

The provincial government of Ontario recently mandated that all publicly assisted colleges and universities within the province develop and post their own free speech policies by January 1, 2019. If Institutions do not comply the provincial government may withhold funding. The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is crying wolf. They say that this unprecedented policy is an attack on universities. It claims that the move forces people to choose a side in an important public debate. According to the new directive the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is to monitor progress of free speech.   

Why should you care about such matters? To many students university may just be a vehicle to a good career. Although it is true that in the world that we live in today such post-grad success is no longer guaranteed, it is no less a valid motivation for a number of university students. However in the charged political climate that we find ourselves in today it comes to mind that the university campus should and could represent something more. University is a place where ideas could be tested and tried. Where opposing opinions could face off in contest to see which fails under scrutiny. A school that disallows representation, through civil discourse, to groups and camps of thought that it finds reprehensible, ridiculous or erroneous is committing a grave mistake. Foremost, such actions are an affront to the spirit of the Institution. Men such as Darwin, Copernicus, or Luther were proponents of just such unpopular views. Today they are seen as revolutionaries, yet one must ask how our world would look like today should they have been successfully silenced. A spirit open to at least engaging a variety of ideas is one that will lead to continuing progress. What of those opinions which bear no hope of vindication however? Even in these cases we must allow them a voice. For how are we to test the soundness of our own argument except by the criticisms voiced by those who dissent? Furthermore, it is our moral obligation, as Socrates would have it, to engage those which we deem in the wrong in a manner which may enlighten them. If universities in Ontario have failed to ensure free speech then they should be ashamed that the government had to step in. However if this is simply a move by the government to control the voice of academia then they haven't learnt a thing from history.

I have contacted the chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario for further comments. At this time there has been no reply.

IELTS Test

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test is to be held at Brandon University this year. The IELTS which is co-owned by British Council is one of the worlds most popular English language proficiency tests. The test is designed to assess the language ability of people who aim to study and work in, immigrate to and integrate into an English-speaking environment. It is based on the four key English skills required by those wishing to excel in Canadian society: listening, reading, writing and speaking. British council has been teaching English throughout the world for 85 years and evaluating it through IELTS for the past 25.

The global outreach that this testing system has cannot be understated. There are 1,100 test centers and locations around the world that, over the past years, have provided English language testing to three million people. Within Canada, IELTS is the preferred high stakes English language test. Trusted by over 350 Canadian organizations, it was the first test to be recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly CIC) and Immigration Québec as proof of English language proficiency for such government programs as Express Entry and other Canadian programs. In May 2014, IRCC announced it was renewing its trust in IELTS for another five years.

One of those organizations that recognizes IELTS scoring is Brandon University itself. Any international student whose mother tongue is not English will be required to submit evidence acceptable to the University or faculty that a minimum English proficiency scoring was attained. The minimal acceptable score on the IELTS is a 6.5 overall. The way that ranking within the testing system works is that each skill, once tested, is assigned a score from 1-9 and then an overall band score is issued.

Tests such as this one allow for Brandon University to accept students from around the world while still ensuring that they are not left at a disadvantage in their studies due to the presence of a language barrier. With the ever-shrinking world that we are living in it is important that Brandon University makes itself a desirable location of study not only for native Canadians, but international students as well. BU has managed to achieve this, and the fact that events such as this one are now also being held at BU shows that it is continuing to take steps down the right path.

Mino Bimaadiziwin

Members of the Brandon community are invited to an evening of celebration of the project: “Mino Bimaadiziwin: Reconciliation in Action”. This research project is focused on providing sustainable post-secondary education for indigenous communities in remote locations. Both researchers from BU and the University of Manitoba work together in collaboration on this project, and as a team they must be achieving impressive results as the have recently been awarded a prestigious Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Grant in the amount of $2.5 million. The project does not solely seek to introduce community led post-secondary education to targeted indigenous communities. On the program are numerous other issues that plague these isolated communities including sustainable housing, food security, water and waste management, and sustainable energy all these problems the project seeks to address through community-led participatory research.

There is a considerable need in Canada for projects such as this one, and in its nature it seems to be a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to action to “ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects”. BU has voiced and demonstrated its commitment to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities on numerous occasions, and projects such as this one align perfectly with the BU identity which has this commitment as one of its foundational pillars.

The First nation students that partake in this program will be able to attend entry level certificate programs in their community. Learning will not be entirely from the classroom; the project would rather have the students be taught per project-based learning. Students will learn as they take the first steps to effect a change in their community. If there is a key word to define this project it would probably have to be community, as it is the community which will take the lead on the many initiative under the auspices of this project. The hope is that local effort can effectively provide what outside support has struggled or outright failed to provide in the past.

If you are interested to learn more about this research project you may visit their website at ecohealthcircle.com for further information. You are also invited to join the celebration on February 28th from 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm in He Oyate Tawapi (Ceremony Room) in the Health Studies Building and meet community representatives from Wasagamack and Garden Lake, and Dr. Shirley Thompson, Project Leader, from the University of Manitoba, and Dr. Wilder Robles (Rural Development), Dr. Patricia Harms (History) and Dr. Serena Petrella (Sociology), Brandon University partners.

BU Awarded Several Research Grants

A total of 23 faculty research projects at Brandon University have been provided with grants by the Brandon University Research Committee (BURC) that in summation total $118,000. This strong financial contribution to the research efforts at BU will hopefully aid in fostering a growing spirit of discovery at Brandon University. Among the 23 projects supported, 13 were awarded the New Faculty research Grant. Which provides a maximum of $7,500 to faculty members that have joined the Brandon University family within the last three years. “A strong track record of research is one of the qualities that we look for when recruiting new faculty,” said Dr. Heather Duncan, BU’s Associate Vice-President (Research). “The funding that we can provide through BURC encourages our new faculty members to continue their pursuit of innovation and discovery. The experience they gain through BURC-funded projects helps build a foundation for even greater research success in the future.”

Research grants, with a total value of $4,000 each, comprise the remaining grants allotted by the Brandon University Research Committee. “The scope and diversity of the research being done by our faculty are quite impressive,” said Dr. Meir Serfaty, Acting Vice-President (Academic & Provost) at BU. “We are proud of the recognition and support they are receiving for their work, nationally and beyond. Their research provides answers to important questions faced in our communities, and complements their role as educators as they inspire curiosity and exploration in our students.”

Funding for research projects at Brandon University is crucial for a number of reasons. The potential discoveries made by our various laboratories and research facilities here at BU could aid in securing answers to the questions of the broader society or find solutions to problems plaguing us as a nation or species. Perhaps more relevant to those focused on direct benefits to BU and the Brandon community is the positive attention local research draws to BU. Cutting edge research may attract national funding which contributes to further growth of BU. The Funding for the grants provided by BURC for example is itself provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) as well as a variety of internal funds.

Further information on research projects that are supported by BURC grants can be gained from the periodical publication, Research Connection, produced by the BU Office of Research Services and the Faculty of Education’s Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies. Visit BrandonU.ca/Research-Connection.

WUSC Gets Props

Unrest in various parts of the world has caused great hardship for an increasing number of people from a diverse background. These refugees are forced to uproot and flee, often with nothing more than what they carry on their back. In the uncertain future these displaced families and individuals now face there is often little hope for any form of advanced education. BU should be proud in the knowledge that it is not resting in complacent disregard of the suffering of the persecuted and abandoned, but instead adopts a proactive role in providing a brighter future to the oppressed. Our local committee of World University Service of Canada (WUSC) received the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Student Refugee Program (SRP) at the WUSC CECI international forum in Ottawa this month. This award distinguishes our local committee as a shining model for the 80+ committees across Canada.

The SRP is the main initiative of our local WUSC committee, and as the President of WUSC here on campus Mr. Parker Easter says, “this award indicates that, while the committee is always looking to improve and find new means to aid the disenfranchised, it is on the right track”. The Program offers financial aid to refugees from around the globe to come and commence their post secondary education here at BU. These new residents of the True North face many challenges in transitioning to life in Brandon. This reporter can personally attest to the difficulty and discomfort one experiences in trying to establish a new life here, especially during that first winter. To ensure that our new classmates aren’t disadvantaged as a result of this culture shock, WUSC at BU was the first in Canada to set up a Mentorship Program. This Program partners experienced B.U.sians with students in the SRP to guide and aid them through their time at BU. It was this initiative along with programs designed to provide support in the areas of money management (jointly with ENACTUS), food handling safety, and transportation that led to the recognition of their tremendous work at the forum in Ottawa.

The work that BU’s  WUSC committee is able to accomplish is limited to the scope of their support. While they do enjoy the backing of the local community, more can always be done. If you are looking to step up and lend a helping hand here is how: Their next meeting is on Monday February 12th at 5:00PM in the down under (under cafeteria) if you are interested in attending to learn more shoot the President an email at buwusc@gmail.com. They are also looking for mentors of 3 new students next year, more info on this will be sent to your school email account. Clubs are also welcomed to partner with WUSC if they wish to. If you don’t have the time for such commitment I’m sure just voicing your support is also appreciated.

Presidential Search

As you may already know Brandon University’s former President, Dr.  Gervin Fearon, left BU last year. After saying our goodbyes, Dr. Robinson assumed the role of interim President while our school would undertake the task of finding a suitable successor. Why should the average undergrad student care? As BUSU President Nick Brown, a member of the Presidential Search Committee puts it, the President of a University is like the Captain of a ship. It is he that will direct the further growth of BU down a path that is beneficial to the community and the student body.

The search has not yet filled the void at the top of our school, and Brown says that we will likely only welcome our next President in January 2019. Brown has taken part in previous searches, all of which took nowhere near this length. The empty Vice-President (Academics) seat was populated in only five months.

The reason for this prolonged interval of vacancy is that a Presidential search is a different beast entirely. Everything is done in secret so as not to compromise the current positions of the prospective Presidents, and of course in choosing your future leader speed is a lesser virtue than careful deliberation.

In contention for the position are persons with higher level management experience. This will prove crucial as the new President assumes the responsibilities of his office in continuing to build on the growth momentum BU has been enjoying in the past few years.

What are students saying? At a student consultation on January 15th, members of the student body said they care little for the education level of the candidates and find the character of any incumbent president more important, that he be able to connect with the nature of rural and aboriginal influences on BU.

Down Town Discussion PSA

The establishment of new downtown developments on Princess Avenue by Brandon University is not merely a realization of Its aspirations to better meet the needs of students and foster “on campus” growth. It is also a confirmation of its commitment to the objective, as outlined in BU’s mission statement, to “serve as a major resource in enriching the quality of life for the people of Brandon and of the rural and remote areas of Manitoba”. Although the development will contain a portion dedicated to academic and learning spaces it will also include a service, retail, and commercial component. This highlights the hopes of both the city and BU that the new development will revitalize downtown Brandon.  

Most of the newly acquired area will be devoted to residential space. Senior housing and student residence are in consideration. Here is where this story gets interesting. While a vision has been set for the new property, it hasn’t yet been determined what the realization of that vision should look like. Student or senior’s housing, and how should the commercial and academic components look like? There are a few options that the team behind the development is looking to discuss at on-campus consultations open to all members of the BU community on Tuesday, January 9th in the Louis Riel Room, timings are: 10:00AM to 11:00AM, 11:40AM TO 12:40PM (the free slot), and 2:30PM to 3:30PM. All three sessions will have the same information presented. If you can’t make it, you can share your ideas at https://www.brandonu.ca/downtown/share-your-ideas/.