UWaterloo (UW) is complicit in the violation and oppression of BIPOC on their campus: A Thread 1/14

UW is recognized for its diversity and equity leadership. We would like to say this is a crafted marketing and PR tactic. Students are tired of their empty promises. We are calling them out starting with the AVP Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion: Dr. Diana Parry. 2/14

Our receipts:
1. Claim: Dr. Parry leads gender equity for @uwaterloo.
Fact Check: Dr. Parry doesn’t work with BIPOC students, doesn’t show face at events... 3/14

...She hasn’t come to any @UWRAISE event since its creation, despite being invited multiple times. In reality, she only supports white feminist initiatives - ex. HeforShe 4/14

2. Claim: Dr. Parry says that resources are provided for anti-racism work.
Fact Check: Dr. Parry refused to hire an anti-racism coordinator when explicitly asked in December 2019... but is developing a coffee bean brand for the HeforShe initiative... 5/14

...To add: the Equity Office under Dr. Parry’s portfolio is made up of one permanent full-time staff member: Director of Equity. 6/14

3.Claim: UW has created an anti-Black Racism Advisor position that was filled by Dr. Christopher Taylor after pressure was placed by students to fire racist Prof. BJ Rye... 7/14

...Fact Check: Dr. Taylor was hired on a temporary contract that has since ended, and thus the anti-Black Racism Advisor position IS NOT FILLED. 8/14

4.Claim: UW is recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers.
Fact Check: The lack of racial data from the University allows us to only identify 3 tenured Black and 0 tenured Indigenous profs on main campus 9/14

5.Claim: UW was awarded for its Indigenization strategy.
Fact Check: The recommendations for the strategy were provided by Indigenous students and staff. These recommendations were Dismissed. Discarded. Silenced. Ignored 10/14

6.Claim: BIPOC faculty and staff are cheered on for their success in community work and activism.
Fact Check: BIPOC faculty and staff are overworked and not compensated for their extra labour and are further tokenized when public pressure is placed on UW.. 11/14

...forced to become spokespersons for the University
12/14

UW We will not be silenced and enchanted by your reactive marketing tactics including Instagram and Twitter apologies. We are tired of your empty promises and unpaid labour. The abuse and exploitation of our experiences must stop. We demand action and change. #EQUITY4WHO 13/14

We have also provided the link to the open letter below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S8_Fk4mrw-z1D2Dh0rmkSR0bFzPJA3S7-n046PZFDD8/edit?usp=sharing 14/14