Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - Laurier Waterloo

Laurier’s statement on the violence in Iran

"Wilfrid Laurier University joins the international community in condemning the gender-based violence and the brutal attacks against peaceful protestors currently happening in Iran. The shocking murder of Mahsa Amini by Tehran’s Guidance Patrol has sparked protests in Iran and around the globe.

This week the global tragedy was brought closer to the international post-secondary community when protests at Sharif University in Tehran resulted in attacks on students by Iranian police. We stand together with those impacted at Sharif University and all who are peacefully protesting in Iran and across the world.

Laurier is committed to upholding fundamental human rights, including gender-based rights, and the free, open and safe expression of dissent.

We know the ongoing violence has impacted many in our community. Our thoughts are with the people of Iran, especially those who have been victims of the violence, and with our faculty, staff, students and alumni who have personal connections to the region. We are here to support you.

We have reached out to extend support to the impacted student population but want to remind our entire community of the resources and supports we have in place to assist."

Supports and Full Statement Here:

Laurier’s statement on the violence in Iran | Wilfrid Laurier University Becoming a Golden Hawk means more than just cheering on our (really good) varsity teams – it means being a student who cares about your community, who works hard in the classroom, and who takes advantage of all the learning opportunities that can happen outside the classroom, too.

It’s Islamic Heritage Month!

October is Islamic Heritage Month in Ontario. Proclaimed in 2007, Islamic Heritage Month honours the experiences and contributions of the Muslim community.

Wilfrid Laurier University invites students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to participate in a series of educational and engaging Islamic Heritage Month events.

Check out the full list of events and supports here: https://www.wlu.ca/news/spotlights/2022/oct/laurier-celebrates-islamic-heritage-month-with-public-events.html

Every Child Matters! September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

(TW: Colonial Violence)
Today honours the children forcibly taken from their families through the colonial project of residential "schools." We mourn those who never returned, and we stand in solidarity with the survivors, their families and communities as they continue to experience the legacies and intergenerational trauma of this violent, tragic, deeply painful and ongoing reality of Canadian history. We understand that there is no reconciliation without truth, justice, and systems change. We know that wearing an orange shirt does not absolve Canadians of racism and colonial violence. As a Centre that works with students across equity-deserving communities, we must examine our relationship to colonial violence, specifically those of us who are not Indigenous to Turtle Island and came here as settlers, newcomers, and those stolen or forced from our own homelands.

Scholars Even Tuck and K. Wayne Yang remind us "There is a long and bumbled history of non-Indigenous peoples making moves to alleviate the impacts of colonization. The too-easy adoption of decolonizing discourse (making decolonization a metaphor) is just one part of that history, and it taps into pre-existing tropes that get in the way of more meaningful potential alliances."

They state that “there are parts of the decolonization project that are not easily absorbed by human rights or civil rights based approaches to educational equity.” As a Centre, we are committed to solidarity in spirit and action and to examining and readdressing how educational equity may silence, absorb or dilute the decolonization project.

We encourage folks check out the Laurier National Day for Truth and Reconciliation page: https://www.wlu.ca/news/spotlights/2022/sept/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation.html

We also encourage folks to give generously to the Indigenous Knowledge Fund at Laurier and other organizations doing important work.

GOLDEN HAWKS!!!

It is “Consent Awareness Week”!!! This week aims to raise awareness among students about the role that consent plays in the development of healthy relationships and in reducing sexual violence. Laurier is committed to fostering a culture that advocates for consent as gendered and sexual violence is not tolerated.

👉🏾Check out the full list of events! Full List of Events: https://www.wlu.ca/news/spotlights/2022/sept/laurier-marks-consent-awareness-week-with-educational-events-for-students.html

Visit us at the following events this week!

💜 We Believe Survivors Day

Laurier will mark We Believe Survivors Day at the Waterloo campus on Sept. 20 and at the Brantford campus on Sept. 21 with an open art-jam session and resource fair. Students, staff and faculty are invited to participate in on-site and take-home activities, including silk screening, button-making, a collective art project and photo display. Community organizations will also be in attendance.

* Waterloo campus: Sept. 20, noon to 4 p.m., the Quad
* Brantford campus: Sept. 21, noon to 4 p.m., Research and Academic Centre West (RCW), lobby

Follow Consent is Golden

💙Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union Rally

Students across postsecondary institutions in Canada have planned a rally on Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. to bring awareness to the need for enhanced consent education and demonstrate solidarity for survivors. Rallies will take place in the Quad at Laurier’s Waterloo campus and the RCW courtyard at Laurier’s Brantford campus. The rallies are organized by the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union.

Follow Laurier Campus Life: Brantford Laurier Students' Union

Our thoughts are with those processing the senseless loss of life caused by the violent attacks in the James Smith Cree Nation & Weldon, Saskatchewan. Flags will be lowered on both campuses. Laurier offers solidarity to all those impacted by this horrific tragedy.

Learn more about supports on campus at
https://students.wlu.ca/student-life/dean-of-students/find-your-support-resource

Welcome to Fall Term 🎉🎉🎉🎉

💜 Are you a student looking for equity supports?
Visit: students.wlu.ca/student-life/diversity-and-equity
Email: [email protected]

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💜 Building an Inclusive Campus Community
In this presentation, Amilah Baksh (she/her) will introduce concepts of inclusion, equity and justice and connect them to the student experience at Wilfrid Laurier University. Amilah will engage participants in a discussion about barriers to inclusion, such as racism and experiences of microaggressions, and will talk through practical steps that students can take to build inclusion everywhere.

Brantford: Tuesday, Sept. 6th | 5-6 PM | RCW 002
Waterloo: Wednesday, Sept. 7th | 4-5 PM | Athletic Complex

💜 Visit Our Booth!

Brantford:
Get Involved Fair | Thursday, Sept. 8th | 10AM-2PM | RCW Coutyard

Info Fair | Friday, Sept. 9th | 12PM-3PM | One Market Commons

Waterloo:
Get Involved Fair | Friday, Sept. 9th | 10AM-2PM | Macdonald House Residence, Room 117

💜 Message from Lauren (she/her)
“Welcome to fall term Golden Hawks! I'm looking forward to connecting with each of you as we come together for the 22/23 school year. Together our efforts can make Laurier an inclusive, safe(r) and just community. So much is possible when we care for each other."

Manager (Multi-Campus)
Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Photo: Photo of Lauren and Jesse (they/them), Indigenous Student Support Coordinator

Join Laurier International and CSEDI in an exciting virtual escape room to celebrate the Halloween season! These virtual escapes will run on October 26th at 10:30am EST and October 28th at 7pm EST. Each virtual escape room (on ZOOM) will be roughly 1 hour and a half.

To read more about the escape rooms or register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOu8o085X9ybewr5zvV6YedQqFnZ6E8UKgfYGpewNyo5-O5w/viewform

The name of the escape room we will be playing is called: Mystery at Maryweather Mansion. If you are interested in joining us, please register by Friday, October 22nd 11:59 pm EST. After registration, you will be contacted with the ZOOM link closer to the event time.