Oxford University Highlights: Drive the Movement for Racial Equality Advancement Among Students
In an effort to foster a harassment-free culture and promote race equality, the Race Equality Task Force (RETF) at the University of Oxford is inviting students to contribute to a consultation process that aims to make the institution a more inclusive, diverse, and anti-racist environment.
The consultation, which closes at 5pm on Wednesday, 1 December 2021, is part of a wider institutional commitment to race equality. The RETF's key priority is to ensure that the University grows from these conversations rather than silencing them.
Students can participate in the consultation process through various means. Formal consultations may include surveys, focus groups, or open forums organized by the university or the RETF. Engaging with student representation bodies and diversity networks at Oxford can also be an effective way to influence policy recommendations and ensure student voices are heard.
In addition to formal consultations, students can participate in events, workshops, or discussions linked to the Race Equality Strategy, providing feedback and proposing initiatives. Keeping up-to-date with announcements via official channels such as the Oxford Staff Gateway or university newsletters ensures students stay informed about consultation opportunities and can engage accordingly.
Devika, an honorary member of the Oxford SU's Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality (CRAE) and the current Vice President Graduates for Oxford SU, has witnessed the RETF actively engaging in these discussions. Devika, who completed her MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies from the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at St Antony's College in 2020, expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the consultation document, believing there is always room for improvement regarding race and diversity issues.
The consultation document includes key points for discussion such as access to counsellors of color, reimbursing students for their labor, and involving students in curriculum development. Devika is a student representative on the University's Race Equality Task Force (RETF), and she views the RETF as a symbol of hope due to the University's reaction to student voices and work on race and diversity issues.
The RETF is not alienating students but instead encouraging active participation in any capacity. The views expressed by individuals can potentially influence change in the consultation process, and no contribution is considered too big or too small. The RETF aims to facilitate conversations about race, harassment, equality, and equity within the University, with the goal of creating a more equitable and inclusive environment for all students.
In the consultation process led by the Race Equality Task Force (RETF) at the University of Oxford, personal growth and education-and-self-development are key elements as students can propose initiatives and provide feedback regarding race and diversity issues, fostering an environment that supports the pursuit of personal growth and self-development. Devika, a student representative on the University's Race Equality Task Force and an advocate for racial awareness and equality, encourages students to engage in the consultation process, emphasizing that every contribution, no matter how small, can potentially influence positive change in creating a more equitable and inclusive education-and-self-development environment at the university.
