As many of you may know, a movement known as Scholar Strike Canada, in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, has called for a two-day strike/teach-in by academics across the country on September 9 and 10.
From the Scholar Strike website:
Scholar Strike originated in the U.S from a tweet by Dr. Anthea Butler who, inspired by the striking WNBA and NBA players, put out a call for a similar labour action from academics. The Canadian action is aligned with the one in the U.S., in its call for racial justice, an end to anti-Black police violence and it adds a specific focus on anti-Indigenous, colonial violence.
Scholar Strike is a labour action/teach-in/social justice advocacy happening on September 9-10, 2020. September 9 & 10 were chosen as the dates of the Scholar Strike in Canada because, for many of us, the academic year begins on these dates. These days were also chosen because of their proximity to Labour Day.
In their call to action, Scholar Strike Canada has presented a number of ways that academics can act in support of this initiative.
Some faculty are attending and encouraging their students to attend public events posted at https://scholarstrikecanada.ca/schedule/
Some faculty will make space in their online classes for a discussion around how to contribute towards building racial justice.
Some faculty are sharing materials on how to address these topics in our different courses.
Some faculty and students may take the days to rest and reflect on these questions in whatever ways are healthy for them.
The Department of Theatre and Film at UBC supports Scholar Strike Canada and has asked all of its instructors to consider the ways that they might best contribute. Many are still solidifying their plans and will notify their students accordingly. I urge all of our students to join us in making the best possible use of any and all opportunities for critical education on these urgent matters that this two-day event affords.
For more information on Scholar Strike Canada visit https://scholarstrikecanada.ca/
Sincerely,
Tom Scholte
Acting Head
Department of Theatre and Film
University of British Columbia
Located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people
