An email from UTS Vice-Chancellor Attila Brungs to all-students on UTS's zero tolerance stance for racism.
A very warm welcome to UTS. Whether you are a returning student or just commencing your studies for the first time, we are delighted to welcome you to the UTS community for the 2020 Spring session.
You would have received a number of communications over the past few weeks about measures we are taking to ensure your health, safety and wellbeing, which continues to be our number one priority. In line with this, I would like to remind you, whether you’re coming to campus for face-to-face learning activities or studying online, racism is not tolerated at UTS.
Unfortunately, one of the reactions to COVID-19 has been an increase in racist attitudes and behaviours in our society – UTS is no exception. However, it is our responsibility as a proudly diverse public institution to take action to combat this. Whether overt or subtle, done knowingly or unknowingly, racism, along with all forms of prejudice and discrimination, is not welcome and accepted at UTS.
The culture we seek to build at UTS is one of safety and respect. If racism is allowed to go unchecked, we are creating the conditions where it is allowed to thrive. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to call out racism when we encounter it, and importantly, to go a step further and be proactively anti-racist.
On a societal and institutional level, there are bigger conversations that we need to have about how systems and policies contribute to inequity. On an individual level, I am calling on you, our students, and the wider UTS community, to take a stand.
I ask you to be anti-racist, to speak up and call out racist behaviour and to be an active and ethical bystander. We want you to feel empowered, safe and confident to call out racism when you see it and know that we will support you should you ever experience racism at UTS.
If you experience racism, there are a number of ways you can get help:
- Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion – advice for equity-related concerns
- Student complaints
- Counselling service – free, confidential counselling if you experience distress
- UTS Security – if you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or see something happening on campus
Racism asks for your silence. Anti-racism asks for your voice. Call it out.
I believe in the strength and resilience of our UTS community and I know that together we have the power to make a positive and lasting change. It takes a collective effort to ensure UTS remains a great place to work and study – so thank you for your help building a respectful, safe and joyous campus culture where we can all thrive.
Kind regards
Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor and President