I was deeply disturbed to read a CBC report today, which details how one of our colleagues, Professor Ogbogu, had been targeted with racist messages following his commentary on Alberta's pandemic response.
Professor Ogbogu has the full and unequivocal support of the University of Alberta. Reflecting the university's unwavering commitment to academic freedom, the university affirms the vital importance of our colleagues engaging in public and scholarly commentary, however sensitive or controversial the topic at hand. Across all areas of its mandate, the university is committed to intellectual integrity, rigorous inquiry, and the robust expression and discussion of ideas. Fostering and defending the ability of members of the university community to engage in debate and deliberation is an essential part of the university's educational mission.
Likewise reflecting the university's core values of equity, diversity and inclusivity, the university condemns in the strongest terms possible these racist attacks on one of our colleagues. At the University of Alberta, we must continually strive to be a place where equity and inclusivity thrive in thought and action. When we see an act of racism or hate, we cannot let it go unchallenged. We must listen to the experiences and advice of those who have experienced systemic racism and hatred. We must reflect on the actions that we can take as individuals. We must provide space for dialogue and support.
We are taking numerous actions to support inclusion on our campuses. These include honouring Black History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day. We are doing more to feature the achievements and contributions of marginalized scholars. We are developing an institutional Indigenous Strategic Plan that will support the incorporation of Indigenous knowledges in the learning environment and highlight Indigenous scholarship. We are developing anti-racism training for students, faculty, and staff. We recently implemented new equitable and inclusive hiring practices as outlined in our newly revised policies and procedures.
Together, as a community, we must continually strive to uplift the whole people, reflecting and celebrating our community's rich diversity.
Bill Flanagan
President & Vice-chancellor