Happy August,---
Summer is almost over, and OUSA has been busy preparing for the year ahead. We continue to advocate on behalf of students through consultations with stakeholders and media interviews. Many post-secondary students are struggling financially due to COVID-19, and OUSA has been calling on the provincial government to provide immediate financial relief to students through improved OSAP and increased financial aid.
OUSA participated in “The Future of Learning and Prosperity”, a consultation with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to discuss the re-opening of campuses. We took this opportunity to provide feedback on the affordability of post-secondary education in the context of COVID-19. As the Fall 2020 semester approaches, OUSA emphasized the need for enhanced financial support to help students attend university this Fall.
You can read more on our OSAP recommendations here.
OUSA’s Research Intern, Zamir, released Perspectives on Campus (POC), a weekly video series highlighting racialized students’ experiences across five different institutions. Zamir interviewed extraordinary student leaders from Western, Brock, Queen's, Laurentian, and McMaster. You can learn more about POC here.
"Even though many campuses are operating in an entirely virtual space, we can still build and support our campus communities. Many student unions have moved clubs, events, and other social events online; consider getting involved! Continue to check in with one another, and most importantly, take care of yourself."
Read Julia's Presidential Update here.
The final eligibility period for the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) is from August 2 to August 29, 2020. All applications for the CESB must be submitted by September 30, 2020. CESB is an income supplement provided by the Federal government for eligible post-secondary students and recent grads.
OUSA has put together a list of COVID-19 resources and supports available to help students as they transition through this difficult time: visit ousa.ca/covid_19_resources.
Break the Glass Ceiling: Reflections on Racism in Healthcare Education
“Students want action that goes beyond training staff and students on cultural safety. What we want to see is an integration of diversity into our education curriculum and the decolonization of health care education. We want to see active efforts by educational institutions to support people of colour in breaking the glass ceiling that prevents educators of colour and future candidates from entering the workforce..."
Western Nursing Student, Erika, wrote about racism and racial equity in healthcare education. Read it here: https://www.ousa.ca/blog_racism_healthcare_ed
No, racial slurs can’t serve ‘educational purposes.’
“We all know the unwritten rule: don’t use a term traditionally used to target a community of people unless you are a member of that community. Far too often, educators feel exempt from this rule, believing that their use of these slurs serves an ‘educational purpose.’ I’m not writing this article to explain why folks shouldn’t use racial epithets that they have no right to reclaim; that should be a given. I’m writing this article to….”
OUSA’s Research Intern, Zamir, explains why it is never acceptable for educators to use racial slurs. Read it here: https://www.ousa.ca/blog_racial_slurs.