Should we expose people in academia who are accused of racism? (Part 1) Episode 010

The #metoo movement publicly named and exposed individuals who were accused of sexual assault, therefore should individuals accused of racism in academia get the same treatment? In this episode, we discuss the efforts from universities that shield the names and actions of White people accused of racism within these institutions, yet who allow the BIPOC accuser’s name to be sullied through retaliation by the White accused. With victim and perpetrator reversed, Higher Education administration argue that the White victim must be protected from the BIPOC perpetrator often relying on racialized stereotypes. In a 2022 decision made in arbitration between York University and the York University Faculty Association, our own co-founder Aime Avolonto’s case of wrongful termination was deemed to be “public”, thus revealing names of both accusers and witnesses, despite the administration’s attempts to maintain secrecy. We discuss the ruling, along with why the decision is an important first step in curtailing systemic racism on campus.