In no uncertain terms, St. Lewis was illustrating a crucial point: belief is not fact. Proof of systemic racism requires more than a political declaration. To determine the impact of racism on a university campus, an independent, peer-reviewed study is required. Research would help clarify where racism occurs, how it is manifested, and how often.
But many activists are not in the habit of waiting for credible evidence to emerge. They need to believe that racism is pervasive. In the fall of 2020, their cause was given new life.
In January 2021, Jacques Frémont, president and vice-chancellor, signed anti-racism initiatives “designed to combat systemic racial discrimination.” In November 2021, Prof. Boulou Ebanda de B’béri, the special adviser on anti-racism and inclusive excellence, stressed that the University of Ottawa must “end systemic racism within its walls.”
Without statistically significant surveys, neither individual has a clue to what extent racism exists on campus. Therein lie the pitfalls of activism. Conclusions are assumed before a study is conducted. Resources are allocated without understanding the breadth of the problem. And a belief becomes a fact if stated with enough conviction.
Here is an inconvenient truth: We have no credible evidence to suggest that systemic racism is a matter of urgent concern at the University of Ottawa. From the activists’ perspective, however, this is pure heresy.
To quash dissent, they have adopted three fallback positions. First, since systemic racism afflicts other large institutions, the onus is on educational establishments to prove they are not hubs for racist behaviour. The University of Ottawa could perhaps do just that — if it conducted an actual study.
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Multicultural Meanderings 