Bristol University students call for action against “institutionalised” racism

Students at the University of Bristol have come out in protest at the “daily” incidents of racism experienced on campus.

The students stated their concerns in an open letter penned by Bristol Students’ Union. It details incidents including “frequent uses of offensive language in seminars and lectures; students being targeted and humiliated by senior members of academic staff; and racist images appearing in halls of residences”.

The letter comes in response to a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission which found that racial harassment was “a common occurrence” for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic group (BAME) students studying in UK universities.

The report revealed that “microaggressions are often shrugged off and harassment brushed under the carpet” in cases of racial discrimination against staff, as well as incidents involving students.

In response to the report, Universities UK pledged to “intensify” their efforts to ensure universities were inclusive institutions and called upon university management to make tackling racial harassment a “top priority”.

Microaggressions are often shrugged off and harassment brushed under the carpet

– Equality and Human Rights Commission

The University of Bristol in particular introduced a ‘Nilaari’ scheme, offering support to BAME students and funding the first five sessions of counselling.

One of the terms detailed in the open letter requests a “timetabled, regular and high presence” of Nilaari counsellors on campus to make this support more accessible to students.

While the letter commended the efforts of the Student Inclusion Team and HR Team of the university, it criticised the lack of “similar commitment on an institution-wide level”.

The letter encourages any students who have experienced incidents of racial discrimination on campus to anonymously submit their experiences through the university’s ‘Report and Support’ scheme, which directs students to the Wellbeing Services available.

Bristol SU goes on to express that they “lack faith” in the Report and Support scheme’s ability to “deal with named cases”, directing those incidents to be reported to the Student Complaints Procedure instead.

The letter places emphasis on the importance of exposing the quantity of incidents experienced, stating that “high reporting rates will reveal the true scale and nature of racism at our university and exert pressure for action”.

Conditions that the letter lists as needing to be fulfilled include ensuring appropriate disciplinary action, diversification of staff present on campus and a decolonisation of the curriculum.

The letter calls on the university to undertake an “independent, external review of institutionalised racism” present on campus.

Bristol SU end the letter by stating that they expect a response from the university by the 15 January 2020.

A spokesperson for the university issued an initial response to the letter, acknowledging that they “know there is more to do” regarding the handling of incidents of racial discrimination.

They went on to affirm that the university is “committed to continuing to work in partnership with students and staff on these important issues.”