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Equity committee members for 2001/2002 were Peter Cole, Pauline Head (Secretary), Neal Madras (rep to C&G), Monica Mulvihill (YUFA Staff), Karen Stanworth, Jody Nyasha Warner (Chair), Paula Wilson (rep to C&G) and Walter Whitely (rep from C&G). The Equity committee had a busy and fruitful year, activities to date are discussed below:

Founding of Caucuses
In the fall of 2001 the Race Equity Caucus was formed. The caucus is an independent body of racialized minority faculty members who are working in association with YUFA on equity issues. The fall also saw the launching of a Queer caucus for GLBT faculty. Next year the committee may consider organizing a caucus for faculty with disabilities. The caucus model provides a good opportunity for colleagues to meet each other, for political mobilization and for offering support.

Task Force on Inclusivity and Diversity
The Taskforce on Inclusivity and Diversity is made up of Gill Teiman (Presidents Advisor to the President, Human Rights), Barbara Dodge (Arts, Administration rep) and myself (Libraries, YUFA rep). The Taskforce has spent the spring gathering data on career barriers and facilitators experienced by faculty who are women and/or visible minorities and/or gay/lesbian/bi/trans and/or who have disabilities. Data has been gathered by holding focus groups (with the help of the Institute for Social Research) and accepting written submissions. These activities will not use up all of the Taskforce’s $15, 000 budget and another possible initiative includes conducting exit interviews, to identify any possible equity issues, with YUFA members who have left their jobs. Other ideas or suggestions are welcome and can be directed to Taskforce members.

Active Voice
In the spring of 2002 YUFA members received a print issue of Active Voice titled acting affirmatively. The issue was coordinated by Kathy Bischoping (Information Officer),  Brett Cemer (YUFA Staff) and myself and focused on affirmative action in hiring, moving beyond whiteness in the academy and inclusiveness at York.

Affirmative Action Issues
This spring a number of hirings occurred across the University which made it clear that the current Affirmative Action policy, and membership commitment to it, particularly in relation to racialized minority applicants, are seriously lacking. A number of groups and individuals, including the Race Equity Caucus and the South Asian scholars group raised public objections to these problematic hirings. The Equity committee is considering a number of remedies to this situation including conducting an equity audit of past hirings, the use of grievances, a review of statistics and target setting, and a review of the AA committee and AA language.

Teaching Evaluations and Bias Project
The Equity committee is still working on the Teaching Evaluation and Bias initiative. Articles documenting the issue of bias (based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability) in teaching evaluations will be copied and kept in binders at the YUFA office and the CST. Faculty may choose to include one or more of these articles in the documentation of their tenure files. In addition, the Equity committee is currently organizing an orientation session for teaching assessors who will be able to offer peer review of teaching, taking into account the various ways bias may be present in the classroom, for tenure applicants.

National Aboriginal Council
Peter Cole, an Equity committee member, initiated a meeting with Marc Renaud, current president of SSHRC to discuss the present research landscape in which more than 95% of federal funding for aboriginal projects goes to non-aboriginal scholars. Cole suggested that SSHRC consider creating a National Aboriginal Council, which would consist of First Nations community members and elders and would review any research proposals having to do with aboriginal issues. Renaud seemed open to the idea and the Equity committee will offer any support it can in this important initiative.

Work / Home Balance
The Equity committee has begun a discussion on the lack of accommodation for people with child or elder care responsibilities who wish to find a better balance between their home and work life. It is hoped we will be able to put forth some new language and/or strengthen existing language to address this issue during contract negotiations next year.

Meeting with the Senate Subcommittee on the Status of the University
In the fall of 2001 a few representatives of the Equity committee met with members of the Senate Subcommittee on the Status of the University to outline some of the equity issues which affect faculty with York. These included problems of chilly climate (particularly for women, faculty of colour and CLAs / Alternative stream folk), slowness of employment equity change, new funding formulas which threaten past pay equity gains and lack of commitment to diverse curriculum. In addition, we spoke to the committee about positive initiatives happening at other universities such as the First Nations organizing at Queen's university.

Review of Shattering the Silences – The Case for Minority Faculty
The YUFA Equity committee previewed the movie Shattering the Silences which highlights the experiences and challenges faced by minority faculty. Although the film is set in the American context many of the issues it brings to light are relevant in Canadian universities as well. The movie is accompanied by a Facilitators guide which gives several models for using the film as a teaching tool. The committee recommended that the Joint Committee on Affirmative Action use it as a resource in training of Affirmative Action monitors and hiring committees. The film is available at Scott library.