SBA Programming and Events
- Open Meeting of the SBA Anti-Sexual Violence Committee – TODAY!
- #AllOut4GC
- Crafternoon
- The Muslims are Coming!
- Office Closures
- Moving Beyond the Checklist; Intro to Disability Justice and Planning Accessible Events
Community Events and Resources
- IEN/ISSU Games Night and End of Term Social
- BIPOC Book Group: Colour Between the Lines
- APUS Annual General Meeting (AGM)
SBA Programming and EventsOpen Meeting of the SBA Anti-Sexual Violence Committee – TODAY!
Join the SBA Anti-Sexual Violence Committee for a discussion on U of T’s new Sexual Violence Policy, and the University’s goals for the education and prevention of sexual violence.
The Expert Panel on Education and Prevention of Sexual Violence at U of T is currently holding consultations to gather student feedback and recommendations on their sexual violence education and training program on campus. Come join us in discussing the content that you would like to see the Expert Panel prioritize.
Some of the questions we would like to address include:
1. What is the SV Policy?
2. Why was it created?
3. What would members want to see prioritized in the University’s sexual violence education and prevention training modules?
4. What would meaningful support for disabled and mad survivors of violence look like in areas of sexual violence education and training on campus?
Students for Barrier-free Access is a student-led disability justice organization that has been actively advocating for a more inclusive Sexual Violence policy and Centre for Sexual Violence Support and Education at the University of Toronto. We are committed to working towards ending campus rape culture.
Please note that while this event is open to all disabled and mad survivors of violence, we seek to centre the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous and POC disabled and mad survivors. We ask that event attendees be mindful of the space that they are taking in the discussion and support the collective in creating a respectful and meaningful community dialogue.
Date: Tuesday April 4th, 2017
Location: Room 702, (246 Bloor Street West, Social Work Building)
Time: 5pm – 7pm
Access Info: Wheelchair accessible building. Accessible, gender-neutral washroom on same floor as event. TTC tokens available. Please arrive scent-free. Snacks including vegan and gluten-free options will be served.
If you require ASL or Live Captioning to participate in this event, or if you have any other access needs, please contact Nadia at sba.advocacycoordinator@gmail.com by Thursday March 30, 2017.—————————————–#AllOut4GC
As university students, educators, and community members, we want to see quality public education that is accessible to all. As students and workers at this University, it is up to us to defend the right to education and better working conditions and build the University we want to see.
FIGHT THE FEES
UofT’s Governing Council is voting on tuition fee increases for students on April 4, 2017. Students at UofT pay among the highest tuition fees in the country on average. Over 50% of students across UofT rely on OSAP and many work multiple part-time and full-time jobs to fund their education. High tuition fees and student debt disproportionately affect low-income, disabled, racialized, and indigenous learners. International students are made to pay the difference for government underfunding. The high cost of education is a significant cause of student distress.
FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS
Many students and workers at the University make less than a living wage. The University of Toronto can afford to pay all students and staff who make this University a world-class institution a living wage. This includes Scarborough Campus cafeteria workers currently on strike to end poverty wages.
On April 4, 2017, we are calling on Governors to:
- Vote NO to all proposed tuition fee increases
- Commit to ensuring a $15/hour minimum wage across the University
JOIN US – RALLY AT SIMCOE HALL
April 4, 2017, 3:30 pm
27 King’s College
ASL interpretation will be provided.
Questions, endorsements or accessibility requests? Email: fightthefees@apus.ca.
For more details, check out the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/653595788157954/
Endorsed by:
Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students (APUS of the UofT)
Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU)
University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU)
Canadian Federation of Students’ Ontario
University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union
Unite Here Local 75
CUPE 3902
United Steelworkers Local 1998
The Free Tuition Coalition
African Students Association UofT
CUPE 3907
Black Students’ Association of UofT
LGBTOUT
Students for Barrier-free Access
More info:
APRIL 4 – FIGHT THE FEES, FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS RALLY
UofT’s Governing Council will be voting on tuition fee increases for all domestic and international, undergraduate and graduate students at its meeting on April 4, 2017. Proposed tuition fee increases for incoming undergraduate students range from 3-5%, while continuing students will face increases of between 5-9%. For incoming graduate students in professional programs, increases range between 2-15%, with 2-5% increases for continuing students. Notably, the Governing Council is proposing to decrease tuition for domestic students in doctoral-stream programs by 1%, but international students in the same cohort will face 5% increases.
Students in Ontario pay the highest tuition fees amongst students across the country. International students often face the brunt of tuition fee increases with lesser access to financial aid and job opportunities. Higher fees are also resulting in more students taking on high levels of debt, as well as turning to precarious work. We know that students work multiple part-time and full-time jobs to fund their education and over half of students at the University rely on OSAP. Many students – including work study students – make less than a living wage. The University of Toronto can afford to pay all students and staff who make this University a world-class institution a living wage. This includes Scarborough Campus cafeteria workers currently on strike to end poverty wages. Governing Council also has a responsibility to make sure all workers have access to a safe working environment. Recently, concerns regarding asbestos exposure have also been raised by staff and students at the St.George campus.
The high cost of education is increasingly taking a toll on the mental health of our students. Students continue to be made to shoulder the burden of high tuition fees while simultaneously paying ancillary fees to access mental resources on campus. Higher tuition fees also disproportionately affect low-income, disabled, racialized and indigenous learners.
Students, staff and faculty are calling on Governors to vote no to all proposed tuition fee increases. As university students, educators, and community members, we share a goal to see a system of post-secondary education that high quality, that is public, and is accessible to all. We also want to see all students and staff of the University make a $15/hour minimum wage. As students and workers at this University, we are at the forefront in the struggle over its future. It’s time for us to come together and defend the right to education and better working conditions.
RALLY AT SIMCOE HALL
April 4, 2017, 3:30 pm
27 King’s College—————————————– CrafternoonJoin us for another evening of crafternoon at 215 Huron Street, room 924. We’ll have yarn, knitting needles, and crochet hooks for anyone who wants to learn how to knit or crochet! All skill levels welcome! Date: Thursday April 6th, 2017 Location: 215 Huron Street, room 924. Time: 4:30 – 6:30pm – If you arrive after 5:30, please call 416 967 7322
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The Muslims Are Coming! This event is the second in a series which aims to create a critical conversation space for people who have some connection to Muslim identity including through family, history, and/or culture. People who identify as practicing, non-practicing, or something in between are all welcome.Using short video clips of poetry, prose, comedy and documentaries, we will discuss the multifaceted experiences of growing up and living in migrant Muslim families/communities and the politics of being Muslim in our current times. Our conversation will centre the experiences of black and racialized Muslims and in particular the voices of queer, trans, disabled and mad people.
The Muslims Are Coming! is part of a monthly discussion series organized by SBA and CWTP.
Date: Tuesday April 18th, 2017
Time: 1:30-3:30PM
Location: 569 Spadina Ave (Accessible entrance via Bancroft Ave), Multifaith Centre / Koffler Building, Room 208, Main Activity Hall
Access Info: Wheelchair accessible building. Accessible, gender-neutral washroom on same floor as event. TTC tokens available. Video clips will have captioning or will be accompanied by written text of the dialogue. Family-friendly space. Please arrive scent-free. Snacks including vegan and gluten-free options will be served.
If you have any other access needs please contact Nadia at sba.advocacycoordinator@gmail.com
Allies, we appreciate your support in helping us maintain this closed conversations space for people who have connections to Muslim identity and by sharing this event info —————————————–
Office Closures
Please note that the SBA centre will be closed on the following dates:
Friday April 7th, 2017 – All Day
Friday April 14th, 2017 – All Day
Monday April 17th, 2017 – All Day
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Moving Beyond the Checklist; An Introduction to Disability Justice and Planning Accessible Events
Want to plan an accessible event but not sure where to begin? SBA offers a free workshop for student clubs and organizations that provides attendees with concrete tools to plan for accessible events and student spaces. The first part of this workshop provides a brief introduction to Disability Justice as an organizing principle and outlines some of the barriers to access that students with disabilities face. The second part of the workshop includes a step-by-step discussion on planning accessible events, from event visioning, to logistics, to outreach. There is also an opportunity to ask questions of the presenters.
If you are interested in having SBA present this workshop for your club/organization leaders and members please contact Nadia at sba.advocacycoordinator@gmail.com
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Community Events and ResourcesIEN/ISSU Games Night and End of Term Social
Join the Indigenous Education Network and the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union for and end of term social and games night on Wednesday April 5th from 6-8pm at OISE in the 12th floor Nexus Lounge.Indigenous language games provided by Ciimaan/Kahuwe’ya/Qajak. Food and refreshments provided.Date: Wednesday April 5th, 6-8pmLocation: OISE 12th Floor Nexus LoungeThere will be Indigenous themed games, language games, colouring, and snacks.Hosted by the Indigenous Education Network & the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union. Indigenous language games provided by Ciimaan/Kahuwe’ya/QajakRSVP: https://games_night.eventbrite.cahttps://www.facebook.com/events/393918084297601/—————————————–BIPOC Book Group: Colour Between the LinesPresented by: Community Action Centre at the Student Association of George Brown College
ZAMI – A New Spelling of My Name
by Audre LordeAs part of our Black History Month Extended, we will be reading from Audre Lorde’s Zami.
LOCATION:
Community Action Centre, 165B (St. James Campus)
George Brown College
200 King Street East, Toronto, ON
TIME:
5:30pm-7:30pm
Limited copies of the book is FREE for pickup at the Community Action Centre.
Questions/Accommodations: international@sagbc.ca
or message Rain Ing
Bio:
A self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” Audre Lorde dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing the injustices of racism, sexism, and homophobia. Her poetry, and “indeed all of her writing,” according to contributor Joan Martin in Black Women Writers (1950-1980): A Critical Evaluation, “rings with passion, sincerity, perception, and depth of feeling.” Concerned with modern society’s tendency to categorize groups of people, Lorde fought the marginalization of such categories as “lesbian” and “black woman,” thereby empowering her readers to react to the prejudice in their own lives. While the widespread critical acclaim bestowed upon Lorde for dealing with lesbian topics made her a target of those opposed to her radical agenda, she continued, undaunted, to express her individuality, refusing to be silenced. As she told interviewer Charles H. Rowell in Callaloo: “My sexuality is part and parcel of who I am, and my poetry comes from the intersection of me and my worlds… [White, arch-conservative senator] Jesse Helms’s objection to my work is not about obscenity…or even about sex. It is about revolution and change.” Fighting a battle with cancer that she documented in her highly acclaimed Cancer Journals (1980), Lorde died of the illness in 1992.Colour Between the Lines is a BIPOC Book Group centering readings by authors of colour. We enter the discussions from an intersectional, decolonial anti-oppressive framework. We will read from a diverse range of genres including fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, memoirs, etc. Potential authors on the book list: bell hooks, Marjane Sartrapi, Audre Lorde, and more.—————————————–APUS Annual General MeetingAll part-time undergraduate students may attend the AGM on April 6th, 2017 at 5pm. Members will hear updates form the APUS Executive, review APUS’ financial statements and by-law changes, and appoint our auditors for the next year. ASL interpretation, live captioning, and refreshments will be provided. For meeting agenda, and financial statements, please visit apus.ca/agm. If you have any accessibility requests, please email vpinternal@apus.ca
Students for Barrier-Free Access 