The last few years have seen increased incidents of intolerance on college and university campuses. This awareness campaign seeks to increase unity while respecting the diversity of the student community.

At the semi-annual Ontario general meeting of the Canadian Federation of Students held in January 2006, students from across the province voted to strike a Task Force on the Needs of Muslim students at Ontario colleges and universities. This initiative came forward in the context of access to adequate prayer space and institutional progress in meeting the needs of Muslim students being uneven across Ontario.

The Final Report of the Task Force on the Needs of Muslim Students was released on March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The report is the culmination of a comprehensive investigation into the first hand experiences of Muslim students on campuses across Ontario and was intended to assess the breadth and scope of institutional accommodation of an important and growing segment of the campus population.

The final report found that improving the on-campus atmosphere and for challenging Islamophobia requires simple action: awareness of the tenets of Islam to eliminate stereotypes and facilitate genuine engagement between students, staff and faculty; flexibility in course and exam scheduling; diversity in food choices that reflect cultural diversity; adequate prayer space that is secure and within reach of all areas of campus; and—perhaps most fundamentally—basic respect. Such a modest plan of action can—if implemented immediately—transform the educational experience of Muslim students, challenge racism on campus and create a healthier environment for all.

Final Report of the Task Force on Campus Racism

Upon conclusion of the 17 hearings on 14 campuses and the compilation of Task Force participant statements, Task Force members identified four major themes within the report: individual and systemic racism in campus life, institutional racism in hiring and curriculum, institutional racism in university policy and governance and systemic racism in the broader society.

The Report is available for download below.

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