November 25, 2022
Content Warning/Trigger Warning: Racism, Anti Black Lingo, Anti Asian Lingo.
Support resources are provided at the bottom of this page.
Dear Wednesday’s Council Meeting Attendees,
We would like to address the “zoom bomb” incident that occurred at the beginning of the Council meeting yesterday. However, we would like to preface this with a trigger warning regarding racist, anti-Black, and anti-Asian violence.
We want to acknowledge how unacceptable, harmful and/or traumatizing the incident that occurred within Council yesterday where a person had zoom bombed the meeting and expressed racist and anti-Black, anti-Asian sentiments. We do not stand by these sentiments and fully condemn this behaviour. As a society that understands its responsibility to serve as representatives of the student body, and that prides itself on community, inclusion and empowerment, council meetings and SFSS spaces are no place for this kind of rhetoric and behaviour displayed. We are taking this seriously while examining different options to ensure that our meetings are secure, safe and accessible to our members.
We hope that Simon Fraser University (SFU) treats the constant online harassment of racialized students seriously through investigation and taking disciplinary measures, including suspending and expelling individuals who breach the student racial harassment policies.
Furthermore, we understand how heavy this is for many Black members and staff in attendance and so we have ensured health and counselling services will be provided to further support in this time. These resources are listed below and if anyone within the meeting would like to further discuss with an executive, please feel free to reach out.
We hope you folks are able to take care of yourselves this time.
In Solidarity,
SFSS Executive Committee
Resources:
SFSS Supports:
Internal SFU Supports:
- Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP): the SFU Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provides confidential, professional assistance to help SFU employees and their family members resolve problems that affect your personal and work lives
- Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Office: A diverse range of supports are available for campus community members including students, staff and faculty who are impacted by sexual violence
- Critical Incident Support: A Critical Incident (or Significant Event) is normally a traumatic event that creates a strong emotional reaction. This reaction may interfere with an individual’s ability to manage normal day-to-day activities or have a large negative impact on the people involved or community members that have in some way been involved. Learn about the supports available.
- The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion has compiled a list of support and awareness resources on anti-Asian racism, including culturally appropriate mental health supports and organizations that are spreading awareness about anti-Asian racism in Canada
- The Human Resources Student Association of BC has compiled a website with anti-Asian racism resources, including further information on the history of anti-Asian racism in Canada, reporting lines and organizations to support.
Off Campus Resources:
- DIVERSEcity, a non-profit community resource society in Surrey, has a good page of COVID-19 resources, plus has counselling sessions via phone available to Fraser Health residents in multiple languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and others.
- Moving Forward Family Services in Surrey is offering free emotional support by phone in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu and low-cost counselling by calling or texting 778-321-3054, emailing counsellor@movingforwardfamilyservices.com or filling in this application form.
- The Roshni Clinic offers culturally safe mental health, alcohol and drug use counselling and program support and has virtual appointments available by phone or online.
- The NISA Helpline has a toll-free counselling service and support line for Muslim women. They offer free online webinars and resources in dealing with stress and anxiety during this time. Also, can be reached via phone at 1-888-315-6472 or email info@nisahelpline.com.
- MOSAIC, a non-profit in Surrey, offers culturally safe outreach emergency support for women experiencing sexual or gender-based violence by calling 236-521-7080 or emailing women.support@mosaicbc.org.
- International Student Support is available through the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society. They are running a new immigrant and student helpline at 604-618-5114 and 604-543-9442. One Voice Canada also offers an international student helpline at 1-833-316-6423.
- General virtual mental health supports are available through the BC government, which has listings of a variety of psychological services. The new BC COVID-19 Mental Health Network is also offering free short-term one on one counselling for people struggling with COVID-19 related impacts. Email bccovidtherapists@gmail.com.
- The Fraser Health Crisis Line is also available 24/7 to address COVID-19 related anxiety, depression and other mental health issues at 1-877-820-7444.
- SWAN Vancouver provides culturally-specialised supports and advocacy to immigrant women engaged in indoor sex work
- The Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice supports youth and low-income immigrant seniors in Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside through intergenerational relationship building and by helping seniors overcome language and cultural barriers to services that meet their basic needs