Check out free workshops and events on campus
Photo by Sage Blackwell.
UVic’s 5 Days of Action event is back — from Nov. 4-8, head to campus and “learn through workshops, engage in art and contribute to community dialogue,” which workshop speaker Cassbrea Davis says are “an opportunity to reflect on the many ways you can contribute to an inclusive campus.”
UVic’ 5 Days of Action highlights the work that various groups and organizations are doing to promote diversity and belonging on campus.
Each day of the week has a different “call to action” which uniquely represents UVic’s commitment to end discrimination, harassment, and sexualized violence: Listen, Reflect, Dialogue, Engage, and Take Action. Check out UVic’s guide to reading, watching, listening, and committing to each themed day on their website, or head to the 5 Day Hub by the Petch Fountain to learn about the event calendar for the week.
Stop by on Monday Nov. 4 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. to enjoy some coffee or tea and test your knowledge about equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) by playing a game of “JeoparDEI.”
Make sure you don’t miss these daily events on campus during this action-packed week.
Monday: Listen
The first call to action is “Listen,” because listening to the perspectives of those around you is a great catch-all for learning to be a good ally. Make sure to catch Cassbrea Davis’ workshop on “Recognizing Harm and What to Do About It – Revised Discrimination and Harassment Policy” from 1–2:20 p.m. in the Hickman Building to better understand the role you play in preventing and responding to Discrimination and Harassment. Discussions will also cover rights and responsibilities under UVic’s new Discrimination and Harassment Policy.
Tuesday: Reflect
On Tuesday, reflect on your own positionality by attending the opening of the 5 Days of Action Arts Exhibition to learn about the perspectives of others. From 4–6 p.m. the grand opening of the event will take place, demonstrating a range of student artwork including visual arts, poetry, fiction, music, and performance. Don’t worry about rushing to get a good seat — since the event is co-sponsored by UVic Libraries, the gallery will be open during regular library hours for the rest of the week in the Mearns Centre for Learning.
From 12:30–1:30 p.m., take a break between classes and absorb the beauty of performances from the School of Music in “5 Days of Action: Amplifying Voices,” an annual recital in the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall which features rich diversity in music while also acknowledging EDI challenges in the music industry. Also live-streamed on their website, musical performances will be balanced with discussion about the importance of marginalized artists’ work.
Another workshop that could be interesting for students and community members are “Navigating the Neurotypical Job Search Process: Fostering Double Empathy to Pave the Way” with Uvic’s Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator online from 3–4 p.m.. All online workshops during the week-long event can be accessed via the 5 Days of Action event calendar.
Wednesday: Dialogue
Wednesday is intended to make space for dialogue, which is one of the best ways to incite change. One dialogue-generating event for the middle of the week is “Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL: Reflections on UVic’s Indigenous Plan, one year later” from 9:30–11 a.m. at the First People’s House, which recaps a year of progress since the launch of UVic’s reviewed Indigenous Plan, Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL last year.
“From Accomodations to Universal Design: Answering the Accessibility Plan’s Calls to Action,” an event centered around accessibility, will be offered online from 1–1:20 p.m., showcasing how six different “units” at UVic are responding to UVic’s Accessibility Plan. Human Resources, the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL), the Society for Students with Disabilities, Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation, University Systems, and Facilities Management will all discuss their work relating to universal design.
Finally, from 2:30–4 p.m. at the Grad House Restaurant, “Great IDEAs” accepts all attendees to a happy hour event with bingo and prizes. UVic grad students will have the opportunity to present their research while people drink and snack, and all of the presentation themes will surround EDI topics and accessibility.
Thursday: Engage
Thursday offers a huge variety of in-person events, so students can get out of their dorms and really engage with the community. Some of the attractions for the day are a “Holy Cow Mini Donut” cart fundraising for the Native Students Union from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Petch Fountain, and diversity-themed art exhibitions such as “Rooting for Reclamation” and “The Chorus is Speaking” at the Legacy Art Gallery, which you can actually visit until December.
Another interesting experiment called “Strangers by Design” will take place from 1–2:20 p.m. in the Hickman Building, where researchers from UVic will share an ongoing interactive experiment about holistic and relationship-centered approaches to EDI.
Friday: Take Action
The final day of action’s theme is taking action; after all, UVic’s 5 Days of Action is to remind students and staff of UVic’s 365-day commitment to amplifying diversity and inclusion. It’s suggested on UVic’s guide to embodying each call-to-action that on Friday community members read and reflect on UVic’s diversity policies, such as UVic Libraries’ guide to anti-racism and anti-oppression, and UVic’s Equity Action Plan.
Additionally, from 10–11:20 a.m. in the David Strong Building (Room C122), The Scarborough Charter Steering Committee will review the Scarborough Charter to reduce anti-black racism and support black flourishing, which UVic signed in 2021. Discussions will surround how this work began, as well as how we can advance black inclusion at UVic today.
Finally, seal off your 5 Days of Action by visiting KILLJOYS, an annual art exhibition challenging systemic oppression and violence through artwork. From 10:00 a.m.–4 p.m. in the Audain Gallery in the Visual Arts Building, you can view art curated, installed, and promoted by UVic students inspired by Queer Theorist Sara Ahmed’s “Feminist Killjoys.”
