If you stroll through UTS’s city campus, something new may catch your eye. Bold red signs announcing #RacismNotWelcome have made their debut on Alumni Green.
I believe it is important to address racism head-on.
As the first university campus to display them, I’m proud to see UTS leading the way in promoting inclusivity and standing up against discrimination
The #RacismNotWelcome campaign is community-led and grassroots. The initiative is intended to acknowledge racism, validate lived experiences of racism, and normalise conversations about racism.
In the speech at the event held for the signs’ installation, I recounted a story that illustrates how important representation, and acknowledgement, can be: When I saw UTS’s 2017 ‘Racism. It Stops With Me’ video campaign as a high school student, hearing that strong institutional commitment against racial discrimination, paired with actions to equip people with tools to be anti-racist, I knew I wanted to study at UTS.
Six years later, I was lucky enough to take part in this event to build on UTS’s anti-racism work.
The signs declare UTS’s intent, marking out a clear space that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive. They orient us towards a brighter future.
Dr Elaine Laforteza and Kurt Cheng smiling with the #RacismNotWelcome sign at UTS.
Racism Not Welcome was launched as a campaign by the Inner West Multicultural Network in 2020. On their website, they state:
“An important element is the erection of #RacismNotWelcome street signs in every Local Council across the country as a public demonstration that it is no longer hidden, taboo and left to fester, but is acknowledged, called out, and not welcome.”
It is my hope that the UTS signs may start conversations, spark thoughts, and eventually help encourage a collective shift. We are not there yet, but I remain optimistic that we are heading in the right direction.
For as long as we still need them, I am glad to see the signs there.
The #RacismNotWelcome street signs were installed on the UTS campus on Tuesday 21 March 2023 aka the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Led by UTS's Dr Elaine Laforteza and Kurt Cheng, the event saw speeches from Professor Andrew Parfitt, UTS Vice-Chancellor, The Hon Prof. Verity Firth AM, UTS Pro Vice-Chancellor (Social Justice and Inclusion), and Lindon Coombes, Director – Jumbunna Institute.
It was wonderful to have the team at Addison Road Community Centre, home to the #RacismNotWelcome campaign, join us to mark this important partnership, alongside members of the UTS community include the UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion, the UTS Students Association and ActivateUTS.
Friends, we’re making
a strong institutional commitment today.
Today, as a community, we're proud
to unveil the #racismNOTwelcome signs.
Two of the iconic red
signs in the busiest area on a public campus
to validate the experiences of racism,
to drive conversations,
and to empower our community
to be actively anti-racist.
We have a responsibility as a university
to advocate
for all aspects of social justice,
equity and inclusion,
and on the day for the elimination
of racial discrimination
this focus takes the form of acknowledging
and being honest
about our part in eliminating
and sometimes enabling racism.
But I think it's also important
to think about the times
when we haven't engaged in anti-racism
and to think about, okay, well,
what projects have we sidelined
because we think that
maybe they're too difficult
or we think that they're not relevant?
I know UTS has done a lot of work
over the years to commit to diversity
awareness and anti-racism,
so I guess I'd really like to see
it really embedded into subjects
and curriculum.
You've got to be really deliberate
about learning more about things
and taking action on those yourself.
So it's not just about knowing in theory.
It's about thinking
What practically can I do?
Now we are here to witness
the installation of the signs.
We are the first university to do so.
These signs
point us in the right direction.
They orient us towards
being actively anti-racist.
The signs are not just signs
that state our intent.
They are signs that also reassure people
that they're welcome here,
that they are welcome here.
Wherever you come from, whatever
your view, whatever your background,
whatever you look like,
this is a community for you.
I'm a Yuwaalaraay man
from north west New South Wales,
and it is my privilege to live
and work on Gadigal country.
And so on days like these, with the signs
and other things we are,
we do end up asking ourselves
what we can do
to actively combat this.
From a structural
and institutional point of view,
it's really important
to think about how the policies we have
in place and systems
we have in place at the university impact
on likelihood of racism occurring
and affecting the university students
and staff here at UTS.
I would love to get a part of more
anti-racist endeavors like this
if there is more avenues and spaces
where we can sort of impact anti-racist
endeavors,
I would love to be a part of that.
A place where we have zero
tolerance racism,
whether overt or subtle, done
knowingly or unknowingly,
racism, along with all forms of racial
discrimination, is not welcome
and accepted at UTS.
Everyone has their own
kind of sphere of influence,
and so I think it's about thinking
about the work that you do
and whether it brings, you know, is it
a safe space for people to engage with?
Is it a safe place
for Black and Indigenous people.
We’re part of the university community
here at UTS
and we’re part of a campus community,
but then we also bring communities
in from outside the university
looking outwards as well,
thinking about how UTS as a university
influences and affecting change
in the broader society as well.
It is not a sad day.
This is a day
where we need to be positive.
We need to work together
and be together as a community.
This is the day for the elimination
of racial discrimination.
But let's make this a lifetime.