On March 18th, 2022, a statement was read to the Board of Governors of Bishop's University.

The statement was as follows:

As we work together in fostering Bishop’s University’s sincerity and courage in confronting the realities of systemic racism in higher education, we forward the following demands:

 

1.    That the Board of Governors and the Bishop’s Council review the 96 letters (so far) of attestation that have been submitted in support of Dr. C. Darius Stonebanks’ character in hopes of voicing a growing counter narrative to his abrupt dismissal from his tenured position as full professor in The School of Education.

 

2.    That Bishop’s University make public the legal costs already incurred and projected by taking legal action against Dr. C. Darius Stonebanks, as we, Bishop’s University students, donors, and taxpayers, ultimately pay these fees.

 

3.    That the Board of Governors and the Bishop’s Council immediately call for an external and unbiased (meaning no Bishop’s alumni, business, consultation firm or in any conflict of interest with Bishop’s administration or faculty) examination of structures, procedures and processes that may be fostering systemic racism at Bishop’s University, both in the past and present.

 

4.    That Bishop's University adopt, within one year, an official policy on systemic racism, to be developed after consultation with its faculty, staff, unions and students, and with the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission, and that this policy clearly identify implementation, reporting, review and accountability procedures.

 

We believe that meeting these demands will continue to move Bishop’s University along its path towards offering the “country at large a sound and liberal education”.

The letters of support have been deposited to the office of Principal Goldbloom. We urge all members of the Board of Governors take the opportunity to read the words of Bishop’s students, parents, alumni and faculty. We have submitted the attestations of support and demands for change in hard copy so they can be deposited into the proper files for archival records.

We are open to engage in discussions once the above demands are met or a statement made publicly that they are in progress.

Respectfully,

Kristy Chamberlin, Class of 2011

Kassandra Norrie, Class of 2012

Samuel Marchand, Class of 2021

Miranda Serrano, Class of 2022

Kailey Karahkwinehtha Nicholas, Student

If you support these demands, please sign this petition.