Petition for the Removal and Investigation of Professor A. Ka Tat Tsang
To: The Dean and Administration of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto

STUDENTS PLEASE USE YOUR UTORONTO EMAILS FOR SIGNING THE PETITION TO CERTIFY YOU ARE A STUDENT

We, the undersigned students and members of the University of Toronto community, are calling for the immediate removal of Professor A. Ka Tat Tsang from teaching responsibilities in our course and a formal investigation into his conduct in the classroom. We further call for his removal from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, including termination of his appointment, if the University's investigation substantiates the concerns described below.

What happened
According to students in the course and later confirmed by Tsang on record, during Week 2, Tsang used the N-word aloud while discussing and quoting a film in which a white supremacist character used the slur against a Black person.

We recognize that racist language can be relevant to academic discussions about racism, white supremacy, discrimination, and oppression. However, our concern is that the racial slur was spoken aloud by the instructor who is not a black professor, rather than being referred to as "the N-word" or otherwise discussed without reproducing the slur itself.

The issue was subsequently raised again in Week 4. Rather than simply acknowledging students' concerns, Professor Tsang presented a PowerPoint titled "The N-Word" in which he defended his decision to use the slur for apparent educational purposes; this claim is unsubstantiated, as he was quoting a movie, not any type of educational resource. He did state he appreciates that a single student reported this; but confirmed it was for academics

The concern is therefore not limited to a single word being spoken. It includes the subsequent decision to revisit the incident in class and defend the use of the slur after concerns had already been raised by students. As well, during his defence in Week 4, he explained that he will CONTINUE to use that word among others for educational purposes to make sure the students feel the difference.

Why this is particularly concerning in social work education
This incident occurred in a Master of Social Work classroom, where students are being educated to work with people and communities who experience racism, oppression, and marginalization.

The University of Toronto states that members of its community have a right to learn, work, and participate in an environment free from discrimination and harassment. The University's policies and resources specifically recognize anti-Black racism as an issue of discrimination and harassment that must be addressed.

Academic freedom and freedom of expression are important components of university education. However, those principles do not eliminate the University's responsibility to address concerns about discrimination, harassment, and the classroom environment.

Students should not have to accept the reproduction of a racial slur in their classroom simply because it is presented as educational. There is a meaningful distinction between teaching about a racial slur and requiring students to hear an instructor say that slur aloud.

Our concerns
We are concerned that a racial slur was spoken aloud by an instructor in a graduate social work classroom.
Students were subsequently required to engage with the issue again when the instructor presented a PowerPoint titled "The N-Word." Rather than acknowledging the concerns raised by students, the instructor defended his decision to use the slur. The defence reportedly included an assertion that his identity as a person of colour made his use of the slur different. The incident has created concerns about whether students' experiences of racism and discomfort are being taken seriously. The incident raises serious questions about the standards expected of instructors in a professional program dedicated to addressing oppression, racism, and social justice. Students should not be placed in a position where they feel that challenging an instructor's use of racial slurs could negatively affect their academic experience.

What we are demanding
We call on the University of Toronto and the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work to take the following actions:

1. Immediate removal from the course
Professor A. Ka Tat Tsang should be immediately removed from teaching this course and from direct instructional responsibilities involving the students.Students should not be required to continue learning in an environment in which they have raised serious concerns about an instructor's use and subsequent defence of a racial slur.

2. A formal and independent investigation
The University should conduct a formal, impartial investigation into the events of Weeks 2 and 4, including:

• the circumstances surrounding the use of the slur;
• the content and purpose of the Week 4 PowerPoint titled "The N-Word";
• the explanation and defence provided by Professor Tsang;
• the impact of the incident on students; and whether University policies, Faculty expectations, professional standards, or responsibilities toward students were breached.
• Students who witnessed the events should be given a meaningful opportunity to provide information without fear of retaliation or academic consequences.

3. Removal from the Faculty if the concerns are substantiated
If the investigation substantiates the allegations and determines that Professor Tsang's conduct was inconsistent with University policies, professional responsibilities, or the standards expected of faculty members, we call for his removal from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, including termination of his appointment where appropriate.

Tenure should not prevent the University from investigating serious concerns or taking appropriate action when misconduct is substantiated.

4. Protection from retaliation
Students who participate in the investigation, sign this petition, or otherwise raise concerns must be protected from academic, professional, or other forms of retaliation. Tsang sits on the Faculty Scholarship committee so there is a concern about his ability to be impartial as he holds financial power over students who applied for the scholarship and participate in any form of protest.

5. Clear standards for racial slurs in the classroom
The University and Faculty should establish or clarify expectations for instructors regarding the reproduction of racial slurs and other discriminatory language in educational settings.

There must be a clear distinction between discussing racist language as an academic subject and unnecessarily reproducing that language aloud in a classroom.

6. Meaningful support for affected students
Students affected by this incident should have access to appropriate academic, equity, human-rights, and student-support resources.

7. Transparency and accountability
The University should communicate the outcome of its review to affected students, to the extent permitted by privacy and employment requirements, and explain what steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This is about more than one word
We are not asking the University to prohibit discussions of racism, racial violence, white supremacy, or the history and use of racial slurs.

We are asking the University to recognize that how these subjects are taught matters.

Students should not be required to hear a racial slur spoken by their professor when there are alternatives available for discussing the same educational material. When students subsequently raise concerns, they should not be placed in a position where the response is to further centre and defend the instructor's decision.

A graduate social work program has a responsibility to model the values it teaches. Students entering the social work profession should be learning how to recognize power, racism, oppression, and harm, not learning that concerns about racialized harm can be dismissed through an appeal to educational purpose or the instructor's own racial identity.

Our demand
We call for the immediate removal of Professor A. Ka Tat Tsang from our course and direct teaching responsibilities, committee responsibilities, a formal and impartial investigation into his conduct, and his removal from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, including termination of his appointment if the investigation substantiates serious misconduct.

We call on the University of Toronto to demonstrate that its commitments to equity, anti-racism, human rights, and a learning environment free from discrimination and harassment apply meaningfully to students in the classroom.

We, the undersigned, support these demands and call on the University of Toronto to take immediate action.