Executive Committee passes first ever long term anti-racist policy

Lancaster University Students’ Union have announced that the Executive Committee passed its first ever long term anti-racist policy, named “The Race & Ethnic Minority New Deal”.

SU Racial and Ethnic Minorities officer, Max Kafula, proposed the policy to the Executive Committee, which agreed to pass the policy last week.

The new policy aims to “decolonise the curriculum, reduce the awarding gap, improve mental health support, improve levels of engagement and representation, greater anti-racism training and improve accountability.”

Its principles include ensuring that the Union be “an Anti-Racist Organisation” which eliminates all “racist practices and beliefs” , as well as making sure that the Union challenges all manifestations of “institutional forms” of barricade that any “race and or ethnic members of the community” face.

The final principle insists that the Union and the university are held accountable to their commitment to anti-racism.

Racial and Ethnic Minorities officer, Max Kafula, said: “I am so proud that this policy was approved by the Executive Committee and grateful for their support in helping create and shape it. The Race & Ethnic Minority New Deal is the first long term policy dedicated to transforming and enhancing the experiences of all races and ethnic minorities at Lancaster.

“This is just the beginning of a new era; an era in which we can bring real positive change to the community and ensure that every voice is heard. An era in which we can fight to bring justice to communities. An era we can be proud of.

“This policy will lay out how as an institution and as a community to tackle racial injustice and bring real positive change to our communities. I made a promise that I will always fight for all race and ethnic minorities students and I hope this policy will do them justice.”

The full policy can be found here, and outlines the principles, aims, and practices that the Deal hopes to achieve.

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