In 2018, during my first month of university, I learned of Amara Philip’s idea to create a Black Student Network. It immediately brought me joy to know that a fellow schoolmate was interested in creating a space at Victoria College where Black students not only felt seen but heard and celebrated. I quickly made known my interest in helping form this network and before we knew it, BLVCK, Victoria College’s first Black Student Network, was established.
In our first executive meeting, we determined which positions we were interested in, and I chose to be the Events Director, along with a fellow executive member. Initially, it felt natural given my love for bringing people together, but I quickly became nervous at the thought of having to create and manage an event, not knowing whether people would attend. Luckily, my fellow members reassured me that we were a team and would figure it out together, and that is what we did. To our surprise, our first mixer had a huge turnout. From there, our club—and now, levy—took off. We formed bonds by creating meaningful relationships that continue to be of immense significance. In short, the community we created through BLVCK continues to be in every way one of my greatest sources of support.
In 2020, the BLVCK team wrote an open letter regarding the death of George Floyd, but more broadly the magnitude of anti-Black racism, our commitment to make a change, and some of the needs of Black students stemming from our own experiences and as echoed by our fellow Black peers. Since then, we have worked with the administration in bringing some of these needs into fruition which has resulted in the establishment of a BIPOC bursary and a BIPOC counsellor specifically for BIPOC students. Additionally, a former member and I sat on a student panel in Victoria College’s “Racism and Anti-Racism in Higher Ed” conference.
Today, I continue to look towards ways that BLVCK can continue to foster community and create both opportunities and safe spaces for our fellow Black schoolmates; and more broadly, how we can work with the administration and student groups alike to co-create a space rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion. It is my hope that through our efforts more students will see themselves reflected in the image of Victoria College and, more widely, the University of Toronto.
This is inspiring. The university of Toronto offers most of its coveted positions to wealthy foreign students from Europe, China, USA, etc., rather than deserving Black and indigenous Canadians. This needs to change. Once and only once all Black and indigenous Canadians are allowed postions should these spots be given out.