If there is one thing that a semester of online school has made painfully obvious, it is that the community that comes with navigating the daily hassles of higher education is one of the most critical aspects of student culture. This lack of immersion into a group of like-minded students has proven to be one of the most challenging components of distanced learning. While some students are experiencing this sense of isolation for the first time, students of colour across Canada’s many university campuses, including here at Victoria College, have faced a different reality, even in the time before all events were hosted on Zoom. In her novel They Said This Would Be Fun, Eternity Martis recounts her experiences as a Black student at a primarily white campus. She educates and reminds her readers of the complexity and unique struggles involved in navigating higher learning as a person of colour. She highlights the fact that education is only one aspect of university, and the distinct journeys that students embark on are what really make up the bulk of a “University experience.” While students might hope for this experience to be one of growth and discovery, Martis brings attention to the fact that, for many students of colour, it often turns out to be nothing like they’d expected. These students must not only figure out what it means to navigate the world as young intellectuals, but they also learn, often painfully, that their race will greatly impact this journey, as it will many others.
Martis brought her experiences to Victoria College’s campus at the Anti-Racism Book Club and Conference hosted by the Office of the Dean of Students last November. In the form of a panel discussion, Martis, along with Dr. Alissa Trotz, Dr. Rinaldo Walcott, and students at Victoria College, discussed her novel and shared experiences that highlighted the reality of racism at universities. The conference took place on November 16 and 20, 2020; students had the opportunity to further discuss the book at the Anti-Racism Book Club co-hosted by the Office of the Dean of Students and the Victoria Black Student Network. Two streams were held: one specifically for the university’s BIPOC community, where students were given the opportunity to discuss their personal experiences; and a second book club that allowed the general population to discuss lessons learned from the book and conference.
A book club of this nature was an unfamiliar experience, made even more unusual by its online venue. The event began with introductions from the author herself, as well as the students in attendance. The expectations were laid out, reminding attendees that this would be a safe space, one for reflection and compassion. The event was facilitated by a Victoria College student, who posed questions to those in attendance in order to encourage conversation. As the hour went on, students shared their personal experiences as persons of colour at Victoria College, and, later on, their experiences as persons of colour in the world. Participants were quickly acquainted, and even through a computer screen, one could feel the warmth and safety portrayed by the group. As students recounted their experiences, they were often met with a chorus of head-noddings in agreement from the other members of the club. Participants varied in background, majors, and age, which provided insight into the universality of the struggle to overcome some of the challenges faced by students of colour. In many cases, the experiences of the students mirrored those written about in Martis’ book. The conversation went beyond the university campus to explore how coming from various backgrounds and families impacted the university experience, and even ventured into how one goes about writing on such personal matters. Although talking about matters as heavy as racism, participants kept the conversation respectful but upbeat, and there were many choruses of laughter. The lack of community that had proven a struggle all semester was instantly breached, and even when the hour was up the conversations continued another 20 minutes. Everyone appeared very happy to continue talking until the end.
Ironically, the isolation of online school provided a unique opportunity to attend this event. On the University campus, where life tends to feel much busier, students may not have had the time to attend such an event—or have even heard of it. However, after the success of the event, students might find themselves more inclined to actively seek out such groups in the future, knowing that the University offers these events. Martis’ book provoked different reactions from its readers: while some might have been surprised by her experiences and learned a lot from discussing them, students of colour like herself perceived the book differently and were more surprised at the way her experiences mirrored theirs. Victoria College was incredibly insightful in offering two streams for discussion, as this allowed students to better benefit from the conversations. For students of colour, it is a relief to discuss the book and other aspects of racism without having to hear these experiences being talked about as a novelty, as such experiences are nothing new to them. Rather, the opportunity to discover a community proved to be beneficial for students and made attending the book club a memorable experience.
