Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has decided to separate students based on race by creating an area designated for black students. .“So being named ‘Ryerson’ was unacceptable, but racial segregation is A-okay,” said Quillette associate editor Jonathan Kay in a Sunday tweet. .Kay linked to a blog post from TMU, which said the Tri-Mentoring Program (TMP) and the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion collaborated to open the Black Student Lounge (BSL) located at Kerr Hall West 77A. .“I'm very excited to be immersed in Black spaces and get to learn and collaborate with my peers,” said a TMU student who accessed the BSL. .“I hope this gives us the opportunity to build a community that can be lucrative to us when we exit academic spaces.”.The blog post said the space offers black TMU students a place to study, relax, and build community. It said the area can host up to 30 students at a time and can be used for planned events organized by students and staff. .The BSL was soft launched during the winter semester and activated during Orientation Week in September, with more than 200 students visiting it. .The blog post went on to say TMU has been hosting monthly lunch and learns to promote black excellence. It added these activities were conducted in small groups to inspire open dialogue, confidence, and psychological safety among black students. .The TMP, Student Life and Campus Engagement, and the Student Learning Centre teams celebrated black excellence by hosting a collaborative event showcasing black talent and businesses. About 80 staff and students attended the showcase. .TMU posted a job ad for a black tenure track economics assistant professor in the Faculty of Arts on November 22, who associates with a blackness advisor. .READ MORE: Toronto university looking to hire black economics professor to work with 'blackness advisor'.“The university formerly known as Ryerson is hiring an econ prof who ‘must self-identify as black,’” said Kay. .“Also: ‘Candidates who wish to learn more [should] contact [the] Advisor to the Dean of Arts on Blackness.’”
