“ReThink” Campaign
A campaign, organized by the Central Student
Association, promoting social justice, anti-oppression,
inclusivity and critical discussions about the privilege
system inherent in the capitalist West.
Central Student Association
Room 274, University Centre
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON
2
Dear Reader,
Throughout the month of January, there will be a series of workshops
organized by the Central Student Association that will address the privilege
system inherent within racism, sexism, misogyny, violence against women,
homophobia and heterosexism, religion, and ableism. The primary goal of these
workshops is to provoke meaningful discourse about what privilege actually
means, what it looks like, and how it affects marginalized communities.
Additionally, these workshops will enable students to get together to critically
think about what creating a more inclusive and accessible community at the
University of Guelph means for marginalized communities.
I have sent this package to you in hopes that you would be willing to
participate in this initiative as a facilitator of one or more of the workshops. If,
after reading the information in this package, you would like to be a facilitator or
help in some other way, please contact myself at csatalk@uoguelph.ca or
x56376.
In solidarity,
Demetria Jackson
CSA Communications & Corporate Affairs Commissioner
Workshops: Race
3
1. White Privilege: What is it? Who benefits? And Why?

This will be a three-part workshop.

Part I: There will be a documentary screening “Mirrors of Privilege”

Part II: Another film screening “The Pathology of White Privilege” (A talk
by Tim Wise, anti-racist activist in the United States)

Part III: The discussion topics for this workshop will include;
o What is white privilege?
o Who benefits from white privilege? How?
o Is there such a thing as racialized privilege?
o the responsibility of white people to end racism
2. Racialized Women: Our lived experiences

This workshop will be very intimate. Ideally, it will be a variety of racialized
women getting together and discussing their realities and experiences of
marginalization. The facilitator for this workshop would be able to structure
the nature of the conversation however they deem appropriate.
3. Speak out against racism on campus

This workshop will be interactive. Students will have a chance to work in
small groups to create a list of racist comments, actions, and events that
they have witnessed on the University of Guelph campus. Each group will
then discuss what they have witnessed as incidents of racism on campus,
4
and collectively the group will think about ways to combat these incidents
of racism on campus.
4. Racism and the Criminal Justice System

This workshop will have more of a presentation style. This workshop will
discuss how racialized people are overwhelmingly represented in the
criminal justice system, and the implications this has on them. The
facilitator for this workshop will have to create a presentation complete
with facts and findings from research.
5. Racism in Science and Research

This workshop is similar to #4 except it is specific to how science and
research methods have been used to justify racism. The facilitator will
have to create a presentation complete with facts and findings from
research.
6. Racial Justice and White Privilege within the Feminist movement

The white feminist movement has often been criticized for ignoring or
lacking to address the experiences of racialized women. This workshop
will create a historical outline of the feminist movement with emphasis on
where racialized women were left out and how it further marginalized
racialized women. The workshop will also discuss why it is important for
racialized women to have a voice and be active members in the feminist
movement towards a more equal and inclusive society. This workshop will
also discuss how white women have benefitted and continue to benefit
(over racialized women) from the feminist movement.
5
7. Racialization as a biracial or multiracial person

This workshop will be an intimate discussion between students from
various backgrounds who frequently experience a split identity between
the racial groups they are part of. The facilitator for this workshop should
ensure the discussion is focused on hearing all experiences and treating
all lived experiences as reality and as fact rather than theory.
8. Racism 101

The facilitator for this workshop can be as creative as s/he wants to be.
Topics should include the following:
o A working definition of racism
o Discussion around what racism looks like? What it sounds like?
What it feels like?
o Discussion around when instances of racism are likely to occur (for
example, hallowe’en, during cultural awareness days, etc) and
why?
o Discussion around ambiguous situations when people are more
inclined to steer away from using the “r” word.
9. The racialization of Aboriginal people

This workshop will be focused on the history of how Aboriginal people
have and continue to be racialized in society (Canadian, specifically).
10. Stereotypes of Racialized people in the Media
6

This workshop will explore stereotypical images of racialized people in the
media. It will also discuss the implications of these stereotypical images
on both the dominant white community, and racialized communities.
11. Racism in the classroom

This workshop will explore experiences of racism in the classroom
whether it be racist remarks, racist rationale, encounters with a racist
professor, racism in reading materials, etc. Awkward situations regarding
race is also applicable for this discussion.
Workshops: Sexism, Misogyny, Violence Against Women
1. Sexism 101

Topics should include:
o A working definition for sexism
o What sexism looks like today?
7
o Why it is relevant?
o Discussion around experiences of sexism on campus
2. Feminism 101

Topics should include:
o A discussion around stereotypes of feminists
o A discussion around what feminism actually is and what it means to
different people
o Why it is important for women to be part of the feminist movement
o Why it is important for men to be part of the feminist movement
o Personal accounts of how feminism have changed people’s lives.
o A breakdown of terms often used in feminist discourse (i.e.,
patriarchy, privilege, systemic, institutionalized, etc)
3. Men’s Role in Sexual Assault Prevention

This workshop will hold men accountable to their role in sexual assault
prevention. The facilitator of this workshop might want to use Jackson
Katz’s Macho Paradox as a reference.
4. Consent is sexy: A Discussion on consent and sexual assault

This workshop should discuss in depth what consent looks like, and
likewise what consent does not look like. It should also discuss what
sexual assault looks like.
5. Support for Survivors

This workshop will focus strongly on support services and resources for
people who have been sexually assaulted. The facilitator of this workshop
8
(as with all other sexual assault focused workshops) should be facilitating
from a survivor sensitive lens to ensure the space is as inclusive as
possible.
6. Male Privilege

This workshop will outline the benefits of male privilege in our society and
how it affects women. This workshop will also incite a discussion on men’s
role to end sexism.
7. Sexism within the academia

This workshop will be similar to the “racism in the classroom” workshop,
except it focuses on how sexism is evident in University of Guelph
classrooms.
8. Male Privilege in the Feminist Movement

This workshop will discuss men who are part of the feminist movement
and the privilege awarded to them because they are men and because
they are feminists.
9
Workshops: Sexuality, Homophobia, Heterosexism
1. LGBTT2QQIA* : Acronym Expanded

Similarly to the previous “101” courses as mentioned in the other sections,
this workshop will provide a general overview of the ever growing and
inclusive acronym used in the queer community. It will also provide a brief
overview of the struggles each group has had to face both with the
heterosexual community and within the queer community.
2. Queers in the Media

This workshop will provide an overview of how the queer community is
portrayed in the media followed by a discussion as to how these
stereotypes have affected the community.
10
3. Homophobia and Heterosexism in the classroom

This workshop will discuss instances of heterosexism and homophobia in
the classroom. This includes, but is not limited to homophobic comments
made by both students and professors, homophobic language in reading
material, hetero-normative discourse in classroom discussions, etc.
4. Straight Privilege

Similarly to the workshops in the previous sections, this workshop will
outline how heterosexuals have benefited from the privilege system over
the years and how they continue to benefit. This workshop will also
discuss how straight people can become allies to the queer community
and how it is the responsibility of the dominant group (heterosexuals) to
end homophobia.
5. Straight Privilege in the Feminist Movement

Similarly to the previous workshop, this workshop will discuss the effects
of straight privilege within the feminist movement.
6. Excluded from Society

This workshop will outline the ways in which the queer community is
currently excluded from society, and therefore excluded from participating
as equals on the University of Guelph campus. There will be a discussion
on how students can make the space more inclusive.
7. Trans Justice

This workshop will discuss the issues that trans folk face within the queer
community and within the queer movement as well as within the hetero-
11
normative society. It will also discuss ways that the University of Guelph is
not an inclusive place for trans people and recommendations of how it can
be.
8. Two-spirit

Similarly to the previous workshop, this workshop will discuss what it
means in the aboriginal culture to be “two-spirited”, and how the University
can be a more inclusive place for folks who identify with the two-spirit
identity.
9. Gender Binary

This workshop will discuss the implications of relying on the current
gender binary for both non gender conforming people and gender
conforming people. Preferably, this workshop will start with an overview of
the many ways we think of things in a gender binary. It will always be a
place to discuss how people can start critically thinking about the gender
binary, and how the campus can be a more inclusive place for non gender
conforming folks.
12
Workshops: Religion
1. Western Religions vs the Other

This workshop will discuss how the western religions (i.e.,
Catholicism/Christianity) have created an “othering” effect on non-western
religions and how that has affected people who believe in faiths that are
not considered Western. It will also discuss how the University of Guelph
is not an inclusive space for believers of these “other” faiths and how it
can become more inclusive.
2. Christian/Catholic Privilege

This workshop will discuss the privilege system in religion, specifically how
the Christian and Catholic church exert privilege over other faiths and how
this creates dangerous and violent conflict among believers.
3. Islamaphobia
13

This workshop will include an over view of what Islamaphobia is, looks
like, and feels like. It will discuss instances of Islamaphobia on the
University of Guelph campus (including in the classroom) and will discuss
how Islamaphobia affects Muslim students.
4. Anti-semitism

Similarly to workshop #3, this workshop will focus on what anti-semitic
instances are, look like, and feel like. It will also seek to educate students
on the struggle of Jewish students on this campus and will discuss ways
that our campus can be more inclusive for Jewish students.
14
Workshops: Ableism
1. Ableism 101

Similarly to previous “101” workshops, this workshop will focus on the
basics of ableism: what it is, who it affects, why it needs to be addressed,
etc.
2. Inclusive language

This workshop will focus on a list of ableist language that frequents
everyday conversation (i.e., retarded, crazy, insane, handicapped,
crippling). It will also discuss non-ableist synonyms for these words in an
attempt to create an inclusive language movement on the University of
Guelph campus.
3. Disabilities & the Media

This workshop will discuss images, stereotypes and portrayals of persons
with disabilities in the media. And how these portrayals affect the lived
experiences of persons with disabilities.
4. Ableism in the classroom
15

This workshop will discuss how the academic curriculum, teaching styles,
and discussion topics are currently ableist at the University of Guelph, and
will provide a list of recommendations for how academia at the University
of Guelph can be more inclusive for students with disabilities.
5. Inaccessibility

This workshop will discuss how the University of Guelph is currently
inaccessible, and discuss ways we can make our campus more
accessible.
6. The Charity Model

This workshop will discuss the “charity model” that is often demonstrated
by able bodied people over people with disabilities. Discussion will be
focused on how the charity model is problematic for folks with disabilities.
7. Privilege

This workshop will outline the privilege system with respect to ability and
disability and raise awareness about how students who do not have a
disability benefit from the privilege system.
8. Privilege in the Feminist Movement

The purpose of this workshop is to explore how disability justice feminists
or feminists with disabilities have been treated by non-disability justice
feminists or the able bodied feminists and how this has effected the
feminist movement.
16
Conference: Breakout Sessions
Each breakout session will be 2 hours in length.
1. Moving towards a more inclusive campus.

The discussion will be focused on what inclusivity means for different
marginalized groups, how marginalized groups have felt excluded, and
how our campus can be more inclusive for everyone. This session will be
facilitated by a panel discussion.
2. The Institutionalization of Privilege

This breakout session will include a presentation of how privilege has
been institutionalized and discussion will focus on the necessity of
exposing this information so that we can continuously critique our
privilege. Discussion will also focus on the necessity of critiquing the
privilege system and our privilege in order to create inclusive spaces.
3. Making your student union and organizations more inclusive

This breakout session will focus on how the CSA and other organizations
can make their events, meetings, and policies more inclusive for students
from marginalized communities.
4. Cultural Appropriation
17

This breakout session will discuss how cultural appropriation is used to
maintain power in the hands of the dominant group. An analysis of how
each marginalized group has had their cultural appropriated will be
discussed.
5. Poetic Justice

A night where the creative juices will flow. This will be a time for people to
speak out against oppression and the privilege system in whatever
creative way they wish. This event will occur in the evening and will mark
the end of the conference and the end of the ReThink Campaign.
18
Thank you for taking the time to read through this package. If you are
interested in being a facilitator for one or more workshops, please contact
me at csatalk@uoguelph.ca. If you are interested in being a facilitator for
the one-day conference, please also let me know. I am interested in hearing
ideas for workshops that are not currently on the list but you would be
interested in facilitating.