Students calling for zero-tolerance policy after guest teacher uses n-word in Concordia lecture

MONTREAL – Just days after the start of Black History Month, students say a white guest lecturer used the n-word on a Zoom lecture for a Concordia University course in Montreal.

The teacher apparently used the slur to make a point about the evolution of words, but one student says she and her classmates were stunned.

“I honestly noticed some people had their mouth open. I noticed some people–there was a kind of discomfort,” said Amanda Asomani-Nyarko, VP of social media with Concordia’s Black Student Union, who was present during the Zoom lecture.

FULL INTERVIEW: Concordia students speak out against N-word use in class

Asomani-Nyarko says she and others spoke up about their discomfort to their professor, but their feelings weren’t initially acknowledged.

“I wasn’t even in the class and it was a slap in the face for me because why is it that we are not taken seriously when we say we don’t like this word?” asked Amaria Phillips, co-founder and president of the Black Student Union.

“During the civil rights movement, we were beaten, hit, when we were called the n-word,” said activist Malik Shaheed.

“I don’t understand why people think they have the right to use the n-word, whether you’re black, white, green, blue, you should not be using the n-word.”

The students sent a letter to the deans of the university demanding change.

“[There should be] a no tolerance on the n-word, making sure it’s not part of academic freedom–that big thing teachers like to hide behind,” said Phillips. “This is not the context.”

The conversation around academic freedom erupted back in late October after the University of Ottawa suspended a teacher for using the slur in class.

WATCH: Controversy over professor’s use of N-word in class

In the weeks that followed, a white student at UQAM was called out for using the n-word in their university class and a controversial high school teacher in Montreal North was fired after he was caught on video also using it in a class.

“The professor has taken some sort of measures. Today we had a class on it alone,” said Asomani-Nyarko.

“She’s also implemented on the syllabus the ban of the use of the of the word in class.”

“The university has to step up to the plate and create a policy that says the n-word should not be used anywhere in their institution,” said Shaheed.

“Until the university does, it will continue happening and we’ll continue having this conversation.”

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A spokesperson from Concordia said the school is aware of the situation and is having conversations with students.

“Our goal is to work collaboratively, towards a resolution and prevention plan that recognizes the concerns and experiences of our students and supports the discussion of difficult knowledge. The work of our black perspectives office and our task force on anti-black racism, launched last year, has been essential in fostering dialogue, understanding, and collective engagement,” reads a statement to CityNews.

“We’ve been assured things are going to change at the university,” said Phillips.

“My fear is for other campuses. Thankfully, our university is trying to make sure is a safe space for students, however, I fear for other universities where maybe the Black students don’t get much help with that.”