News & Events

Ryerson community members are invited to learn more about diversity from their fellow peers.

Starting Jan. 30, once a month, the Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is hosting Soup & Substance, a lecture series that dives into topics surrounding diversity. Students, faculty and staff from across the university will engage in an open conversation on a range of diversity-related topics such as accessibility, aboriginal identity and women’s minds and bodies. The first lecture, “Arguing the Case for Diversity,” looks at four aspects of diversity including business, education, human rights and social justice. The lecture series takes place every month at noon at Heaslip House and is open to all community members. Complete event information can be found at www.ryerson.ca/equity/soupsubstance.html.

Soup & Substance is the brainchild of Denise O’Neil Green, Ryerson’s first assistant vice-president/vice-provost, equity, diversion and inclusion. She will moderate the noon-hour lectures.

“It’s a way of providing the Ryerson community a platform to discuss equity, diversity and inclusion and gives our internal experts a chance to share their knowledge with respect to various dimensions of EDI,” Green said. “‘Arguing the Case for Diversity’ was chosen to set the stage for why we think this is important. Diversity is a core value here at Ryerson, in Toronto and the GTA at large. This starts the conversation.”

Soup & Substance is also an opportunity for the community to get acquainted with Green, who began her post Sept. 1, 2012. Her position was created based on the report and recommendations of the Ryerson taskforce on anti-racism in 2010. Green came to Ryerson from Central Michigan University (CMU), where she advanced curricular initiatives, spearheaded the implementation of CMU's strategic diversity plan, secured grant funding and worked with external constituencies on local diversity initiatives. She also opened CMU’s Center for Inclusion and Diversity, a facility that showcases the growing importance of equity, diversity and inclusion on CMU's campus. Her goal is to make Soup & Substance an annual lecture series with one event per month for the entire academic year.

“Part of the office’s mandate is to infuse EDI into the culture here,” Green said. “It’s not about people debating if they are for or against having an inclusive university. I know that having an inclusive university is a core value.  And so, these lunches give participants a chance to learn and engage diversity as well as help me understand the community’s different perspectives.”

Speakers were selected based on their expertise on the topics as well as interests and engagement in these issues. The list of speakers wasn’t limited to faculty; students and staff were also included. O’Neil Green says everyone brings some level of knowledge either through a lived experience, research background, or practitioner of best practices.

“By no means are these topics conclusive. They came to me from my initial consultations with the community,” Green said. “They are just a small sample of the areas and interests that were brought to my attention. My job can’t be done without support from the Ryerson community. It’s important people here know me and I know them, and that they feel encouraged to visit my office and be open to dialogue with me.”