The vision

In 2019-20, our Undergraduate Academic Officer Sam Johnson-Audini championed the ‘Decolonise Durham Network’ – a space to bring together students and staff to think critically about education and the University as a whole. Working alongside DPOCA, they scribed their vision for the future of an anti-racist and decolonial Durham in a Manifesto For Decolonising.  

It argues:

“What we learn is inherently political. From what we are taught to how we are taught, certain values and voices are prioritised, and others marginalised. Decolonisation centres the impact of colonialism, both historic and ongoing, in how we understand the world in which we live and the information that we teach.”

Sam was unwavering in asking for a commitment from the University to support decolonisation academically and financially. During Assembly in February 2020, Sam argued: 

“The onus often falls on students of colour, unpaid, to partake in decolonial and anti-racist activity...this further entrenches the hierarchical values inherent in colonialism…The University needs to undertake a full-scale review of the processes and practices that exist in the University and how they work to exclude and marginalise students of colour.”

Sam’s successor, UG Academic Officer Nailah Hague, further championed the need for financial support for the Decolonise Durham campaign. The passion and commitment from SU student leaders crucially influenced UEC to fund four Faculty Interns and three interns per department for the 2021-22 academic year. In its pilot year, student interns co-designed projects with academic supervisors and raised awareness across the University of the broad benefits of decolonising the curriculum.

Looking ahead, we appreciate the University’s commitment to ongoing support for this crucial work.