Ryerson University or ‘X’ University?

'X' University logo posted by Yellowhead Institute

Ryerson University is now known as ‘X’ University, as Indigenous students release a letter to reverse the colonial and systemic racism embedded in the institution's name on May 11, 2021.

Ryerson’s Indigenous research centre, Yellowhead Institute, released a public letter on their website stating that Ryerson University must take initiatives to erase the history of residential schools that Egerton Ryerson is known to have contributed to.

A group called ‘Standing Strong’ is a task force that aims to present solutions to reconcile the dark histories associated with residential schools and Indigenous oppression on campus, such as forming petitions to have Egerton Ryerson's statue removed.

However, the task force has come to the conclusion that such a history can no longer be reconciled, as outlined in their public letter:

"From an Indigenous student perspective, it cannot be reconciled."

Indigenous students are encouraging the institution to replace their name, referring to the university as ‘X’ university in all forms of communication within the school.

“...we will erase Ryerson ourselves, removing the university’s current name from our email signatures, CVs, and other professional communications and replacing it with an X."

Staff have also joined in this movement, pleading for the institution to stand in solidarity with Yellowhead Institute, and engage in an approach that acknowledges the solutions presented by Indigenous students at Ryerson University.

Want to take action?

As of Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, Ryerson University has accepted the proposals of Yellowhead Institute and are accepting name suggestions, feedback, and thoughts to this email:

nextchapter@ryerson.ca.

Attached below is the official Standing Strong Task Force Report and Recommendations that you can download and review:

SSTF-report-and-recommendations-Aug_24_FINAL.pdf

Download PDF • 13.68MB

And the official Yellowhead Institute letter posted on their website:

https://yellowheadinstitute.org/2021/05/11/welcome-to-x-university-an-open-letter-to-the-community-from-indigenous-students/

Resources:

https://yellowheadinstitute.org/2021/05/11/welcome-to-x-university-an-open-letter-to-the-community-from-indigenous-students/

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/06/01/ryerson-students-and-professors-adopt-x-university-name-to-denounce-affiliation-with-architect-of-residential-schools.html