In 2019/20 I am working with two undergraduate students, Georgia Courtney-Cox and Yinka Olaniyan, to set up a network for BAME students of English Literature at the University of Reading. This follows from the findings of the 2018/19 ‘Student Life Through a Lens’ project, which demonstrated that students value meeting peers who share similar experiences, being able to express those experiences, and being heard and seen by and as part of the University. Project findings clustered around the power of ‘voice’ and the importance of belonging to an institutional and disciplinary ‘identity’.
In response, this project will take action. It aims to cultivate a BAME (UK and international) student community in the Department of English Literature, through a programme of informal meet-ups, panel discussions with recent graduates, motivational sessions with external guest speakers, and tailored study support. This will establish supportive peer contact and promote personal, professional and academic learning. It will also surface any concerns BAME students may have, providing a vital channel for feedback to staff.
Ultimately, this project aims to centre BAME students within the Department of English Literature – that is, to acknowledge and value their constitutive presence. In parallel, it acts to disrupt the reified whiteness of the Department and the discipline, diversifying both to the benefit of all.
Keep an eye on this page for updates. In the meantime, you can listen to Georgia and Yinka’s fantastic podcast here.