Social Justice and Peace Studies
The faculty of the Social Justice and Peace Studies department is deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Israel, Gaza and beyond. We are devastated by the violence exercised by Hamas on the people of Israel on October 7. Further, the unrelenting violent response to this tragedy, and its consequences for the people of Gaza and the West Bank, violates international law. We believe that self-defence does not extend to taking the lives of innocent civilians, on either side. Every day we see the impact that it has had on our students in our classrooms, on campus and on social media. Our university community is diverse, with many students who have roots in this region, and as a faculty, we are committed to support all of our students, faculty and families at this terrible time.
We stand in solidarity with those who call for an immediate cessation of violence, the safe return of all hostages and the resumption of humanitarian assistance.
We implore the international community, including the government of Canada, and the UN, to call for an immediate ceasefire to allow for the pursuit of serious dialogue, negotiation and the establishment of a just framework for peacebuilding.
Interested in Social Justice and Peace Studies (SJPS) at King’s? Visit our Future SJPS Students page to learn more.
As faculty of the Social Justice & Peace Studies (SJPS) department, we recognize the long and ongoing history of racism and colonialism across Turtle Island, and within university institutions, including our own. We recognize that racism and colonialism often make university classes unsafe, inaccessible, unfriendly, and unwelcoming to Indigenous and racialized students, leading to socio-economic deprivation and exacerbating mental health struggles. SJPS is therefore committed to anti-racism and creating a safe, inclusive environment for all students, in particular our students who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, whose experiences of racism are not all the same but differ according to their social locations. Your voices, your experiences, your critical insight and your lives matter here. We agree with Ibram Kendi, Angela Davis, and many other racialized scholars, who have insisted that it is not enough to be non-racist, we must strive to be actively anti-racist. We are committed to the long process of dismantling systemic racism and improving the anti-racist content of our program and champion anti-racist efforts in the university as a whole.
I was excited to jump at the chance to come to King's because of the small community, which meant smaller classes, so I could easily connect with my peers and professors.
SJPS provided me with supportive and knowledgeable professors who were both passionate about social justice and also able to help me develop an academic understanding of its historical roots, current issues, and how injustice is perpetuated. This program prepared me to critically reflect and experience my placement at Antler River Rally (ARR) with increased complexity and depth.
My dedication and focus on Indigenous resurgence, self-determination, and sovereignty began in my first term at King's University College
Not only is King's a reputable school, but it provides students with opportunities that are unique to a small campus. In my four years of undergrad I had the chance to work closely with faculty, which ultimately enabled me to progress substantially in my academics and extracurricular. The skills I developed at King's continue to help me today as I'm completing my last year of law school at Western Law. I highly recommend King's to any student looking for a collegial environment that will challenge you, inspire you, and ultimately better you.
