EDI Membership Commitment for Graduate Students

Thank you for your interest in the EDI Committee of Graduates in Psychology. All Western psychology graduate students are welcomed to join us. This committee is built around the core value of Respect of Persons. We prioritize perspectives viewed through the lens of intersectionality, as it is crucial to ensure that the contributions and ideas of those who are minoritized and oppressed are prioritized. All Committee Members are expected to strive to a committee environment that is free of Racism, Sexism, Ageism, Ableism, Homophobia, Transphobia, and other forms of prejudice and discrimination based on group membership.

Please read the following carefully, before expressing interest in becoming a member:

This committee acknowledges the harm of support without action. Therefore we ask that all active members contribute their time and energy to working on a project or fulfilling an outstanding role. 
  1. Many of our members have faced adversities due to their identity. Please keep this in mind as you navigate this space. We ask all members to communicate compassionately. We ask members to:
  2. Remain empathetic in all situations, even uncomfortable ones. This includes honouring each other’s emotions. This work is taxing and may be emotionally draining. It’s important that we take the time to acknowledge any discomfort we may (and likely will) experience.
  3. Speak well of others, so that the focus remains on strengths and learning opportunities when we make missteps.
  4. Balance between listening and speaking. We encourage all members to speak up about their ideas or concerns, but we also acknowledge when it’s someone else’s turn to speak. Frequent speakers on a given discussion item should give pause to allow new speakers to offer their perspective, and/or to discreetly check in with those who have not yet spoken to ensure discussion time is not being inequitably monopolized. We remember that the primary reason we’re here is to listen to minoritized voices.
  5. We expect all members to provide and receive feedback in a professional manner:
    1. When providing feedback, please ensure it is clear who is speaking (make sure you track changes on documents you didn’t create & you’re signed in).
    2. Feedback should be constructive, which means being concise and specific to the content in place. For example, asking “Who would care about this?” on a project document is inappropriate and frivolous. However if you have fundamental concerns about a project, please contact the project leader directly. 
    3. Please treat all members the way you would like to be treated. Remember that other members are colleagues; this assumes that all members have equal standing, and aggression/disrespect will not be tolerated.
  6. We are here to support one another in each other’s ideas for change. Although we may have different perspectives on what is the best way forward, it’s important to remember that we’re here to lift up each other. This will help ensure that in addition to creating a brave place, we are ensuring there is a safe space for all members.

Violation of Terms

Members who feel as though another member has fallen short of maintaining these values may bring this to the attention of the co-chairs and parties involved. Messaging that is incongruent with these values is subject to critical feedback, removal, and/or its author subject to a ban, at the discretion of the co-chairs. Members may also (voluntarily) have time away from the committee if they feel it in their best interest or the best interest of the committee to temporarily remove themselves for a period of time (e.g., to process any personal harm, to educate themselves, to reflect, to consult, to avoid obstructing work, to facilitate repairing relationships with other members). Though the duration of the time away is subject to the committee member in question, we ask that members do not take particularly prolonged absences (e.g., longer than one semester).