Qpirg, Academics and community activism: A new way of thinking research
On the week-end from march 11 to 13th, students from Waterloo, Queens, Laval, McGill and Concordia University came to share presentations and workshops which discuss modern struggles from a grassroots, anti-oppressive perspective.
During every panel, presentations deliver the energy that is always felt when people discuss social causes together, as well as plans for social change. The Study in Action conference was put together through the generous sponsorship of a handful of unions and societies from McGill and Concordia, as well CKUT and CJLO radio. A good number of volunteers and staff from QPirgConcordia and MGill were busy on the grounds of the conference, making the event happen smoothly. Hosted by QPIRG Concordia in the university’s establishments, the study in action conference offered university students the opportunity to spread the knowledge gained from their research work, as well as make use of great practical tips and loads of inspiration on how to make what they learn in school more useful to society. The closing panel of the conference gives us a great idea of the real benefits Politically Independent Research Groups like those on the spot that week-end brings to students and their society.
Building a bridge between the academic world and society
During the panel on community based social justice research, Siji Kompal, coordinator of the Community-University Research Exchange, stresses the importance of linking students to the people of their community so that together, they can make social causes move forwards.
‘Beyond talking, she says, we need to connect to each other’.
The general idea behind Study in action conference was to break the gap between academia and the general world. Beyond helping towards social change, community-based social justice research gives students a real, hands-on experience in an active environment. Institutional, highly theoretical knowledge can then be converted into political action.
Research that uses change as its primary goal.
Study in action also presented a new way of thinking research, with knowledge produced to build smarter and more strategic movements. According to Chris Dixon, Community research needs to make a new form of accountability for research, which is based on social movements.
Cleve Higgins develops this idea further by saying that social justice research presents us with knowledge that presents new angles and possibilities. When people fight out for justice and dignity, they point out what we know in different ways, defying how things are and suggesting how they could be. In his presentation, Higgins urges students to produce knowledge through the eyes of the person in an ongoing struggle.
Higgins stresses that beyond creating a new type of research efficient to direct people in struggles, the role of the social researcher would be to understand the grounds of a battle. We must learn how together we can overcome, he says. To win, you must know yourself and your opponent, that’s what study in action is.
None of the speakers neglect the importance of history. In any struggle, one should always pay attention to the writings concerning what has already been done, and about who will be a voice for the present causes in the future.
Émilie Breton, from le Collectif de Recherche sur l’Autonomie Collective insists on this point: We need to be able to make our own research and write our own history, before others write it for us.
The site for the Montreal local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
