Category Archives: Op-eds

The Latest Attack on Academic Freedom in Canada: McGill Turns Away from Controversy and Provocation

Posted on March 30, 2017 by

Originally posted on Commentaria:
? “While the Institute itself is non-partisan, MISC is no stranger to debate and controversy.”—https://mcgill.ca/misc/about “It is not a role to provoke, but to promote good discussion.”—McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier as quoted in The Globe and…

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | Leave a comment

Faculty Awakening has already made a difference

Posted on March 21, 2016 by

Do not despair, Carla. There is no reason to feel blue. You have not only awoken your faculty friends, you have reminded them that they are the university. You have empowered them again and they appreciate you for it. The “assholes” … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Decolonizing our imaginations and building a university that reflects our society

Posted on February 26, 2016 by

It looks like Stuart Belkin is now a member of the UBC presidential search committee. This could have been a welcome positive gesture to the faculty had he replaced Lindsay Gordon in the Chair. Unfortunately, he seems to have taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Standing up to bullies

Posted on February 24, 2016 by

Canadians everywhere will take a stand against bullying by participating in Pink Shirt Day today (Feb. 24). UBC scholars are helping us define and recognize Bullying. Although they are mostly focused on how to “bully-proof” our children, this unique form of … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Arvind Gupta was never given a chance: A personal account

Posted on February 11, 2016 by

This post was published by the Vancouver Sun. My first reaction to the resignation of UBC president Arvind Gupta was relief – Arvind’s nightmare was finally over. He could go back to what he does best: work to make this … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Dean Marc Parlange weighs in on president Gupta’s “resignation”

Posted on February 9, 2016 by

In a letter to the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC, Dean Marc Parlange made some of his views known as to “the complex — and confidential — resignation decision of former President Arvind Gupta,” while throwing his support behind Chancellor … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The students join the faculty in requesting a judicial review of the UBC Board of Governors

Posted on February 5, 2016 by

In a major reversal of past positions vis-a-vis president Gupta’s departure from UBC, the Student Society of UBC-Vancouver issued a public statement expressing disappointment in the process followed by the Board of Governors as revealed by the recent leaks. The AMS urges “the … Continue reading →

Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds, UBC Presidential Search | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments