Welcome to OurTrent.com. We invite you to join us in the campaign to bring transparency and accountability to university governance at Trent University and beyond. 

After a two year Freedom of Information battle with McMaster University the Hamilton Spectator successfully obtained a copy of President Peter George's multi-million dollar contract. Mac took the position it was immune from disclosure claiming that unlike other publicly funded bodies universities are autonomous of government and its officials are not public servants. The Information and Privacy Commissioner said under FOI legislation "universities are subject to the same degree of transparency and accountability as other government institutions." Mac threatened, but later abandoned, a judicial review and complied with the IPC ruling. Continue reading

Trent president Bonnie Patterson received more than $326K combined salary and taxable benefits in 2007, an increase of more than $17,000 or 5.5%, over 2006. Patterson has been president for 9.5 years, having arrived at Trent in July 1998, and will complete her final term in June 2009. Trent administrators recently announced a $10.5 million deficit. Continue reading

Trent administrators have announced a $10.5 million deficit and are predicting layoffs. Vice-President Don O'Leary explained to the Peterborough Examiner that the deficit was due to external factors like lower enrollment, inflation and lack of government funding. While not surprised by the deficit itself, he was by the $10.5 million figure. Although administrators tend to deflect responsibility to external factors, might a reasonable individual not wonder exactly why fewer students are attracted to Trent and ask whether administrators are indeed responsibly managing financial affairs? Should these questions not be openly analyzed and answered before running to the government for more money or increasing tuition? Continue reading

On September 26 and 27 a Hearing will be held under the Dominion Water Power Act to "hear concerns over the proposed hydroelectric development at Locks 22 and 23 on the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada". We are told it has been more than 50 years since the last such hearing in Ontario. On top of that the Panel on the Future of the Trent Severn Waterway has just completed its public consultation meetings, although written submissions may still be made until the end of the month. If you wish to inform yourself of some of the issues regarding the development here are some references. Continue reading

Does the following excerpt  from the description of Daniel S. Greenberg's book "Science for Sale: The Perils, Rewards, and Delusions of Campus Capitalism" seem all too familiar? "In recent years the news media have been awash in stories about increasingly close ties between college campuses and multimillion-dollar corporations. Our nation’s universities, the story goes, reap enormous windfalls patenting products of scientific research that have been primarily funded by taxpayers. Meanwhile, hoping for new streams of revenue from their innovations, the same universities are allowing their research - and their very principles - to become compromised by quests for profit... " Continue reading

Professor George Nader’s academic freedom was infringed by the imposition of the Trent University administration’s reprimands in 2000 and by a subsequent and consequent refusal to reappoint him as principal of Peter Robinson College according to a CAUT report. "There can be no doubt his was an academic position, that advocacy was a part of his responsibility, and that he suffered negative consequences for the exercise of his right to speak out. ... In the circumstances, we consider that the university administration should apologize to Nader for infringing his academic freedom. We leave it to CAUT to consider whether sanctions against Trent University should be taken if an apology is not forthcoming." Continue reading

Daniel Freeman-Maloy has settled his legal action against York University and its president, Lorna Marsden, for misfeasance in public office, libel and breach of academic freedom. The Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the university's appeal clearing the way for the case to proceed. The out-of-court agreement means the issues the case raised will remain untested in the courts. Interestingly the settlement comes as Marsden is preparing to leave her post. Continue reading

The grievance filed by two Trent University professors who were involuntarily tossed from their department and offices has been settled. The settlement document confirms and reinstates the professors' full collective agreement rights. The settlement includes a written apology from the University to Andreas Pickel and Mark Neufeld confirming Trent's failure to follow due process and for the harm and considerable distress caused to both as a result of management's unilateral decision to remove them from the Politics department. Continue reading

Trent president Bonnie Patterson received more than $309K combined salary and taxable benefits in 2006, an increase of more than $51,000, or 20%, over 2005. Taken separately the 2006 base salary increased by $43,181 (18%) while taxable benefits increased by $8,364 (37.2%). Trent's presidential remuneration has grown by roughly 76% over what it was in 1999. Trent's Maclean's ranking in the category of primarily undergraduate university has fallen to 10th place from 3rd place since 1998. Continue reading

David Mahy, Trent University's controversial Associate Vice President of Human Resources, is rumoured to have submitted his resignation effective April 30, 2007. Mahy commenced his tenure at Trent on September 11, 2000, just 6 months after Mahy's previous employer, where he was Director of Employee Services, lost a significant claim brought against them for wrongful dismissal. In Prinzo v. Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, the behaviour of the employer was "aggressive enough to fit into the tort of intentional inflection of mental suffering." Last year Trent paid Mahy in excess of $122,000. Stephanie Williams, Trent's current Manager of Labour Relations, is rumoured to be succeeding Mahy.

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Trent University has demolished the historically significant building known as The Commoner. Just three weeks ago, and in response to criticism from the local branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, Vice President Don O'Leary announced the demolition was "postponed indefinitely and the university will take its time to make a final decision." In light of today's events O'Leary's announcement, coming as it did as Alumni gathered for the Head of the Trent, appears to have been calculated solely to deflect the potential of Alumni complaints over the destruction of this historical building. Is it any coincidence demolition began this morning, the first Monday of reading break when students are unlikely to be on campus to cause a fuss? Did Trent have any intent at all to honour O'Leary's announcement of the indefinite postponement of the Commoner's demolition? Are someone's pants on fire? Continue reading

Surprise! Trent University's DNA cluster building is $1.6 million over budget. Actually, nobody's surprised at all. Poor planning seems endemic to the current administration, particularly its building projects. The DNA cluster building is no exception. Plagued from the onset by a veil of secrecy and dubious pronouncements the cluster will bring innovation, prosperity and thousands of jobs, administrators have consistently been unable, or unwilling, to provide information to allow independent verification of those claims and have admitted the project was lacking a business plan. Taxpayers have forked over in excess of $10.7 million for the DNA building and now the project is in the hole an additional $1.6 million. Will administrative heads roll for that? Continue reading

The Transparency in Public Matters Act 2006 (Bill 142) received 1st reading on Tuesday October 3. Described as "An Act to require that meetings of provincial and municipal boards, commissions and other public bodies be open to the public", it was introduced by MPP Kim Craitor as a private member's bill. In its current form it is essentially identical to the first reading of Bill 123 (2004) but expands the scope of bodies subject to the Act. Universities are indeed included as they were in at 1st reading of Bill 123 - before they were removed under pressure from lobbying efforts of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU). The Act will require additional work to meet the recommendations of the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) to assure advance notice of meetings are widely published and to prevent last minute changes to agendas without adequately alerting the public. The bill still faces many hurdles to become law. Continue reading

Under pressure from the greater Peterborough community and the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, Trent University has agreed not to demolish the historic building known locally as "The Commoner", at least for the time being. Vice President Don O’Leary is on record saying "the demolition is postponed indefinitely," and for this is lauded by the Conservancy. O'Leary casts doubt on Trent's commitment to the building's future adding "the university will take its time to make a final decision." So the reprieve, though welcome, is temporary. Apparently O'Leary questions the historic value of the building, in spite of the Conservancy's evaluation, and relies on an architect's report alleged to say the building should be torn down. O'Leary denied the Conservancy access to that report. A 2004 report commissioned by Trent from Basterfield & Associates cites as an option "the renovation and retrofit of the old Commoner pub…into a state of the art office, retreat, and conference centre to support the goals and priorities of the New Commoner.", but no mention is made of demolition as an option. The demolition had been scheduled to proceed yesterday. Continue reading

A strengthened and more encompassing version of the Transparency in Public Matters Act of 2005 (Bill 123) will be introduced in the Ontario Legislative Assembly by Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor next Tuesday. The intent of the Act is to let the public know what's going on behind closed doors by requiring meetings to be open unless dealing with narrow and specific exclusions, and to publish clear and detailed minutes. The previous version of the Act had been watered down and, under pressure from the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), excluded universities. That version was subsequently withdrawn when its proponent, Caroline Di Cocco, became Minister of Culture last April. Craitor’s revamped Bill will subject universities to the full scope of the Act and include other publicly funded bodies that had been excluded by amendment or omission. Continue reading

What is the reason for Trent's falling Maclean's ratings? Here's what a local citizen had to say in a recent letter to the Editor of the Peterborough Examiner;
"Trent University's decision to not co-operate with Maclean's magazine's rating is understandable considering the university has dropped in its position under the presidency of Bonnie Patterson. At one time Trent regularly rated as the #2 small university across Canada behind Acadia. I think that under Ms. Patterson the university has altered its course, moving away from its strong base in a well-rounded liberal education encompassing not only academics but values that developed a strong social, community and personal conscience. I think this is why the university is steadily declining in its rating." Continue reading

Provincial legislation requiring meetings of public bodies to be open to the public and other transparency measures, is officially dead. After being watered down under pressure from the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) the Transparency In Public Matters Act (Bill 123) was withdrawn when Ontario Liberal MPP Caroline Di Cocco was jettisoned into cabinet last April. Liberal MPP Kim Craitor promised to champion an improved and strengthened version of Bill 123 but Craitor has failed to do so or even mention it in a recent statement of his priorities. It is unlikely the bill will resurface as a private members' bill or in government sponsored legislation. Premier Dalton McGuinty has effectively confirmed Bill 123 is dead. Di Cocco has become an apologist for the Liberal government's lack of action on transparency and the killing of Bill 123 through her appointment to cabinet. "Politicians that become ministers become easily seduced by the attractions of secrecy," according to John Reid, the Federal Information Commissioner. Continue reading

The Supreme Court of Canada refused York University president Lorna Marsden leave to appeal the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal this past April permitting Daniel Freeman-Maloy's civil action suing Marsden for "misfeasance in public office" to proceed. That ruling had overturned an earlier ruling by the Superior Court stating it was "plain and obvious" President of York University was not a public official and therefore the plaintiff could not sue on those grounds. The Globe and Mail quotes CAUT Executive Director Jim Turk as saying "This is really a ruling for academic freedom." York is not pleased and will continue to vigorously argue the university president does not hold public office and is beyond the tort of misfeasance in public office. Peter Rosenthal, Maloy's lawyer, is encouraging York save the taxpayer's money by settling his client's claim now. Rosenthal has noted how ironic it is that Marsden is spending public money to argue that she's not a public official. Continue reading

Maclean's has filed Freedom of Information requests with Trent University seeking previously available information Trent President Bonnie Patterson now says will not be released to Maclean's. Twenty-one other publicly funded Canadian universities that refused to provide Maclean's with data have been similarly served in provinces where they are subject to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Acts. "As public institutions, universities have the responsibility to make this information publicly available," says Tony Keller, Maclean's managing editor, special projects. Patterson has always been quick to cite favourable Maclean's ratings but on August 30 2006 announced that Trent would not participate in this year's Maclean's survey. Trent's Maclean's ratings have fallen in recent years. Last October Patterson began a two-year term as chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), the lobby group for Canadian universities. Continue reading

When York University hired Lorna Marsden to be president, the board knew she was a director of Manulife Financial who, like every shareholder, receives direct benefit when Manulife profits through business activities, like the affinity arrangement with York. Marsden's position with Manulife was disclosed to the board "and consent given to her continuing in that capacity." said Harriet Lewis, York's Secretary & General Counsel, in her letter to Professor David Noble dated June 8, 2006. Lewis takes the position that Marsden "has not received any personal benefit" from the York-Manulife arrangement. But Manulife pursues business arrangements for profit, which directly affects the value of shares and remuneration for board members (Marsden's shares were valued at more than $1.8 million on March 15, 2006 and she received almost $130,000 in direct remuneration last year). How ironic it is that on the same day as Lewis' letter York announced it was bestowing an Honorary Doctor of Laws on Dominic D'Alessandro, the president and chief executive officer of Manulife Financial! As if we needed additional appearances of conflict of interest involving Marsden's relationship with Manulife. Continue reading

Starting today (June 10, 2006) the Ontario universities must comply with the Ontario Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Like other public bodies subject to the scope of the Act universities must respond to FOI requests within set timelines. A decision by a university to refuse to release records in whole or part may be appealed to the Privacy Commissioner, not, as has been the case in the past, the university president who may have refused the request in the first instance. This is one small but welcome step towards bringing transparency and accountability to our publicly funded universities which have managed to avoid both so far. The public may now rely upon legislation to obtain information rather than the caprice of university presidents and administrators. Continue reading

The Ontario government has withdrawn proposed legislation that would have required designated public bodies to give reasonable notice of their meetings to the public and ensure that the meetings are open to the public. Trent President Bonnie Patterson inadvertently spilled the beans that the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) was lobbying MPP Caroline Di Cocco to exclude universities from the scope of the her private members' Bill 123, 2004 (Transparency In Public Matters Act). Despite the analysis of the Ontario Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) that the scope of institutions subject to the bill was too narrow, Di Cocco acquiesced to pressure from the powerful COU and put forward amendments to exempt universities. The order for the bill's third reading was discharged and the Bill 123, 2004 was withdrawn by Order of the House dated April 18, 2006, some 13 days after Di Cocco was appointed Minister of Culture. Continue reading

York university has a deal with Manulife Financial to flog its products to York alumni. Among other things Manulife gets the York alumni mailing list, York stationary and the endorsement of the Executive Director of York's Alumni Association and Advancement, Naguib Gouda (a former Vice President at Manulife). More interesting is that York president Lorna Marsden has been on the Manulife board since 1995. Manulife paid Marsden almost $130K in 2005. Marsden's Manulife stock holdings are presently worth over $1.8 million. Gouda reports directly to president Marsden, and both are board members of the York University Alumni Association which authorized the York-Manulife deal. With so glaring an appearance of conflict of interest it is no wonder that Ontario Ombudsman André Marin recently announced that he wants any public or private body that gets provincial money to deliver services to be subject to his oversight - including universities which are currently outside his mandate. Continue reading

Should a publicly funded university be able to squirrel away financial records, funding agreements or various other bits of information in a corporate entity under its direct control? Should such a corporation be a shield against Freedom of Information legislation? That is exactly the matter before B.C.'s Privacy Commissioner. The provinces three largest universities have argued the public should not have access to the financial dealings of Simon Fraser University's spinoff companies. CAUT and the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association have argued for release of the information. The issue is particularly poignant just months before Freedom of Information legislation is to be extended to cover Ontario's universities and as Trent University actively contemplates creating a corporation to manage its endowment lands. Continue reading

The Court of Appeal for Ontario has unanimously ruled that York University president Lorna Marsden may indeed be sued for "misfeasance in public office". The court considers the university president occupies a statutory office and is subject to the regime of public law. The ruling overturns an earlier decision by the Supreme Court which prevented York student Daniel Freeman-Maloy from suing Marsden for misfeasance in public office. The ruling is important not only for Freeman-Maloy but for transparency and accountability in university governance. It is perhaps the strongest indication yet that university presidents cannot act as if they are above the law. Predictably the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) is upset by the decision. Continue reading

Trent president Bonnie Patterson was paid almost $258K in 2005 ($257,975.22). Patterson's total reportable remuneration increased by 5.3% (almost $13,000) over 2004. Taken separately Patterson's 2005 base salary increased by $10,800, or 4.8%, while her taxable benefits increased by $2,089, or 10.2%. As usual Patterson earned more than any other Trent employee according to the salary disclosure for 2005. But the question remains as to whether or not Patterson earned the increase on the merits of her performance. Continue reading

Ontario's Liberal government is keeping secret key accountability agreements it requires universities to sign in order to secure funding, according to a press release from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). McGuinty's liberals have received praise for agreeing to extend the provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) to cover universities (commencing June 10, 2006). But they have also earned public scorn based on their record of a long list of broken promises commencing from the moment they took office. The government's refusal to release agreements with the universities to the public flies in the face of their supposed commitment to transparency and accountability strategies. When it comes to dealing with universities we are not surprised that the government continues to keep the public in the dark. We suspect university administrators are chortling with glee - behind closed doors. Continue reading

Food services giant Aramark has been under criticism for their recent firing of a deaf and partially blind worker at the Ontario Science Centre. In addition to mounting concern over its labour management practices Aramark has, for some time now, been criticized for poor food quality. Not surprisingly, Trent University has contracted out the provision of its food services to Aramark. The apple never falls far from the tree. Continue reading

The inside story of the corporate agenda on campus is one topic at this weekend's conference Corporatization of the University: Who Is Telling the Truth? (March 12 - Guelph University campus). The conference is particularly poignant in light of Trent's ongoing experiences with the apparently unstoppable infiltration of the corporate agenda. The Trent administration's blatant fascination with corporatization may be an ignoble distinction, but other universities are also suffering its effects on research, programs and all aspects of campus life. Conference participants include internationally renowned researchers and faculty such as Drs. Nancy Olivieri, Ignacio Chapela, Ann Clark and David Noble. Filmmaker Ian Mauro, whose film "Seeds of Change" will be shown, will also be in attendance. Continue reading

The people responsible for the recent defacing of Trent's new "branding" billboards have explained their actions in a letter to The Arthur (the student newspaper). They are concerned about the move to corporatize and privatize post-secondary education, and Trent University in particular. They do not agree with Patterson's apparent commitment to transform Trent into a "money maker", unchecked by good governance practices. A more accurate slogan than the one coined by Trent's rebranding media moguls would be, in their opinion, “The World Belongs to Bonnie Patterson, Apparently.” Continue reading

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