Articles and Documents in the Newsroom
 Local consultant warns Trent not to get swept away with DNA Cluster promotion and cites absence of sound planning. (Dec 6, 2004).
Trent provides a couple of DNA Cluster documents (posted Dec 2, 2004).
Students concerned over "questionable governance processes" ask board to delay project approval (Dec 1, 2004).
Trent alumni and Peterborough residents raise concerns over rushed DNA Cluster project l (Dec 1, 2004).
Board ignores concerns, lack of process and absence of business plan - gives approval to DNA cluster in principle (Nov 27, 2004).
Trent DNA Cluster Project mismanaged, has no formal business plan, university documents show (TCSA press release: Nov 25, 2004).
Disrespectful President, Cynical community, Invisible Faculty (Arthur: Nov 8, 2004).
Ont. funds DNA facility design - still no public disclosure of facts (Nov 2, 2004).
Big on promises - short on details: DNA cluster projections point to 6,000 spinoff jobs (Oct 30, 2004).
Let's get a better look inside DNA Cluster (Oct 28, 2004).
Ask tough DNA questions (Oct 27, 2004).
City to give $2m - but still no business plan (Oct 26, 2004).
In dark on DNA Cluster (Oct 25, 2004).
City Staff Reports to Committee of the Whole (Oct 25, 2004)
Council to debate DNA Cluster costs (Oct 23, 2004).
Don Mackay made Order of Canada (Oct 22, 2004).
Critics scrutinize Trent University's DNA centre's future at forum (Oct 22, 2004).
Trent urged to explain role in DNA Cluster plan (Oct 20, 2004).
Freedom of Information Request Relating to the DNA Cluster Project (Oct 19, 2004).
Open Forum on DNA Cluster (Arthur - Oct 18, 2004).
Community Members Question the Benefit of 70—Acre
Business Park on Trent Campus: Press Release (Oct 14, 2004).
Hurry - Grab that grant money!
'Clock ticking' for DNA Cluster Project to qualify for funding (Oct 6, 2004).
BoG approves Budget Cuts. Oh yes, they also approve the DNA Cluster site (Oct 4, 2004).
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Here we hope to rectify the problem that very little information about the Trent DNA Cluster is being divulged to the public. President Bonnie Patterson wants to see the project move forward as rapidly as possible, creating a 70—acre business park on the Trent campus.
Of course,the lack of disclosure is consistent with the fact that Trent and all Ontario universities are not obliged in law to be accountable or to subject themselves to public scrutiny because they are exempt from Freedom of Information legislation!
With only glossy literature full of exciting pictures and titillating buzz—words and phrases like "cluster", "vision", "the right stuff" and "never has this region seen an economic prospect with so much real potential" there is no way an intelligent and independent evaluation of the project is possible. There has been no disclosure of a business plan, no delineation of short and long term costs, no environmental assessment and absolutely no substantive cost/benefit analysis.
Nothing of any substance or significance has been released to the public to enable interested parties to independently evaluate the project, and its alleged benefits to Trent and the broader community, based upon the merits of the project itself. |
