Privacy

Trent University’s board of governors should look at its “open door” policy, which allows too many closed doors.

A read of the policy virtually allows anything to be discussed behind closed doors because it has a clause “or other confidential business of the university.”

In 1999 the board passed the following resolution to make sure its members remembered to wear their muzzles: “Members of the board must respect the integrity of, and publicly support, board decisions, which are arrived at by a majority of the board.”

So much for free society and open discussion. If we decide, you must agree, and if you don’t, then keep your mouths shut.

Trent officials said last week there are some universities which try to be as open as possible, others that try to be secretive and Trent is somewhere near the middle.

Public institutions that act like private clubs, spending millions upon millions of taxpayer’s dollars, should learn they are public and strive to be as open as possible.