[OurTrent Editor's note: If Mr. Bennett's contributions were not appreciated or recognized by Trent's Board of Governors, they were most definitely acknowledged by the Peterborough community at large. Mr. Bennett was named the Citizen of The Year by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.]

A veil of secrecy has surrounded Trent University’s board of governors’ decision not to reappoint Daryl Bennett to the board for a second term.

Bennett, the owner of the Liftlock Group of Companies, said he is not even sure why he was not invited back.

He said he has missed one meeting in four years and has consistently donated funds to the university.

Bennett suspects it might have something to do with the pointed questions he has asked about the DNA Cluster Project, the closing of the downtown colleges and land use matters.

“I believe it is all part and parcel,” he told The Examiner Wednesday, the day his term was officially over and he was free to speak publicly because he was no longer bound by a board “gag” order.

“I raised some issues and posed some direct questions. I believe I acted in a gentlemanly manner. It is what is ahead at Trent that they didn’t want me there fore.”

Bennett found out in mid-June that he was not going to be returning to the board.

Since then, his only contact with the board has been through correspondence he received Monday stating that their decision was final, he said.

Board members are refusing to comment on their decision, saying only that they issued a statement last week on five new appointees, said Trent Spokesman Don Cuming.
The decision was made in the June 24 closed session of the board meeting, so the circumstances surrounding Bennett’s departure cannot be discussed, he said.

Derrick McIntosh, a teaching assistant at the university, has collected 145 signatures calling for Bennett’s return.

He files the petition with the board’s secretary last week.

Cumming said the board had received the petition and is in the process of getting back to individuals who have also wrote in to the board about Bennett.

McIntosh, who used to be a member of the board, said he was compelled to start the petition after he learned the decision not to reappoint Bennett had been made behind closed doors.

“Obviously, we don’t know why the board did not reappoint him,” he said. “No one can really know because the decision was made behind closed doors. That’s disturbing. One has to wonder why a member who has served dutifully is not reappointed.”

McIntosh said Bennett has been a strong, good member and an ardent advocate for Trent who has asked some “very appropriate questions on the university’s position to consolidate their location to one facility.”

Cumming said the board may reappoint members, but is policy also calls for turnover in its membership. There are two vacant spots on the board. They will likely be filled by the fall, he said.

Reid Morden, chair of Trent University's Board of Governors has announced the appointment of five new members of the Board: Perth, Ontario lawyer, Robert Butterworth; Trent student and executive director of the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA), Catherine Dickinson; Trent Psychology professor, Dr. Deborah Kennett; retired president and CEO of Quaker Oats Canada Limited, David Morton; and alumnus, Graeme Ross, who manages the offices of RBC Dominion Securities in Peterborough and Cobourg.

"I am delighted to announce the appointment of these individuals to the Board of Governors," said Mr. Morden. "Each of them brings the perspective of different University stakeholders and, as important, brings expertise in key areas that will benefit future Trent University governance."

Mr. Morden also announced the reappointment of three external members: Len Vernon (chair of the Finance and Property Committee), Lynn McDonald (chair of the Investment and Audit Committee) and Doug Young (chair of the Advancement and Communications Committee). Staff member John Casserly was reappointed for a second term on the recommendation of his peers.

At this final meeting of the academic year the Board paid tribute to and recognized the contributions of those whose appointments would expire on June 30th. Daryl Bennett (2000-2004), Dan Coholan (2002-2004), Richard Dicerni (2001-2004), Kimberly Fielding (2002-2004), Richard Krug (2001-2004) and Prof. Michael Peterman (2002-2004).