Professor George Nader, a respected and dedicated faculty member at Trent University, was denied reappointment as principal of Peter Robinson College by Bonnie Patterson and her administration. Nader publicly voiced his well documented analysis demonstrating that, among other things, Patterson's plan to close the two downtown colleges (in pursuit of SuperBuild funds) was not financially viable. Apparently this angered Patterson to the extent that Nader's reappointment was denied. CAUT has launched an inquiry to assess whether there were breaches of or threats to academic freedom in this case.

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Nader Inquiry Launched
CAUT Bulletin November 2003 - Vol.50 - No. 9 ONLINE

CAUT has appointed a committee of inquiry to examine the issue of academic freedom for university administrators. The committee is being chaired by Bill Bruneau, professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia and a member of CAUT's Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee. The other members of the committee are A. Wayne MacKay, president of Mount Allison University and Tim Quigley, a University of Saskatchewan law professor.

The immediate focus of the committee's work will be an examination of the allegation that George Nader, former principal of Peter Robinson College at Trent University, was denied reappointment as principal because he spoke publicly against the university board's plans to close the college. The committee will assess whether there were breaches of or threats to academic freedom in this case. In addition, the committee of inquiry has been asked to consider and make recommendations on the extent and nature of the entitlement of administrators to academic freedom.