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 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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

On February 24 provincial and territorial premiers held the Competing for Tomorrow conference largely designed to solicit more money from the feds for postsecondary education. Predictably absent from the conference's agenda and discussion guide was mention of practices and mechanisms to assure accountability and transparency in university governance. It seems that even our illustrious governmental leaders are happy to unquestionably accept at face value university administrators' claims that the only way to assure quality postsecondary education is to give them more money. A glimmer of sensibility was attributed to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty who is reported to have raised the issue of transparent and accountable management of universities when cautiously broached the subject by saying "the introduction of accountability to institutions is just starting". Continue reading
 

Don't be fooled! Trent's plan to create the Trent University Development Corporation to manage its endowment lands is still very much alive. Trent administrators wrote the final report prior to the end of period during which public comments on the draft version were officially being accepted. No public discussion of the draft was permitted. The first three parts of the four part Endowment Lands Master Plan were approved on January 27. But the board was silent on the fourth part, which recommends creating a separate corporation to oversee using lands to generate revenue. The new corporation would circumvent traditional bicameral management of lands and would likely be exempt from Freedom of Information legislation. Trent's president might find herself in a conflict of interest as she would also be the corporation's CEO. Until such time as Trent definitively kills it, the concept of a separate corporation to manage its lands must be considered alive and well and in the hands of the administration. Continue reading
 

No longer desirous to be identified as Canada's outstanding small university, Trent has unleashed a marketing campaign designed to disassociate itself from ideas its administrators appear to consider passé, and to define itself in terms of "products". Trent's newly minted slogan - The world belongs to those who understand it - has been criticized as elitist and devoid of intellectual humility. Some consider Trent's new packaging ill-timed at best, coming as it does just in advance of tuition hikes that have outraged students and parents alike. According to a recent letter in Arthur, the Trent student newspaper, a better version of the slogan would be The World Belongs to Those Who Can Afford It. Somebody sharing that sentiment vandalized a large and expensive billboard located across from the General Electric plant in downtown Peterborough. Continue reading
 

Trent's recent list of honourary degree recipients includes Charlie Coffey, an RBC executive who promotes the corporatization of Trent and other Canadian universities. In an interview with Coffey on the heels of Trent's board over-riding Senate's objection to closing the downtown colleges, he applauded Patterson's role by supporting her view that universities need to "rationalize facilities" and "become more competitive". On the role of senate and the board in bicameral governance he said "I would argue it needs to be re-examined. The bottom line drives a lot of what universities are doing today," with the board clearly having superiority. At a time when Trent's board actively promotes public and corporate partnerships (although there appears to be no example of one) it should come as no surprise that those with views similar to Coffey are rewarded and celebrated by this administration. Continue reading
 

Trent University is forcing the Ontario Audio Library Service (OALS) to move out of its campus location. University officials say they need the space for "administrative offices" (an administration apparently in continuous expansion). Trent will not renew its lease with OALS and has not offered the non-profit service organization alternative space, even at the under-utilized Argyle Street property. OALS provides audio resources for blind and learning disabled students at Trent and across the province. Being located at Trent for 30 years brought direct benefits to Trent students in need of services, and made it convenient for student volunteers. These benefits will be lost. OALS is scrambling to find new digs and is facing additional costs. OALS, just like Trent, receives primary funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Will the ironies never cease? Continue reading
 

Bonnie Patterson recently announced Trent University will present Don Tapscott with an honourary degree this spring. Known as the "transparency guru" by some, Tapscott is a promoter of corporate responsibility largely because in the modern age of digital communications it is increasing difficult, if not impossible, for corporations to avoid disclosure. Tapscott says his views on transparency, accountability and responsibility apply to universities. Ironically Trent's administration appears to have earned a well deserved reputation for opacity in its governance practices, and for resisting transparency regardless of cost. Fawning Tapscott does not bestow upon Trent either transparency, accountability nor the respect and trust associated with those virtues. These things are earned by definitive action, not by proximity or association. Continue reading
 

A hydroelectric generation proposal at Trent would see the construction of a 15 meter (50') wide diversion canal on the west bank of the Otonabee River. The canal would run from lock 23 (2 locks north of Trent) southward past lock 22 to a proposed powerhouse just north of Champlain College, and then spill back into the river. The excavation would dramatically affect a unique Trent Nature Area, hitherto protected from such development. The public may initially submit written comments and/or objections no later than February 8, 2006 to the government agency who will then determine whether or not further public hearings will be held or if a Priority Permit will be issued without such hearings. To assist in formulating public input the details of the project are presented herein. We also highlight various issues worthy of review and further thought including issues of governance of university nature areas and whether the board indeed has unilateral authority to alter land use in the established nature areas. Continue reading
 

Trent's brand spankin' new Endowment Lands Master Plan is neither visionary nor innovative "but rather the latest snake oil," according to a detailed letter from past Trent board of governors member Derrick McIntosh. While not against reasoned and well planned development of Trent lands, McIntosh is concerned the plan "subordinates all principles and all good governance", violates the board's own resolutions and policies, and does not respect Trent's bicameral governance system. It threatens Trent's nature areas, abrogates management of Trent lands to an arm's-length corporation and fails to offer any evidence the proposed developments will indeed generate revenue so desperately sought by this administration. The plan continues the recent trend to remove and isolate Trent from the broader Peterborough community, a community so very instrumental in Trent's creation. Continue reading
 

On June 10, 2006 Ontario's universities must be in compliance with the provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). Bill 197, which contains amendments to bring universities under the Act, specifies compliance commences six months after the bill receives royal assent, which it did on December 12, 2005. David Noble, a professor at York University, was informed by Ontario's Management Board Secretariat that the effective date for universities to comply will be June 10, 2006. While we expect managers of our publicly funded universities will attempt to develop strategies to avoid disclosure, FOIPPA imposes a regime of disclosure and avenues to appeal denials that cannot be circumvented. "It's a new ball game. Universities have been forced, kicking and screaming, a step closer to accountability," said Noble. Continue reading
 

Trent president Bonnie Patterson is considering an ombudsperson for Trent. We believe she deserves some credit for being on the right track in seriously looking at the implementation of an ombuds office. Putting into operation a truly independent ombudsperson, as distinct from the existing Human Rights Advisor, has been repeatedly recommended to Patterson, from at least as early as 1999, and is one of 12 recommendations presented to the board in the spring of 2003. More credit will be due Patterson if in fact an independent ombuds office is established during her presidency. This would be a positive and progressive step, bringing Trent in line with the growing number of universities (world-wide) who have independent ombuds offices, including Ryerson University, Patterson's former employer. Continue reading
 

The federal Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) hands out millions of dollars to universities. The problem is that CFI is not accountable to the public for its spending because it not subject to federal Access to Information legislation. In her new capacity as chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) Bonnie Patterson makes a plug to all political parties for more of the same. Having gussied up campuses, built corporate-friendly research facilities and embarked on branding campaigns, universities need funds for things like, well, teaching and basic research. Ah heck, what does it matter that earlier this year foundations like CFI were slammed by the Auditor General for being unaccountable for billions of taxpayer dollars - they still have cash to hand out! On the other hand when "the Auditor-General worries, Canadians have cause to worry." Continue reading
 

Queen's principal Dr. Karen Hitchcock has confirmed the Council of Ontario Universities lobbied to exempt universities from transparency legislation. The Transparency in Public Matters Act (Bill 123) would impose a regime of openness and accountability upon the decision making processes (including meetings) of publicly funded bodies, such as our Ontario universities. Hitchcock justified universities evading transparency measures with unimpressive and misleading reasoning. Queen's AMS President Ethan Rabidoux remarked "universities who say they are against the bill because they are trying to protect student information are simply using student privacy concerns as an excuse." Hitchcock offered other comments remarkably similar to that of Trent president Bonnie Patterson. We are left with the same old questions: Why are university administrators so resistant to creating a culture of openness? Why do they consistently fight measures which would require them to operate transparently? Continue reading
 

Ontario universities are facing general compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, potentially by June 2006. The Council of Ontario Universities (COU), the universities' lobby group, has managed continued exclusion from FOI for universities. COU has justified this exemption by purporting universities self-police compliance with the spirit and purpose of the Act. Arthur, Trent's student newspaper, reported Trent president Bonnie Patterson told her board of governors compliance with FOI would impose a considerable burden of work on university administrators and represent "a significant expense item" for the budget. But wait, if the universities have been compliant all these years, as COU claims, the infrastructure and budget to formally support freedom of information legislation should already be in place, thus no new effort or budget required. Whoops, another contradiction revealed? Continue reading
 

Those pesky Trent students are at it again! Now they're speaking out and strategizing over policies which they say protect corporate interests at the expense of students. New administrative policies apparently restrict the number of student potluck events to two per officially registered group, and prohibit events such as the weekly free lunch put on by the Native Studies department. For some reason students are of the view that such policies serve only to prop up the Aramark monopoly to supply on-campus food service. Trent students, who have a history of successful activism, see these policies as indicative of the general erosion of student voice and space on-campus. And how did students plan to raise awareness and strategize about the issues? They held an "illegal" potluck on November 30! Continue reading
 

A past member of both Trent University's board of governors and Senate warns that Trent's distinctive nature areas are threatened by the apparent frenzy to develop commercial opportunities on campus lands. "In June, 2005 Trent's Board was assured that the proposed sports field would not be built in the Wildlife Sanctuary at the City's requested location, but Trent's administration seems to have subsequently flip-flopped on that assurance. With so many mosquitoes about, perhaps someone had an itchy back," writes Derrick McIntosh. Commenting on the "unbridled haste" with which Trent has entered into agreements with the City to prop up the DNA Cluster business park (for which no business plan exists), McIntosh notes the administration and Senate are playing fast and loose with policy and their respective responsibilities, to the potentially irrevocable detriment of Trent and the greater community. There is still time "for the University's governing bodies to rectify this short-sighted and reckless folly," he says. Continue reading
 

Senior executive employees are normally required to focus on the management of their employer's operations to the exclusion of other career building activities. It was announced at the end of October that Trent president Bonnie Patterson, who already has a number of significant commitments that take her away from Trent, has recently taken on another - a two-year term as the chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). How does she find the time to fulfill her responsibilities to her employer with all these commitments that necessarily detract from the time she has available for Trent University, which paid her more than $245,000 in 2004? Perhaps Patterson has read, or even contributed to, The 26 Hour Day, a book with the sub-title "How to Gain at least 2 Hours a Day with Time Control"? Continue reading
 

Ontario's publicly funded universities have managed to lobby themselves an exemption from legislation designed to ensure that deliberations and meetings become more open and accessible to the public. The Transparency in Public Matters Act would have included universities but amendments to Bill 123, which proposes the act, specifically drops universities. This was explored in an earlier OurTrent article. In today's article we update various press clippings involving Bill 123, following its second reading on October 28, 2005. Continue reading
 

Notice from four Trent professors stating the location of a proposed soccer complex is unsuitable has been ignored by Trent and the City of Peterborough. "Apart from the issue of annexing nature area lands for development purposes, we are concerned about the potentially serious health hazard posed to soccer players, both adults and children by the West Nile virus that may be spread by infected mosquitos living in adjacent wetlands." they said in letters to City council and Trent administrators. The professors noted numerous safety, financial, and environmental concerns associated with the proposed location and identified a viable alternative site. A city staff report indicated Trent rejected the alternate site with little reasoning. The soccer complex development at Trent is yet another example of the now infamous absence of transparency and accountability rampant in the management of Ontario universities and requires further investigation. Continue reading
 

Ontario Universities are going to be exempted from proposed transparency legislation requiring meetings of publicly funded bodies be open to the public. Liberal MPP Caroline Di Cocco will introduce amendments to her own private member's bill (Bill 123) that drops universities and other select public bodies from the scope of the Transparency in Public Matters Act. Bill 123 is the most recent incarnation of transparency legislation proposed by Di Cocco since 2001. When meetings of deliberation or decision-making occur, the Act requires they be open to the public and minutes be made available to the public. The Information and Privacy Commission's initial support of Bill 123 specifically noted the scope of bodies subject to the Act was too narrow. Proposing amendments to reduce the scope further is a stunning reversal for Di Cocco. It appears the lobbying efforts of Ontario universities seeking exemption have been effective. It is not without irony that we ask "Did something happen behind closed doors here?" Continue reading
 

Trent's Office of Student Affairs (OSA) is proposing to establish a legal agreement with student groups that could see student groups tightly controlled by the administration. This latest proposal by the OSA comes after students successfully thwarted the implementation of a Student Code of Conduct that would have given the Director of Student Affairs the power to unilaterally interpret student misconduct and to discipline accordingly. Is this current proposal an attempt on the part of the Trent administration to revive the student code of conduct under another name? OurTrent has received and posted a draft copy of the Trent Central Student Association Support Agreement. In the spirit of transparency and accountability read it and judge for yourself.

Continue reading
 

Trent has a unique leadership opportunity to be the first Ontario university to implement transparent and accountable management practices and policies, and to create what Ontario Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian describes as A Culture of Openness. Trent could have the honour of becoming a showcase to demonstrate that a culture of secrecy, cronyism and mediocrity have no place in the management of our publicly funded Ontario Universities. Will Trent University rise to the challenge? Can Trent rise to the challenge? Continue reading
 

A recent study has found that hiking tuition fees, as recommended by former NDP premier Bob Rae in his Postsecondary Review, would be the wrong move. To do so would disadvantage students from middle income families earning $35,000 to $75,000 a year. According to reports that would create financial barriers for Ontario families in the middle 50 per cent of the income distribution. The study, entitled "The Tuition Trap" was commissioned by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). Continue reading
 

The review of York University's controversial land dealings by retired judge Edward Saunders has been released. York has characterized the review as vindication of its practices and of the actions of board member Joseph Sorbara (developer and brother of Provincial Finance Minister Greg Sorbara). But according to the Toronto Star Saunders does not contradict the key facts reported by the Star about the land transactions in question. Saunders' finding that "York University is not a public institution in the sense that it is accountable to the public for what it does." is most disconcerting and seems to fly in the face of the McGuinty government's May 2005 budget amendments to enact legislation making universities subject to provincial freedom of information legislation. Continue reading
 

UPDATED - July 7, 2005: Reid Morden, the chair of Trent's board of governors, has been appointed to assist the Arar commission by shifting through evidence the government wants to kept secret to advise on how much can be released in the inquiry's interim report. Ironically, under Morden's chairmanship Trent's board has been widely criticized for excessive secrecy - and Trent is publicly funded and a registered charity. Given his ongoing responsibilities including those to the Volcker Inquiry and his company Reid Morden & Associates, we wonder again if Morden's effectiveness as the chair of Trent's BoG might be diminished somewhat further? Continue reading
 

The ruling by Madam Justice Alexandra Hoy of Ontario Superior Court that presidents of Ontario universities are not public officials and cannot be sued for abusing their power as such will be appealed. A short statement provided to OurTrent by Daniel Freeman-Maloy and his lawyer Peter Rosenthal explains the reasoning behind their decision to appeal. We at OurTrent fear that Justice Hoy's decision might be abused to place yet another barrier between university administrators and accountability to the public. Already unjustifiably exempt from provincial Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation Ontario Universities receive more that $2.6-billion of taxpayer dollars annually. Is it not unconscionable that publicly funded universities, which are also registered charities, remain unaccountable and not be subject to public public scrutiny? Continue reading
 

Marshall Leslie, former member of York University Development Corporation's (YUDC) main advisory council, wrote OurTrent requesting we publish his March 5, 2005 letter to the Star in support of York's actions in this matter. Leslie suggests that the Star bungled its research rather than York bungling the land deal. We present his supportive letter as reported by Y-File, York's Daily Bulletin as well as Leslie's letter supplied by him to OurTrent. We also include the letter from Brian C. McMurter, as reported by Y-File, concluding that York officials did not act in the best interests of the University and recommending that "members of the board who were involved in this matter resign immediately." Continue reading
 

A recent Ontario Superior Court ruling determined that presidents of Ontario universities cannot be held accountable for abusing their power as public officials because... they are not public officials! We fear this will be used by university management to further entrench the absence of accountability and transparency in the management of Ontario universities (Ontario's universities are, unjustifiably, exempt from Freedom of Information legislation). Not unexpectedly, York University is tickled pink with the decision because it means striking out any clauses relating to president Lorna Marsden's alleged "abuse of process with a conspiracy to injure" in the current claim against her and York by Daniel Freeman-Maloy. Continue reading
 

To what extent is a president of an Ontario university accountable to the public for actions taken in the exercise of that office? One would think that, as publicly funded institutions, university administrators would be deemed "public officials" and be in some fashion accountable by virtue of holding that office. If York University president Lorna Marsden has her way, university presidents would be deemed not to be public officials and thus could not be sued for things like "misfeasance in public office". Indeed Marsden is facing such an action and if successful in denying she is a public official, would this not place yet another barrier between university administrators and public accountability? (Ontario universities do not operate transparently or accountability and are not subject to public scrutiny because they are exempt from Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation.) We assume York is paying Marsden’s legal bill. Is public money being used to establish that the top administrator of a publicly funded institution is not a public official? Wouldn't that be ironic? Continue reading
 

York University has appointed retired judge Edward Saunders to investigate a controversial land deal. While Saunder's abilities and credibility are not in question, some find it odd that York's chancellor Peter Cory works in the same law firm (Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP) and share the same administrative assistant. Some York professors have suggested "Mr. Saunders's close association with the highest officer of York University creates an appearance of a bias, which will undermine the usefulness of the review." Watchers of Trent University will be interested to know that Trent board member Michael Gough is a partner in the Toronto office of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt. According to Gough's biography "Michael has unique and extensive experience in advising government and private sector clients on public/private partnerships, including commercialization, outsourcing and procurement." Continue reading
 

Trent University president Bonnie Patterson, like York University president Lorna Marsden, is part of the drive by COU opposing the application of the Freedom of Information Act to Ontario universities. York is in the midst of a land sale scandal. According to the York student press Marsden has tried to dampen criticism by speaking of the "spirit of openness" guiding her administration and the board's reaffirmation of "its belief in the appropriateness, transparency and fairness of the process that resulted in the sale of university lands". Uhm, just so long as that openness and transparency is not backed by being subject to Freedom of Information legislation? Continue reading
 

Bonnie Patteron's salary increased again in 2004 to top $245,000 inclusive of taxable benefits. In this article we also post the salary disclosure chart for the other members of Trent's $100,000 plus club for 2004. (See related article Controversy, budget over-runs & legal battles: Give Pres a raise!) Continue reading
 

Despite a year of controversy, budget over-runs and legal battles Trent gave President Bonnie Patterson a 3.3% salary increase to top $245,000, inclusive of taxable benefits. According to board chair Reid Morden, "The board felt she performed extremely well" (Peterborough Examiner, March 11, 2005, page B1). If your organization's president had a record like this would you give her a raise and praise her performance? Continue reading
 

When taking the helm of Trent University President Bonnie Patterson told the Board of Governors that she was committed to accountability and to "focus considerable attention on increasing the transparency of the University's operations." In light of current financial, legal and accountability issues at Trent, how would you rate Patterson's performance? Has the Trent University Board of Governors carried out their responsibilities? Continue reading
 

"Universities argue that a crisis in funding has forced them to explore all potential revenue sources. But selling capital assets paid for by the public for public purposes is morally wrong and foolishly short-sighted. Once sold, they can never be recovered." Continue reading
 

Allegations of financial mismanagement by senior administrators at York and Queens (read those stories here too)... university presidents still pushing the government for loopholes and exemptions to any potential Freedom of Information legislation that would apply to universities... Trent's own financial, legal, accountability and transparency problems, not to mention the controversial DNA cluster project. The CFS calls on the province to bring accountability to universities and have them be subject to Freedom of Information legislation. Continue reading
 

Trent University Nature Areas Committee is inviting everyone to an open meeting to discuss the draft Stewardship Plan for Trent University Nature Areas. The meeting is on March 1 at 7:30pm. The plan is a road map for the University for managing and protecting the Symons Campus Nature Areas for their teaching, research, recreational and aesthetic values. The meeting is timely given the potential impacts of the DNA cluster "deal" with the City upon the nature areas. Continue reading
 

The potential deal between Trent University and the City of Peterborough will, among other things, see Trent pass land ownership and use over to the City in return for the City contributing $2-million to the DNA cluster project. One question that has yet to be evaluated is the impact of these transactions on the Trent Nature Areas. To answer that question we must first understand how the nature areas are being used, their location and applicable University policies. Continue reading
 

Trent University student activists descended upon today's Board of Governors meeting demanding answers to a number of concerns. Among those concerns are a loss of the distinctive and original vision of Trent, secretive and exclusionary administration resulting in a $12-million debt, blindly proceeding with the DNA Cluster without a business plan or stabilized funding and growing corporatization the university. Continue reading
 

Trent alumnus Don Tapscott's book “The Naked Corporation” makes the case that there are benefits for organizations to operate accountably in today’s “age of transparency”. Speaking at Western Tapscott said transparency should apply to post-secondary institutions. Trent Board of Governors member Anna Lopes is credited with contributing to Tapscott’s book. One can only hope that Lopes will begin to actively direct Trent management to operate in harmony with the book's themes of corporate transparency and accountability, themes she apparently endorses. Anna Lopes is Don Tapscott's wife. Continue reading
 

Put to rest all those rumours that Trent was in danger of losing Bonnie Patterson to the presidency of Ryerson! Sheldon Levy, a former president of Sheridan College and vice-president at three universities, including the University of Toronto, has been appointed. Trent can look forward to "four more years" with Patterson at the helm (at least when she's not attending to her commitments outside of Trent). Continue reading
 

Joel Bakan wrote The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power. A professor professor of law at the University of British Columbia, and an internationally recognized legal scholar, Bakan will be keenly aware that British Columbia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) allows access to information held by universities while in stark contrast Ontario universities are exempt from Freedom of Information legislation. OurTrent respectfully submits that Bakan's next production should examine the themes explored in The Coproration as applied to university governance, particularly in Ontario. Certainly there are endless examples of what happens when accountability, transparency and democracy in cannot be enforced or assured. Trent University, inclusive of the Trent Act, would be an excellent case study. OurTrent invites Bakan's contributions to our future publication The Naked University ©. Perhaps Mr. Bakan will begin his research during his upcoming visit to Trent scheduled for January 31? Continue reading
 

Have current events at Trent University been predicted in the literature for some time? In the USA there are a number of studies showing that there is an attack on democracy in higher education that is having a chilling effect. "Administrators in progressive colleges succeeded in usurping control from self-governed communities of students and faculty. Presidents accomplished this by 1) ensuring that decision-making power was legally concentrated in Boards that were unaccountable to the college's students, faculty, and staff, and by 2) recruiting only new board members who would support the administration's efforts to 3) initiate autocratic practices and governance structures, often with the help of highly paid public relations firms." Does this remind you of Trent? Continue reading
 

It is being alleged that the administration at Simon Fraser was in such a hurry to put the approved candidate into a Royal Bank-sponsored professorship that they ignored their own procedures for approving hiring decisions just to keep the corporate donors happy. Is this a warning the Trent and Peterborough communities need to heed in light of the controversies surrounding the DNA Cluster and accusations of questionable governance processes? Continue reading
 

Trent president Bonnie Patterson has increased her responsibilities outside of Trent from being simply a board member of the local hospital to becoming its newly elected chair. Patterson takes on this chair as the Peterborough Regional Health Centre embarks upon a multi-million dollar building project. Given Patterson's extensive experience in "managing" building projects (see Legal battle shapes up at university - $9.2M in contractor's liens and Destruction of Trent's architectural masterpiece) we might well expect the PRHC to be newsworthy for some time. Continue reading
 

Trent's very own Associate Vice President of Human Resources David Mahy played a major role on the employer's side in a wrongful dismissal of an employee. Prinzo v. Baycrest is a well known case that sets the standard for how employers should not treat employees. The trial judge did not look favourably upon Mahy's testimony, or his actions, and said of the employer's treatment of the employee that they "persisted such harassment with almost sadistic resolve". Six months after Mahy's employer lost the case brought against them for wrongful dismissal and damages, he was employed by Trent University! Jeffrey Goodman of Heenan Blaikie, a law firm used by Trent, commented on the Prizo case saying that the employer's behaviour was “aggressive enough to fit into the tort of intentional inflection of mental suffering.” Continue reading
 

This is the appeal of the Prinzo v. Baycrest decision. The basic facts of the egregious treatment of Prinzo by the employer (including Mr. David Mahy - now employed by Trent University as Associate Vice President of Human Resources) remained unchallenged. Continue reading
 

As 2004 comes to a close on another turbulent year at Trent University under its current administration, it is timely to review Kulchyski v. Trent University (heard: June 28, 2001). This is an important decision because it confirms the Board of Governors is responsible for the "government, conduct, management and control of the University and of its property, revenues, expenditures, business and affairs... and the Board has all powers necessary or convenient to perform its duties and achieve the objects and purposes of the University". Trent's board members need reminding that they have obligations they must fulfill and cannot abrogate either through delegation or any other means. The Board must govern and must oversee management and hold management accountable. The decision confirms that the board must be a governance board and not simply an advisory board content to rubber-stamp the decisions of the very administrators it is charged with overseeing. Continue reading
 

Trent BoG chair Reid Morden is a member of the UN's Volcker inquiry into wrongdoing, including allegations of fraud and corruption, in the Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme. According to the Canada Free Press Mr. Morden himself may not be free of conflict of interest. One might also wonder if Mr. Morden's effectiveness as the Chair of Trent's BoG might be diminished somewhat given his duties to oversee the day-to-day operations of the inquiry and moving to New York city. Continue reading
 

Is Trent suffing from similar problems identified by Professor Lewis At Adelphi? It appears so. "What may have made matters worse at Adelphi is the fact that the board tended to be self-perpetuating and, as Lewis describes, to squeeze out those members who were not "team players" or who dissented from the overall direction charted by the president. Worse still is that fact that the president - whose administration the Adelphi board was charged to oversee - had a strong hand in selecting the board. One suspects that these dynamics are all too common..." Continue reading
 

In giving its approval, if only in principle, Trent's board of governors has continued to ignore the documentation that demonstrating that President Patterson has acted outside normal university policy and practices in relentless pursuit of this project. This article is the first to mention that the board has "discussed" a business plan for the project when the absence of one until now has not, apparently, been of concern. If there is a business plan, then it should be disclosed to the public. Continue reading
 

The President of Trent University has taken on another set of obligations that mean she will now have even less time available for Trent. How much time can one spend working for Trent if one is also a trustee of Lakefiled College School and on the board of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre? (another public institution free to act in secrecy because, like Trent, it too is exempt from Freedom of Information legislation). Least we forget, Patterson's salary topped $240,350 in 2003. Continue reading
 

It appears that the chair of Trent Board of Governors, Reid Morden, will have even less time available to conduct Trent University duties and responsibilities. Morden has been appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations of inquiry probing into allegations of corruption in the United Nations' oil-for-food program in Iraq. He has been hired on a one-year contract and will move to New York, where he earlier was posted as a diplomat with Canada's mission to the UN. Perhaps this confirms that Trent's board is no longer a governing board but mearly an advisory board?... Continue reading
 

Trent University’s board of governors should look at its “open door” policy, which allows too many closed doors, reports Ed Arnold of the Peterborough Examiner. "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." Continue reading
 

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 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. Continue reading
 

Imagine a world where a review of your performance at work is evaluated by a committee comprised of your supporters and where your critics are excluded, silenced, belittled and have no voice. Imagine if you could control the composition of the review committee evaluating your performance and determining if you keep your job. Imagine this occurring in a publicly funded institution that is not subject to public scrutiny because it is exempt from Freedom of Information legislation. Welcome to Trent - Canada's outstanding small university. Read what The Arthur had to say about the Advisory Committee to Review the Presidency of Bonnie Patterson. Continue reading
 

Trent President Bonnie Patterson received this Grade Report review of her performance. The report was prepared and published by TrentAction in January of 2003, just prior to the review by the "official" Advisory Committee to Review the Presidency. The report was sent to members of the Trent community in individually addressed envelopes which were dropped at each college mail room. Not many people actually received it because, rumour has it, when senior administrators got word of its distribution they ordered staff to remove all envelopes from the college mail system and destroy them. We publish it here for the record. Continue reading
 

In this instance the Trent University Human Resources department, under David Mahy, failed to act to stop harassment of several female employees. This is not the only instance of Human Resources failing to stop harassment of other employees. However, in this situation there was an investigation conducted by an outside Ombudsperson in the fall of 2003. Continue reading
 

Proposed legislation may bring public some form of accountability to Ontario Universities. On December 9, 2003 the first reading of Bill 18 "An Act respecting the Provincial Auditor" occurred in the Legislature of Ontario. This Bill will enhance the powers of the provincial auditor and require that all recipients of provincial funds be audited. This includes universities. This means that a Board of Governors Audit Committee will have to assure compliance. Continue reading
 

UPDATED May 17, 2006: On June 16, 2003 each member of the Trent University board of governors (BoG) was given a document of some 300 pages entitled Re: Management Malfeasance in Information Technology & Human Resources, Non Union Employee Rights, Whistleblowing, the Absence of Mechanisms at Trent to Deal with these Matters (mechanisms that are in Existence at Most Other Universities), and Suggested Remedies. The document requested an independent investigation into the allegations it presented. To this date (May 17, 2006) the board of governors has refused to conduct said independent investigation. However, they tried to have the documentation destroyed in return for monetary payment to the author. Strangely, the trade union OPSEU (Local 365) actively participated in the effort to destroy documentation of management malfeasance! Pictured above are Rodney McDonald (OPSEU), Stephanie Williams (Trent Labour Relation Manager), Gerry Mason (OPSEU), Terry Baxter (OPSEU), John Wales (OPSEU), David Mahy (Head of Trent HR Department), Manuella LeFranc (OPSEU), John Brooks (Trent's lawyer when he was with Heenan Blaikie, now of Hicks Morley). Continue reading
 

The founding members of Trent University express their concern that the current administration under President Bonnie Patterson is systematically destroying the essential aspects of Trent that give it its very qualities and distinctiveness. Continue reading
 

The Arthurs-Lorimer Report of 1997 must not be forgotten or buried!

If the Trent University Board of Governors and its President were to put in place strategies and action plans to address the serious weaknesses in Trent's governance and human resources procedures that were identified in the Arthurs-Lorimer report Trent would have long before now instituted proper strategic planning and proper management controls and measures of accountability and performance.

Trent should take seriously the problems identified in the Arthurs-Lorimer report. In doing so the Board will be taking appropriate action to provide management with training and backup support to enable them to govern the University in accordance with best practices.

If we ask ourselves how Trent can find what best practices are, where the best models are, and what can we borrow from others we will not have to reinvent the wheel ourselves. Continue reading