As a Trent alumnus I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the changes currently underway on the Trent campus.
My initial reaction to the proposal to close the two downtown colleges, Peter Robinson and Traill, was great sadness and disappointment. The downtown colleges are the lynch pin of life at Trent. PRC and CPTC tangibly represent the very things that make Trent the unique, outstanding, supportive, and academically challenging school that it has become. Trent values education outside, as well as inside, the classroom and demonstrates it's commitment to those principles by maintaining an open learning environment, ties to the Peterborough community, and a location accessible to students and community members alike. It is through the open campuses of Traill and Peter Robinson that I, as well as other graduates, was able to situate my education within a framework of experiences and knowledge from outside of the academic community. This is exactly the kind of learning that places Trent so far above other institutions of higher learning. We learned that knowledge is only useful if it is shared.
The open campus concept has led to the development of the many inter-disciplinary programs that have made Trent famous. The inter-disciplinary programs encourage students to look beyond the walls of traditional academia to find new solutions previously overlooked by narrow approaches. The "Studies" programs developed at Trent encourage and provide opportunities for students to work in the community, both Peterborough and communities worldwide. Programs that advocate for community involvement in education and that teach students to examine the impact of the application of knowledge could not have developed on a closed campus where the "ivory tower" vision of higher education reigns.
As my ideological objections to the "Superbuild" plan began to form I was again shocked by the full impact of the plan. I am outraged to hear of the unilateral decision-making process of President Patterson and her small group of advisors. How does a university president - supposedly a champion of knowledge and learning - so blatantly disregard the rights of the people to be heard? I simply do not understand how the University Senate's clear resolution on the Superbuild plan could be completely ignored by President Patterson.
I am equally appalled by President Patterson's refusal to allow opposing views of the Superbuild plan to be publicly discussed. By denying her opposition the right to use the Alumni mailings - which I had assumed to represent the alumni, not the administration - Patterson has attempted to silence the voice of the people.
Until I am assured by both sides of the Superbuild issue that the Alumni office is no longer being co-opted by the administration, I will not be making any financial contributions to Trent or the "Beyond our Walls" initiative.
As for the Superbuild plan itself, I see many of the proposed changes to Trent not just as detrimental to the educational quality, but dangerous to students. Trent students deserve to have the university working for their best interests. The proposal to privatize residences is anything but in the best interest of students. Expecting students, most of whom are away from home for the first time, to live in apartments without the benefit of caring and responsible dons puts students at risk financially, educationally, physically, and emotionally. University dormitories should be a natural extension of the learning environment - a place where students are safe to work and learn, where they are respected, and where they can grow into responsible adults. These expectations simply cannot be met in privatized accommodations where the owner's interest is profit rather than student growth.
After several years of meeting and working with graduates of many other universities in both Canada and the United States, I can firmly state that I received an absolutely outstanding education at Trent. I would be more than willing to support changes to Trent that would enhance the learning environment and allow future students access to the same brilliant faculty, supportive environment, and challenging education I had. However, I cannot support changes that are made hastily, secretly, and without consulting the entire Trent community. Nor can I accept changes that threaten the very principles upon which Trent was built: an open campus, community-involvement, and the sharing of knowledge.
President Patterson: let the principle of community decision-making occur at Trent. Do not attempt to silence the voices of the Trent community in the tradition of dictatorial government. And, above all, respect the principles upon which Trent was built and that have made it the outstanding university it is today.
Sincerely,
Alison M. Meadow
Catharine Parr Traill College
Native Studies/Anthropology 1992-1996