Table Of ContentUCFV Faculty & Staff Association Newsletter
Vol. 9 No. 4
January/February 2001
that handy list from Psych that lack of fresh vegetables and fruits,
In this issue delineates and integrates our all-too among other things.
human concerns: from the most
FROM THE EDITOR •. •.....• 1 basic hungers to the very highest My own surveyed students hate
aspirations. Turns out we are not so the caf, too; they say the choice is
different from each other - all have between "greasy and cold," though
TO THE EDITOR ............ 3
certain requirements that must be their concerns are also rightly
met for us to be fully functional and pecuniary (rather than wholly
REPORTS contented members of the tribe. gustatory). Like, order the
-President . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ubiquitous Burger Special with
- Faculty Grievance . . . . . . 6 Ali I glanced over the familiar maybe a drink and dessert, and it's
categories -Food, Safety/Shelter, around $10; and you can do much
- Staff Grievance . . . . • . . . 6
Love and Belonging, Esteem, Self. better just about anywhere. (They
Actualization - it suddenly came to seem to like Susanna's Deli in the
UICLE
me; and I understood ... why mall-ette next door.)
-The Big Smear . . . . . . . . 7 contentment has been eluding me of
late, while I strive to settle back into Of course, sustenance is pretty
NOTES & NOTICES . . . . . • . 10 my term-time identity as a good basic, so it's hardly surprising
university-college do-bee. people get tense when this aspect of
nurture appears so un-nurturing. Ali
Food: For thought (and indignation?) a committed FSAer, I've made my
feelings known to the caf, several
FROM THE EDITOR times, on its expensive survey forms.
Last Fall I was repeatedly
But nothing happens. Perhaps that's
buttonholed in these hallowed halls
because Chartwells is part of
about the desperate state of ABBY's
Wants and Needs 2001- or, Compass Group INC., an
cafeteria (don't know about CHWK;
How Do You Spell 'despicle'? things are always better there). American company that is the
world's largest Edu-food-provider,
Guess I became a magnet for such
with some 200 universities and
whinging because of my numerous
Ali I sat prepping for Winter term,
colleges plus almost 300 high
comments in these pages re the caf.
I couldn't help but reflect on the year
schools as clients. Talk about being
(It's just that I'm on a special diet:
past here at UCFV. A pleasant one royally corporatized!
doctor says I can't eat bad food.)
in many ways, yet I felt somehow
Back in the last century I'd started to
uneasy. Wonfs ct V.i&iaa: newsldter oftbe Univenity College
believe my gustatory growls were of the Fraser Valley Faculty and Staff' AJsociation.
tolerated but largely ignored as the
What, I asked myself, is this odd Editor: Ryszard Dubanski
gratuitous grumblings of a grumpy
touch of anxiety that seems to hover
gourmand. Seems, however, it's not SeaetariafSupport: Fenelia Sobdmk
over me like a cloud of dark
just me after all. Lately colleagues
something or other, as I peruse my Printed by: Janet Allamon, UCFV Printing Services
from all areas have been downright
tattered and bloodstained CMNS
impassioned over the victuals Contributions and ideas are welcome
~ tes? from all memben.
provided downstairs: e.g., "it's UCFVFSA
dreadful," "I'll never set foot in there 33844 King Road, Abbotsfoni, BC, V2S 7MB
Then I flipped the page - and Tel: 854-4530 FAX: 853-9540
beheld the well-known pyramid of again," etc. Many voice worries over www.ucfv.bc.ca/&a/
the unhealthful choices, such as the
Maslow's hoary Hierarchy ofN eeds,
2
Jan/Feb 2001
My newest theory, on recently At the time the Abbotsford News Needless to say, this is not
perusing the yellowed pre-packaged ran the story, the assigned posters representative of the majority, even
salad-like items in their plastic coffins had not been finished and were in terms of orthography. UCFV has
is that this stuff is being trucked in therefore not displayed on walls or long enjoyed a close and mutually
. from someplace, some place far anywhere else; none were actually supportive relationship with th< ',
away and long ago. Are we - gulp viewable outside their incarnations community it serves. Still these
- becoming a dumping ground for as computer files. Yet various opinions, though unsigned, are
Yankee leftovers? Alliance supporters were angered by clearly out there, and it's always good
these 'posters', or rather by the to know which way the wind blows.
More to the point, I guess, is there notion of their potential existence.
enough real concern in the FSA vis Outraged Letters to the Ed in that Personally, Idon'tknowwhatto
this aspect of workplace quality to paper likened them to vicious attacks suggest about such fracas. A greater
take it to another level? Send a on minorities, to Hitler's anti-Semitic willingness to celebrate diversity?
message, and I'll tabulate - to horrors, etc. By the tone of these More comprehensive UCFV
dubansk:[email protected], employing the epistles, you might have imagined orientation packages - in addition
Subject Line: Cafatrocity. that this was the only place in to the messages of welcome,
Canada offering parodies of Mr. campus maps, bar-code tattoos,
Safety/Shelter: Gimme Day - though, oddly enough, as the Tums dispensers, etc., they might
Leader of the Opposition and a also include sample copies of the
Then there was the not-joyful campaigningcandidatefortherountry's local papers, maybe even a few
news about the Sumas Power Plant highest offire (not an endangered helpfully acclimating videos: e.g.,
project. Now it seems that the heavy marmot or orphaned pandacub)he, like Edward Scissorbands, or
environmental contamination the other candidares, was actually being Deliverance, or that cult classic,
hereabouts, deriving both from lampooned daily in newspapers across The Faculty!
agribiz and the Valley's catch-basin th.eland.
effect on Vancouver's air-borne Esteem:"/ c.an't get no respect"
pollution, will be significantly Well, it's a cruel world, and the
augmented; and thereby the air and political realm is not generally In my darker moments, while
water in our workplace will become known as a kinder, gentler nook making photocopies, I sometimes
increasingly tainted. Kinda ironic for thereof. Still I'd have thought there think we are the 'despicle' Rodney
all those oldsters who gleefully would be some consensus that Dangerfields of the professions, th
cashed in on Vancouver housing satires, cartoons, etc., focusing on ones who - more than any 0th.en.
prices to retire out here, I suppose. any candidate are pretty standard, - are never justly appreciated or
Of course, they can always move especially during an election. Less truly valued. An example: One sub
(even further east, perhaps?). But it's standard, perhaps, is the nature of text of the above anonymous bit of
no joke when working conditions the attacks on our highly qualified hate mail is a commonly-held
themselves become an issue. Already Instructor (who, incidentally, has negative yet proprietary attitude to
we are lugging our drinking water done much pro bono work for the those who work in Education,
into the office; can respirators - or local community). Here is a sample styling us as wage slaves, ineffectual
space suits-be far behind? of the protest, mailed to our service providers, incompetent
colleague over the Christmas break
employees, misguided public
Love and Belonging: at - though not precisely a Christmas servants, bumbling job-trainers,
card - presented exactly as written:
Heartbreak Hotel? freeloaders, and, over all, pathetic
losers.
Marion Llewellyn
Surely one of the more
U.C.V.F.
remarkable UCFV events oflast year
was the gush of protest from our
I have read about your smear
local community, starting last
campaignagainstMr. Day. You
November, about an assignment -
incompetent despicle bitch should
in one of our Graphics courses - to
be fired without pay and pension
do cartoon posters of Stockwell Day.
and should not be allowed to feed
For those of you who missed the
on Taxpayers money. You are
ruckus, here's a backgrounder; see
not fit to teach kindergarten.
also the article below by the
Even there you would probably
Instructor involved, plus a letter from
try to promote your twisted
Graham Dowden responding to the
feminist biased thinking. May be
first bit of activity (in case some of
menopause has damaged your
you didn't catch the coverage), and
little brain! The sooner you leave
the latest issue of the Cascade for
U.C.V.F. the better for the
further details.
students. It would also be riddance
of a piss poor so called teacher !
Jan/Feb 2001 3
As mentioned previously (too instructors have not received a wage
many times?) here, and as any flip increase that covered the cost of
through the newspaper or scan of a living since the very early 1990s.
video store shelf will confirm, we are
---··. ., e d throughout the culture in very
erogatory imagery, yet take no Our Faculty members are on a
action to redeem our transgressed, thirteen step wage scale that begins
demonized selves. Have we been so at $45,859/yr and tops at
psychologically abused as to become $65,200/yr. Many instructors start
paralyzed? as sessional or part-time employees,
making less than $20,000/yr. They
New Year's resolution num.ero must augment their incomes by
unu. seek professional help ( first step taking jobs outside teaching, or
is to admit that there is a problem. .. ). work at two or three institutions at
the same time to make a living. It
Self- Actual1'z atj'o n: "'Dam n ,;.+, 1,·m ... II may take years to receive a
permanent position, and it then
takes eleven or twelve additional
The good news is that 2001 has
years to reach the top of scale.
dawned balmy, bright, and
Most instructors are well into their
beauteous, with all kinds of vaguely
TO THE EDITOR forties before they get there. Our
wonderful things - like GINGER,
top of scale Faculty - most with
perhaps - just over the horizon, not (Ed. Lasti ssue we mistakenlyp rinted
PhDs - make less than some BC
to mention benignly confused an earlier draft ofthis Jetter.)
school district teachers and less than
primulas blooming purple in the
September 28, 2000 many tradespeople. Many
front yard. Plus some of the usual
University-College and College
dynamic reports and audacious The Editor, Chilliwack Times
instructors have the same level of
articles lined up to start our
45951 Trethewey Ave education as University Professors,
millennium off right.
Chilliwack, BC V2P 1K4 yet make far less. Ontario and
Alberta College instructors make in
And yet, as Maslov says:
excess of $70,000/yr.
Dear Editor:
Even if all these needs are
satisfied, we may still often (if not In the 'Our View' column of Recruitment and retention are
always) expect that a new your September 12 issue, you stated
becoming a serious problem in BC
discontent and restlessness will that of the $2. 7 million in additional
post-secondary. Because our wages
soon develop, unless the funds University College of the
are so low, we cannot compete with
individual is doing what he or Fraser Valley (UCFV) received last
other provinces. In some
she, individually, is fitted for. spring, "more than $1.5 million was disciplines, instructors can earn
Musicians must make music, gobbled up by Faculty wage
twice as much in the United States.
artists must paint, poets must increases." And, in the 'Qassroom
Every year BC loses good
write if they are to be ultimately crunch' column of the same issue,
instructors to Alberta, Ontario, the
at peace with themselves. What you noted Bob Warick, UCFV's
US, and the private sector.
humans can be, they must be. Director of Community Relations
They must be true to their own and Development, as saying
nature. This need we may call " .... more than $1.5 million went to British Columbia's students
self-actualization. meet the two-per-cent wage increase deserve quality education. Quality
for Faculty and towards other education depends almost entirely
contractual obligations." I would on quality instruction. The UCFV
Educators, then, must teach, and like to add the following for Faculty and StaffA ssociation, along
to that purpose must command the clarification. with the other University-College
resources - spiritual and worldly,
and College locals in BC, is
from within and without - to do so.
preparing to go to the bargaining
Hey, having said that, I feel more "Other contractual obligations,"
table this December. To guarantee
'actualized' already, especially when in fact, ate up most of the $1.5
quality post- secondary education,
I think of the new contract being million. The 2% wage increase cost
BC must pay its University-College
negotiated even as I write - and approximately $500,000, and was
and College instructors a fair
you, gentle colleague? shared by over 750 Faculty, Staff,
competitive wage.
and administrators. This small
increase followed 0% in 1999, 0% in Sincerely,
-Ryszard Dubanski 1998, and 1.8% in 1997. BC's Beverly Lowen, President
University-College and College
UCFV Faculty & Staff Association
4 Jan/Feb 2001
(Ed. The following originally tooning, and in her instructions to Bargaining
appeared in the Abbotsford News re the students the instructor made it
the phantom smear campaign.) abundantly clear that there is, as she
told me, a crucial "boundary As was reported earlier in the
between political satire and January 15th bargaining bulletin,
Dear Editor: gratuitous, insidious character UCFV and the FSA began formal
assassination." talks January 10th• Ian McAskill
and I plan to send out weekly, or
In his hysterical letter on the so
bi-weekly, bargaining bulletins to
ca 11 e d "smear" cartooning Let us admit that there was a
keep you up to date on the progress
assignment at UCFV, John Redekop certain clumsiness involved in
ofboth the Provincial Table and our
says that he grasps the distinction restricting the assignment to a single
own local talks. So I won't go into
between legitimate satire and political figure. Not only Stockwell
a lot of detail here, except to say
character assassination, then shows Day but all the party leaders in this
that pressure from the Ministry to
that he grasps no such thing, election campaign were little more
get UCFV to the Provincial Table is
smearing the distinction in the than living lampoons, and the mounting. Our local talks forge on,
process and at least attempting to exercise might have been livelier had however, and our goal is to have
hasimsasseslifn. aHte e cao mpese rtsoo tnh'es cocnhcalruascitoenr cito nbveeernt wbrhoaatd wears iant wscoorspte a. n eBpiusto dtoe negotiations completed by Feb. 28th•
We then plan on an Extraordinary
that for her sins instructor Marion of tactlessness into a possible General Meeting for presentation of
Llewellyn should resign, and rests his "contravention of Canada's hate a tentative contract on March 1",
case upon the evidence of a single crime laws", as Mr. Redekop does, with a ratification vote held the
article in last Saturday's News. and to lump criticism of a candidate following week. Our present
for public office into the same contract expires on March 31st.
category as "smearing Jews"? And
Let's look at that article for a this is not just some ill-informed bum
mnoormmenatl.l y Ina itt,h oTrrouudgy h Beayankd, Tofhfi st heis starne eti lls-afyoirnmge dth ebsue mth iwnghso. CAUT Membership and
conscientious writer, commits a happens to sit on Abbotsford city CLC Affiliation
cardinal sin of journalism: she drops council, and he has larger
a set of quotation marks. The first responsibilities to check his sources
time we hear about the supposed before he opens his mouth. If, as CIEA is now a full fledged
"smear" campaign against Stockwell Mr. Redekop claims, there was member of CAUT (Canadian
Day (apart from the glaring headline, "bigotry, hatred, desecration or Association ofUniversity Teachers),
of course), the word is quoted, and intolerance" in the Fraser Valley air with voting rights and the ability to
attributed to a student (who hides, as last week, there was more of it in the have CIEA members run for CAUT
complaining students will, behind a
letters column of the News than in officer positions and committees.
mask of anonymity). In the next the halls ofUCFV. I wouldn't go so Because CIEA represents over 7000
paragraph, however, taking one
far as to demand Mr. Redekop's members, it is one of the largest
student's opinion as plain bald resignation over these ill-founded organizations, if not the largest, in
objective fact, Beyak writes that the accusations. But I do believe he CAUT. CIEA has five votes, one
assignment was "to create a political owes Marion Llewellyn a public for each degree granting institute it
smear campaign poster," and the rest
apology. represents - UCFV being one of
of the article ("the smear
the five. At a recent Presidents'
assignment", etc., etc.) continues in -Graham Dowden
Council meeting CIEA President,
this vein, converting what had been
Maureen Shaw, talked about the
mere allegation into holy writ.
advantages of belonging to CAUT.
Access to federal politicians, a way
As it happens, the truth of the to liaise with national universities,
matter is somewhat different. Unlike the ability to work beyond our
the outraged newspaper-reader Mr. provincial borders in the area of
Redekop, I took the trouble before post-secondary education, and free
writing this letter to actually speak to legal advice on intellectual property
UCFV's Dean of Arts and to Ms. President's Report issues, are a few she mentioned.
Llewellyn, and it turns out there was
no "smear" campaign at all. The
Prior to obtaining full member
only time the word "smear" was used Happy New Year. I hope you status, CIEA's relationship to
was when the student used it. The had a Merry Christmas, or restful CAUT was that of 'special affiliate'.
assignment in question was to have break, or both, and that the new year In a previous issue of W& V. I
been an exercise not in mudslinging has gotten off to a good start for you. reported on the difficulty a couple
but in responsible political car-
of our FSA members were having
Jan/Feb 2001 5
gaining access to CAUT information. addressed through the present is to address issues that are specific
That, unfortunately, will not change. bargaining process. to University Colleges - issues
Even though we are now full such as legislation, governance,
members, access to CAUT still has to funding, and research.
+
made through the CIEA office. UCFV Budget: VP Norah
_his is CAUT policy, not CIEA's. Andrew reviewed UCFV's
financial status to date, and Since the UC Consortium's
talked about budget priorities inception - which I think was in
Several years ago when CIEA and other considerations for this the Spring of 1999-its relationship
joined the BC Federation of Labour and the next fiscal year. One with CIEA has been a rocky one.
one of the criteria was that within specific issue that came up This is really unfortunate because
three years CIEA would also have to during this and the bargaining both parties have been
join the CLC (Canadian Labour discussion was UCFV's critical independently engaged in lobbying
Congress). Only national unions can support Staff shortage. Again, the provincial government to
join CLC. Being a provincial both sides hope this can be recognize and address the unique
organization, CIEA had to find a addressed through bargaining. problems faced by BC's university
national union through which it colleges. I hope February's meeting
could join the CLC. Last April is the beginning of collaborative
+
CAUT created NUCAUT (National Interpretation and implementation alliance between the two parties.
Union of the Canadian Association of UCFV policies: At the FSA's
Skip Bassford mentioned the
of University Teachers) which has request Management UC Consortium in his January 12th
applied for CLC membership. Ifa nd acknowledged the need for
'Message from the President'.
when NUCAUT gains CLC member policy training workshops,
Please refer to it for an explanation
ship, CIEA will become a member by especially for the employees who
of the consortium's purpose.
association. If, for some unforseen are most likely to work with the
reason, NUCAUT is not accepted for various policies, i.e.: Student
CLC membership, CIEA has the Complaint Policy, Harassment
Announcements
option ofj oining through BCGEU. Policy, etc. A joint committee
will be established to set up the
workshops.
Tim Cooper, 2nd Faculty VP,
Are you keepin' up with all these
Most retreat participants felt the day and Colleen O'Lund, OH&S Co
onyms, 'cause there's a quiz at the
was well spent, and there is talk of Chair, graciously volunteered to
wild of this report?
making it an annual event. represent the FSA on this year's
UCFV Budget Committee. Elizabeth
Dennis volunteered to sit on CIEA's
Labour/Management Retreat
Thanks to everyone who
EducationalPolicyCommittee. And
responded to my request for agenda
Catherine McDonald, Status of
items for the retreat. Many of the
Women, is our new FSA rep to the
On January 51h, fourteen people issues suggested are already on the
provincial Contract Training and
representing UCFV Administration bargaining table, and others were
Marketing Committee. Catherine
and the FSA Executive met for a one issues we felt were better dealt with joins Wendy Watson, who is
day retreat. The many issues by LAMM (Labour and UCFV'srepto CI'M. Many thanks
discussed, explored, and debated Management Meeting).
to Tim, Colleen, Elizabeth,
included: Nonetheless, we considered all
Catherine, and Wendy.
suggestions and appreciate members
taking the time to respond.
If you read the notice that was
+
Bargaining: This discussion sent with your January 15th pay
focused mainly on how to handle University College Consortium stub, you will remember an
the pressure from PSEA (Public impassioned plea from Daryl
Sector Employees Association) Conner asking for your cooperation
and CIEA to get UCFV to the On February P1 a CIEA sub and understanding of the critical
Provincial Table. We then committee of Presidents' Council, Staff shortage in the Finance
touched briefly on specific issues. representing the Faculty associations Department. Well, I am very
of Okanagan, Malispina, Cariboo, pleased to announce, as I am sure
and Kwantlan University Colleges, you will be relieved to hear, that a
+
Recruitment and retention: This and the FSA of UCFV, will meet new position is being created in
is an issue that, for UCFV, is with the University College Payroll. While it is very true that
becoming more serious every Consortium. The consortium is the many other areas are experiencing
year. Both sides hope that our five University College presidents. the same critical support Staff
recruitment and retention The purpose of the meeting, which shortage, if there is one area where
problems can be partially has taken 18 months to put together,
6
Jan/Feb 2001
we all want the employees to be repeat of the course, offered by a Staff
happy, healthy, and on top of things, different instructor. A departmental
it's Payroll. team was formed to teach the course Grievance Report
which excluded the instructor
complained of, reflecting adversely As I write this report I realize
With the huge growth in on his qualifications and reputation. how pleasing it is to be able to write
employees, especially part-time, and The employer did not show about something positive, instead of
all the technical changes Payroll has compelling reasons which are cited the ususal grievances and conflicts.
experienced over the years, I think on the policy for this early This time the focus of my report is
it's amazing that Gail Hull and Julie intervention, its role being custodial a situation that took place before
Jabbal have been able to keep up. To and mediative. All complaints the holidays.
my knowledge they have never remained at Step 1, discussion
missed a cheque run. On the between students and instructor, but FSA Reps on SACs
membership's behalf I would like to one which was advanced to Step 2
thank Gail and Julie and say how and written down.
much we appreciate the super job During December I was asked
they have done for us. at the request of an internal
Resolution of the grievance candidate if I could sit in on an
consisted of an invitation to the SAC as an observer. The reason
I would also like to thank UCFV griever to join the instructional team, the candidate made this request was
for its supportive and timely response as he was qualified and the because in a previous SAC the
to an Abbotsford News article about complaints were neither founded nor internal candidate had felt that he
one of our members. The article, unfounded. Second, the FSA and should have been successful. He did
printed last November, solicited a UCFV agreed on a cooling-offp eriod not feel as though the FSA
huge response from the community. for the griever's evaluation, as the representatives in this particular
Had the UC not responded as it did, affair could taint the process. And, case had represented him. I am not
the situation, based on rumor and Management agreed to convene saying that in all cases the FSA
misinformation, would likely have workshops for those called upon to representatives must recommend
gotten out of control. administer sensitive policies. the internal candidate; however, in
situations where the internal
-Bev Lowen
candidate applies for and meets the
Comment: Some of the student criteria of a vacant position then
and/or student representative's that candidate shall be given
actions were in my opinion not preference over an outside applicant
above board. Also, the size of the who has equal or less qualifications
complainant group should not say to meet the criteria of the position
more than the merit of the (Article 13.4).
complaint(s). Going further, some of
the complaints had to do with the
format of an exam and the sequence The makeup oft he SAC was as
and weighting of marks within the follows: one FSA member acting on
course. behalf of UCFV as the Chair, a
Management representative, and
Faculty two FSA reps. The interviews went
These are departmental matters smoothly, and the SAC reached the
Grievance Report that instructors need to review. If point of discussing and ranking the
students prefer to see a given candidates. It was quite interesting
In December the FSA grieved
percentage of their mark completed at this point because one of the FSA
Management's handling of the
by a certain time during the course reps and the Management
Students' Instructional Complaint
- presumably so that they could representative had ranked the
policy (310.13) which we alleged
make an informed decision about internal candidate higher and the
violated an instructor's right to
continuing or withdrawing-should other FSA representative along with
receive fair treatment under Article
instructors design their courses the Chair ranked the external
4.2 in the Collective Agreement.
accordingly? Finally, I found in the candidate higher.
course of this dispute a
The circumstances giving rise to misunderstanding about academic
this grievance (informal stage) go as freedom and about the latitude an In a situation like this quite
follows: in mid-November students instructor has when implementing often I will bring to the attention of
comprising about 20% of a double course content. the SAC articles in the Collective
Agreement that may help the SAC
class roster complained to -Bob Smith reach a decision. However, before
Management of a Faculty member's
I was able to do that, the FSA
instruction. Management ordered a
Jan/Feb 2001 7
representative who had scored the Day, get Marks" - together with the Dean's office - and demand
extemal candidate higher by a couple subsequent flurry of letters to the Philosophy classes. His reasoning: it
of points during the interview spoke Editor. To begin with, I would like was imperative for artists to ponder
up and said that he was voting for the to thanks those Senior Management, their societal responsibility and
ternal candidate. The FSA Faculty, and Staff who offered consider where to (forgive the awful
.q,resentative felt that the internal messages of support. Beyond this, I pun) draw the line without
candidate met the qualifications and can only relay my responses as they compromising their artistic
criteria of the position and should occurred at the time. integrity. We knew his advice was
therefore be the successful candidate. important; Tony had already gained
To begin with all I was capable
our trust by virtue of the fact that
of doing was to silently mouth my
he'd attended Liverpool College of
own attempts at rebuttal:
At this point in the process the Art with John Lennon ... and was
discussion continued because the still a persona/friend(!)
Chair still wanted to offer the
Church and State Caught in
position to the external candidate,
Unholy Union
while the other three members of the We crammed into the Dean's
SAC felt that the position should be office as he was tippling his
offered to the internal candidate. Is Big Bro's Kid Brother Watching afternoon sherry. "Bravo mes
The FSA representatives were not You7 enfants teniblesyou may have your
willing to back down, and countered philosophy classes," he said, "now
each new argument the Chair came cool off with a warm Guinness!"
up with. McArthyism Newest Pollutant in
Fraser Valley
Wistful anecdotes from the
The two FSA reps in this case and though many a truth has been sixties can be somewhat tedious,
clearly understood their role on the said in jest, these ripostes were rather even to those who"were there." Still
SAC. Both recommended the glib, even somewhat cavalier. In I want to mention this one because
internal candidate over the external reality, inventing headlines was more it came so insistently to mind during
candidate and were not afraid to back of an endurance technique for me, my most recent experience of
up their perspectives. It was nice to part of my 'inner survival kit.' It curriculum debate. And, even
ee this happen because I have sat on helped me absorb the shock - not though becoming nostalgic over
any SACs where people don't fully only of the original article and letters nostalgia didn't solve the problem of
l.lD.derstand their role or they may not to the Editor from certain members bad press, I couldn't stop thinking
feel comfortable speaking against of the public, but also of the - if only academic life were that
another person's recommendation. malicious snail-mail missives, simple in 2001 !
morally didactic e-mails, and
obscene, abusive messages that were
In this particular case it was left, anonymously, in my voice mail. And yet, perhaps it is7 After all,
satisfying to see members looking out during the three weeks of press
for other members as well as coverage in the Abbotsford News,
understanding what it means to be an From then on I experienced my academic landscape was
FSA rep. It is important to several reactions that, even now, I suddenly divided into four pockets,
remember that we need to stick find difficult to braid into one tidy each with clearly defined
together and support each other. So response. However, before I attempt boundaries:
the moral of the story is, lend a hand to do so, please bear with me while I
because you never know when you digress, or rather regress, to the
may find yourself in a situation that halcyon Year of our Lord 1968. I > Globalism versus Parochialism
requires the support of your fellow was double majoring in painting and
> Art versus Obscenity
FSA members. design and, like most of my peers,
thought I had enormous political > Spin versus Slander
-Heidi Tvete
acumen. This took the form of large
> Satire versus Smear
satirical canvases ofLyndon Johnson
The Big Smear or and Richard Nixon. Enough said.
Who's in Charge of Moral Simple indeed, yet perplexing
since the universal question
Authority Anyway ? Many of my classmates were
remained of who, exactly, has the
engaged in similar projects, and we
moral right or power to
were gleefully egged on by our
categorically distinguish these
Numerous Faculty and Staff tutors; except for Tony, who
boundaries on behalf of "all decent
11ave asked me how I felt about the remained inscrutable until close to
Canadians" - the individual, the
article in the Nov. 25/00 Abbotsford end of semester, when he decided to
government, special interest groups,
Newsheadlined "Politics 101: Smear speak. He urged us to storm the
the public at large, or the law courts 1
8 Jan/Feb 2001
While I was experiencing my focused on the fact that I had not of images, with short captions,
own little personal and professional given students a choice of candidate reflecting the political ideas of
defamation I rejigged my survival kit, for this assignment; this was seen as Stockwell Day to be completed as a
trying to console myself that by proof of my evil agenda. True digital file. They were directed to
setting this particular assignment, I enough, I had as usual followed research the platform of the party ----
was simply actualizing the words that program philosophy by presenting and choose three issues for
I had written for the UCFV calendar; students with the same problems for commentary. There was no
namely, that art and design the first three semesters. The obligation to use Stockwell Day as
"connects a series of ideas and solutions have been consistently a concrete image, but if he was a
reflects the values and mores of any varied, diverse, and ranging in component of the total image,
given culture." At the time it seemed sophistication and creativity. The students were asked to clearly
irrelevant that the culture addressed language to be manipulated is a distinguish between gratuitous
was indigenous to the Fraser Valley. visual language and open to a character assassination and genuine
It's true to say that rve hoped and myriad of interpretations. It is also a political commentary. Ironically,
imagined that graduates of our new language for students. Students this was the raison d'etre behind the
program will thrive in Abbotsford, are expected to learn how to assess assignment. Regardless of whether
Vancouver, Seattle, Toronto, or and critique each others work. Mr. Day was to be included or not,
London-anywhere their hearts and Beginning this process and all the students understood they
minds take them (like it or not we are discovering this new genre, I believed would lose marks for any trace of
in a global economy, fueled by at the time, would be complex and mean-spiritedness. Knowing the
powerful information technology). challenging for the students; to also students quite intimately I expected
And certainly the reflecting and expect them to even-handedly assess pieces that were created with brevity
connecting that I referred to had to projects on a range ofd ifferent topics but none the less would be biting
include the W estem, Classical seemed an unnecessary extra and witty. The target audience was
tradition of political satire. What I complication. This was my reasoning epitomized as the profile of a
didn't reflect on was the political and my faux pas. regular reader of Saturday Night
climate of our immediate or the New Yorker.
community, and in particular the
practice of pastors "dictating politics It would have been more politic
from the pulpit," as one colleague to give the students a choice of I also think it's worthwhile to
casually mentioned later. (Perhaps candidate, but now rm questioning mention two of the questions I
that is all that needs to be said to whether I would set such an asked the students during their
naive Faculty like me?) assignment again - even with a briefing session:
choice of subjects. If Stockwell Day
had been chosen by some of the
Now I believe it would have students, and the resulting images "Do you think there is some
behooved me to follow the local had somehow come to public truth to the old maxim 'Sarcasm is
press; much to my chagrin my first attention, responses from certain the lowest form of wit and the
take of the Abbotsford News had my members of the community, I highest form of vulgarity?'"
face, mouth frozen open, on the front suspect, would have been just as
page. From then on, the paper's vitriolic.
coverage of this 'event' snowballed "Is there anybody who's
with amazing speed, to include such uncomfortable with this assignment
headlines as: "vulgar, distasteful, on the basis that it contravenes an
derogatory," "prejudicial, hateful and individual's deep political
biased," "Teaching how to smear: Is principles?"
it any wonder our young people are
killing and being killed." And,
speaking of killing - the real killer: The class concluded that there
"What's next? Final exam on was a time and place for sarcastic
smearing Jews?" (This was the wit and seemed eager to start
header for a Letter of the Day written without further ado - their only
by a fellow academic, no less - a At this point it might be useful to question "When's it due? "
reiterate the assignment and brief.
professor of Political Science at
Trinity Western.)
It was due on the last day of
Firstly, the students were class, not timed to coincide with the
Where was my inner survival kit introduced to a new genre, i..e. post election or with Stockwell Day's
now? I had thought myself tough modern political satire. I made last port of call, Abbotsford, as thf
enough, but the little soldier within historical references ranging from press stated. In fact, completion of ~
was definitely flagging. Much of the Hogarth to Ralph Steadman. The the pieces was delayed by the
anger directed against me was students were asked to create a series startling paparazzi style of the
Jan/Feb 2001 9
Abbotsford News reporter and > And even if public scrutiny is the This concerns me, too, but alas,
photographer who sat outside the norm, was the assignment really by the end of the Fall semester, my
studios for two days waiting - for so problematic? After all, the concerns were no longer intellectual
, at? Godot? Alliance party presented Mr. or artistic ones. Despite my soldier's
Day as the embodiment of its survival kit, I wound up vacillating
~
ideals: the tenets of his social between stunned disbelief and
They circled D building and tried conservatism were well within painful, acute self-consciousness;
to observe us through the studio the bounds of the public domain, and it was exhausting. It's no fun
windows. They harassed students on so one might question why a being spotlighted by some as Public
their coffee breaks, hoping to glean university-college instructor Enemy No. I - not even for the
confirmation of the salacious images should be maligned for famous fifteen minutes!
the students were ostensibly creating. encouraging those tenets to be
To date, however, nobody has used as classroom material.
viewed the finished pieces except for Does the tax-paying public, or In closing, I want to stress the
me and the students, and the net rather certain members thereof, impact on the students themselves.
result, in my opinion, is a completed have a right to demand This was truly a remarkable lesson
assignment, in this case a series of resignation and/ or public in civics. Like me, my students were
very clever concepts that need further apology from any individual quite appalled by the militant
refinement. instructor who has given a organization of malicious letters -
controversial assignment to her written in response to an article that
or his students? had perverted the truth, responding
But, in another sense, and in the to imagery that the complainants
cold light of day, the net result is also had never seen - so appalled that
a series of questions that I'm still If I could wrap all my responses two of them suggested the tallest
grappling with. Here are some of into one, it too would be in the form males escort me to my car after
them: of an over-all question: Who's in class. Ironically, given the original
charge of Moral Authority ? headlines, the students (many,
incidentally, adult learners in their
> Naturally, one can't help raise
late twenties and beyond) felt ·
the obvious question of freedom *** 'smeared' themselves, since certain
of speech and, more specifically,
There remains one other big letters implied that they lacked the
_; the true nature of academic
issue - artistic licence. Can artists intellectual maturity to, first,
freedom. The images were not
breach academic freedom by giving recognize and, second, resist the
created for public consumption
themselves unauthorized permission wicked agenda of their instructor.
and were meant for group
to speak - to speak in a language
critique and discussion in the
that is both metaphoric and
privacy oft he studios. If trust has Through a curious combination
symbolic? Historically it was the
been well established between of accident, intention, and
philosophers who gave artists
instructor and student, should circumstance, these students were
permission to reflect and connect in
one deliberately avoid an forcibly immersed in the ways oft he
this manner. And it was the
assignment that focuses on the world. From where I'm sitting now,
philosophers who argued that artists
hero of a local community, and despite the considerable
should not necessarily concern
despite the fact that this same agitation of many on all sides of the
themselves with the tyranny of the
hero is the new leader of the issue, one could argue that the post
status quo, otherwise they cannot be
opposition party, and a major modern political satire assignment,
relied upon to mirror back society's
force in Canadian politics? circa 2000, actually had some
strengths and weaknesses.
unforeseen paedagogical value: a
fortunate fall?
> The program assumed that by
In such a view, the artists are the
closing the doors during class
messengers (is it any wonder they get
time, privacy would be
-Marion Llewellyn
shot? ), the poets and philosophers
respected. The art students- a
the 'unacknowledged legislators of
cohort group who live with each
the world.' Thanks to Tony, my old
other six hours a day, five days a
tutor, I've often looked to them to
week - and I both expected
shed light. In the Winter of '69 we
some privacy within the confines
began our Philosophy classes. The
of an academic institution. Were
first branch offered: Ethics. And, if
we wrong in this assumption?
I remember Epictetus correctly, he
Or do the college studios
said, "What concerns me is not the
constitute public domain and are
way things are, but rather the way
therefore open to public
people think things are."
scrutiny?
10 Jan/Feb 2001
NOTES & NOTICES 3,000 students in Queensville, north undergraduate at the University of
of Toronto. Ms. Cunningham said Toronto paid about $3,800 this_y ear
Ontario Gives Nod to Private Ontario's first private university in tuition.
could be running as early as
Universities
September.
No public funding: students have The University of Phoenix,
right to choose, says Dianne which operates a 200-student
Cunningham (James McCarten, with Critics have long argued that campus in Burnaby, B.C., offering
files from Francine Dubee, the allowing private universities would Management and professional
National Post, December 21, 2000) steer attention and funding away courses, wants a campus in
from Ontario's 17 existing Toronto. The province has
institutions, which have long promised a quality-assessment
complained of under-funding. They board to take applications from
Toronto: The Ontario government predict soaring tuition fees and huge new institutions and make
passed a law yesterday opening the increases in the numbers of students recommendations on whether they
door to private universities in the expected as the province phases out should be allowed to hand out
province. The bill, which allows Grade 13 over the next two years. degrees.
private degree-granting institutions Opponents argue that, even with a
but bars them from receiving public ban on government funding, private
funding, passed third and final universities would still draw money
reading after members of the through the province's student-loan
legislature voted 57-27 along party program or through the tax system,
lines. either by way ofc redits to students or
to people who donate money to
private institutions instead of public
Dianne Cunningham, the ones.
Colleges and Universities Minister,
said the move will give students
greater choice when selecting a But students have the right to
university. "Our first commitment is make that choice, said Ms.
to the public system, and it always Cunningham, who added the whole
has been," Ms. Cunningham said point of the exercise is to create jobs
after the bill was passed. "But there is and train people to fill them. "The
an adult population who are looking most important programs we can
for degrees, mainly because they're have in place are jobs," she said.
required in the world of work, and "When people borrow money and Personal Affirmations
they do need more choices . .. we get a job, they pay back their loans. "
for the New Millennium
need flexibility."
(Ed.: Why not try'em all. .. )
During debate on the bill
All that remains for the bill to Tuesday, students packed the public
become law is royal assent from galleries and howled in protest when
9 I assume full responsibility for
Ontario's Lieutenant-Governor. Ms. Cunningham rose to answer a
my actions, except the ones that are
question about the bill. But
someone else's fault.
yesterday, not a single protester was
While there are a handful of on hand for the vote.
private degree-granting universities
9 I no longer need to punish,
already in Canada, most tend to be
deceive or compromise myself.
narrowly focused on Christian Tuition fees in Ontario have
Unless, of course, I want to stay
studies. A private university in climbed 60% over the past four years,
employed.
Fredericton offers executive MBAs while provincial government funding
for $28,000.British Columbia and ofu niversities has declined from 6 7%
Alberta also permit the limited of operating costs to 50% Ms. 9 Having control over myself is
operation of private universities - Stephenson said previously she nearly as good as controlling others.
two U .S.-based universities operate hopes her private university, which
small campuses in Vancouver, and will offer degrees in science,
about 10 U .S.-based universities offer computer science engineering and 9 I can change any thought that
courses in Alberta, most of them humanities, will be up and running hurts into a reality that hurts even
long-distance learning programs. between 2005 and 2008. Tuition more.
Bette Stephenson, a former Ontario would be set slightly above tuition
Tory education minister, has worked costs for students at publicly funded
to establish a private university for institutions, she said. An
