Table Of Content

UCFV 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

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UCFV 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

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