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Faculty, University Leaders Spar Over Academic Freedom At University Of B.C.

The Canadian Press, 18 Aug, 2015 11:43 AM

VANCOUVER — A public fight about academic freedom has broken out at the University of British Columbia, just weeks after the institution's former president resigned.

Arvind Gupta resigned on Aug. 7 after a year on the job, announcing he'd return as a computer science professor but providing no further information about his decision.

The professional association that represents UBC's faculty demanded details, with one member, Prof. Jennifer Berdahl, blogging that Gupta had "lost the masculinity contest" among the university's leaders. But the board of governors declined to comment, citing confidentiality.

Berdahl followed with another blog, alleging her superiors criticized her for "embarrassing" UBC's governors and tried to silence her.

The faculty association has now written an open letter, saying it has lost confidence in board chairman John Montalbano because of his "apparent lack of understanding" of academic freedom and for allegedly interfering with internal operations and university employees.

The university has responded, saying in a statement that a process is in place under the collective agreement to investigate any allegation of breach of academic freedom and it won't comment until it is concluded.

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