The protest mounts more and more after the massive cuts to staff and programs at Laurentian University in Sudbury. On Friday, about 150 demonstrators gathered downtown to express their discontent at the dismissal of over 100 teachers and the cuts to about 70 programs in English, French and indigenous people: they call also for government intervention. The entire Italian Studies program has also been cancelled.
Last February, the university was the first in the province of Ontario to declare a state of insolvency, citing more than 300 million debts.
Organizing the event, which was attended by students, professors and community members, was Melanie Murdock, who was particularly saddened by the loss of the Obstetrics program and who called for funding for the bilingual program, the only one of its kind in Ontario, to be reinstated. “We want funding to be made so that these programs closures can be lifted and we need the support of the government so that it can happen – said Ms Murdock – we need help.”
News of the cuts shocked Murdock, who graduated from Midwifery last spring. “That’s why it strikes me closely. I want to support my classmates who are still enrolled in the program, my professors, the support staff in midwifery programs and the profession as a whole.”
Under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), organization in the insolvency process can restructure as they work to address financial issues.
But it’s not just the people who took part in the protest who are raising their voices against Sudbury University. Jean-Marc Dalpé, for example, who was awarded an honorary degree by Laurentian twenty years ago, is a French-speaking author, poet and playwright who disputes the decisions the university is making. “This is simply too much, so mine is a gesture of solidarity with the teachers and students who have lost so much”, said Dalpé, who said he was angry about all the cuts, in particular, to the French programs. In a letter to university president Robert Haché, Dalpé calls for an investigation to determine the true causes of Laurentian’s financial chaos.
Meanwhile, Thorneloe University President John Gibaut, of Sudbury, has filed an appeal in court against Laurentian’s decision to cut ties with his federated universities. Laurentian announced on April 1st that he would withheath funding which, under his agreements, would normally flow to Thorneloe and Huntington universities and the University of Sudbury. Gibaut said it is a complicated relationship, but what the school fundamentally disputes “is Laurentian’s decision to unilaterally terminate a common agreement. “In addition to the voices condemning the dismantling of Laurentian courses, there is also that of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who has called on the federal government to intervene with financial support. “We need to provide support immediately so we don’t allow these devastating cuts. And we have to understand what is the right model for long-term sustainability – Singh said – but right now we have to stop the axe, we have to save the university”.
