This letter was supposed to be published in the May edition of the
Reporter but finally the editor, Ms. M. Haldane, said that it was submitted too
late and she suggested printing it in September. Now she is not answering the e-mail letters to her (from the
beginning of September) about this text.
It proves that the former restaurant reviewer from
the weekly ”Hour” magazine was hired more for her developed pleasure senses
instead of solid moral/proffessional qualifactions (http://www.spop.addr.com/w0.htm) because only such people are
guaranteeing their unconditional loyalty for the networked and parachuted
rulers. This text tells how badly
treated are our professors and TAs. It probably “explains” the administration’s
pressure on the poor editor to misbehave instead of providing honest answers.
------------- - -
Still censored text by The McGill Reporter
since May 2003 – interesting why?
In his
report of May 8th “Senate,
Plaudits and Discipline” Mark Reynolds from “The
McGill Reporter” skips over a significant ruling of our Principal, Dr.
Munroe-Blum. In the introduction to this session of Senate the Principal
forbade senators to discuss the current Teaching Assistant strike, on the
grounds that it would be not be proper. An interesting context in which to read
Monroe-Blum’s confident remark, meant to deflect criticism
because of “the absence of several upper-level
administrators working on (the
strike),” that “'we
are engaged fully on this’” – as carefully quoted and “explained” by
Reynolds. Monroe-Blum’s comments send the clear message that the
administration's work at McGill is no-one else’s
business. (It seems that our First Lady was already irritated by the last
minute MAUT resolution requesting that the administration meet the strikers'
demands.)
Strangely,
none of the professors present dared to ask Dr. Munroe-Blum why she refuses a
priori to hear their opinions about the exploitation of some of the
youngest teachers here. N.B.: Professors make up more than 90% of the Senate,
and most work directly with TAs.
Such
intellectual tunnel vision is difficult to understand considering Monroe-Blum’s short time at McGill. One would hope that
coming from the outside, she would be open to a wider spectrum of opinions and
not limit herself to those judgments provided by her closest functionaries.
On the
other hand, this situation goes to confirm a general impression that only the
networked and influential seem to be respected at McGill. Happily, in the end
the TAs improved very slightly their working conditions (gradually
from about $16/h to $22.24/h in 2007 – May 26th, 2003 agreement). However, doesn’t
this outcome implicitly promote strikes as the only efficient remedy for social
problems in our community? Wouldn’t it be
reasonable for our administration to promote openness and dialogue instead?
Let's
hope that the more than $600,000 spent on a lavish sound system in the Senate's
meeting room (Leacock 238) can awaken a new spirit of idealism in professorial
senators as well as magnify their voices. With the best-protected jobs in the
University, they have nothing to lose. Only a lucky few, who never question
sensitive issues, might expect an administrative promotion or a smoother
career. The majority only sacrifice about two hours every two weeks for the
Senate's meetings and do not have to act like a herd of sheep.
Let's hope that this University
will be open to our idealism!
Slawomir Poplawski (McGill staff)
P.S. Two months before the McGill strike, the Carleton University TAs were not shy to demand and get $30.46/h from the previous rate of $29.87/h for the graduate students making 90% of their TA members. The administration was respecting their request and they didn’t need to strike.