It’s fitting my last signed editorial at The Journal is related to Queen’s being doomed in some way, shape, or form.
In my first month on the job as an assistant news editor, I wrote about Queen’s poor marketing and communications strategy when it came to the Times’ Higher Education Impact Rankings.
I still stand by that opinion, and we’re seeing another manifestation of poor communications and misinformation with the recent news of budget cuts in the Faculty of Arts and Science.
First, it’s important to recognize the Board of Trustees absolutely has a right to make strategic financial decisions to keep the Faculty and the University afloat. The body does indeed have a fiduciary duty to that end, though campus discourse has in many cases not recognized it fully.
The use of reserves and endowment funds, although an enticing idea to clear the budget deficit, isn’t possible due to existing policies. These policies can be changed, but if they were, there would likely be ramifications on other aspects of Queen’s operations, or these changes may lead to other types of risk.
Another issue is this budget “crisis” didn’t come out of the blue—it was predictable. For those keeping up with the news cycle at Queen’s, tension around finances has become clear over the past few years.
In the last round of collective agreement bargaining in the 2022-23 year, the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA) ran a successful campaign called “QUFA Disrespected,” proclaiming the need for transparency from Queen’s was at the forefront of their fight for fair compensation.
The Journal has also consistently reported on budget deficits over the past few years. While the recent activism and attention prompted by the leaked Faculty of Arts and Science memo is vital to campus dialogue and protecting academic quality, there should’ve been a more concerted effort by all students to stay informed as decisions were being made.
It was disappointing to see a lack of direct communication from student governments across the board. While all major parties have released statements saying they were blindsided by the cuts—which is probably true—it begs the question about what specific conversations elected student representatives are having at the Board of Trustees, Senate, and even the Faculty Board level.
Credit is, however, due to the folks at PSAC 901 who have made a concerted effort to advocate for the best interests of their constituent students. Their advocacy around tuition abolition and the fight for fair compensation has always been transparent and clear.
This is a hard time for students. It’s especially challenging for the staff and faculty who work hard to keep the institution open. All deserve empathy and compassion, including Provost Matthew Evans and Dean Barbara Crow.
Reflecting on all the news over the past few years, a common thread reigns supreme. Transparency and communication aren’t Queen’s or its student government’s strong suit. Just as I did when I was an assistant news editor, I wish to see open, transparent, and clear communication by the University and student governments who spearhead budget conversations daily.
This month will be telling.
Asbah is a fourth-year Biotechnology student and one of The Journal’s Editors in Chief.
Tags
Arts and science, deficit, Queen's University, transparency
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