Concerned students called for the resignation of the Senior Leaderships Team (SLT)—Principal Patrick Deane, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans, and Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) Donna Janiec—in a Students vs Cuts (QUSVC) town hall.
QUSVC is a student-led group established in 2023 that advocates against the budget cuts facing the University, predominantly in the Faculty of Arts and Science.
READ MORE: Queen’s projects $35.7 million operating budget deficit
“As we have seen over the past year, academic restructuring to programs, mass layoffs, lack of transparency, and the general audacity and hubris of senior administration is both a deeply concerning projection and catalyst of what’s to come at Queen’s,” QUSVC said in an Instagram post.
Graduate and undergraduate students across all faculties and departments were invited to gather in the Biosciences Complex Auditorium on Sept. 24. They discussed the SLT’s recent decision to cut the Queen’s Graduate Award (QGA) for incoming Master’s students starting next fall. The town hall provided a platform for students to voice their frustrations over the cuts, with several delivering speeches criticizing the University’s leadership.
“We want you to know that we are collectively doing everything that we can,” Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) President Emils Matiss said in his speech.
READ MORE: Graduate funding slashed, a blow on equity and financial necessity
Matiss argued eliminating funding for the QGA falls outside the jurisdiction of the SLT. Currently, the SLT is making the decision to cut funding independently. Matiss believes consulting Senate and the Board of Trustees would allow for more time to make informed decisions.
While expressing that only one individual is pushing for cuts to the QGA program, Matiss declined to name that person; however, he indicated that Evans was the one who informed him about the proposed cuts.
According to Matiss, Evans suggested students seeking a Master’s degree could either ask their parents for support, pay out-of-pocket, or take out loans. Evans reportedly justified the proposed cuts by stating Master’s students produce less research compared to PhD students and require more financial support from the University.
Several concerned students delivered speeches following Matiss, expressing personal frustrations with the proposed cuts. Many expressed feelings of shame regarding their association with Queen’s University and the pursuit of their degrees at this institution.
A student in the audience emphasized the importance of uniting to oppose cuts. Others in attendance raised questions about the 2008 incident where the AMS called for the removal of former Principal Karen Hitchcock ultimately leading to their resignation.
“We’re fighting for better conditions for graduate students, for undergraduate students, to keep their funding but we also need to understand that we’re to denounce and make these people resign because they should,” a student in the audience said during the town hall.
In a statement to The Journal, Matiss said the SGPS has been working tirelessly to ensure the voices of the graduate community are accurately represented. By sharing information, gathering data, and showcasing testimonials that highlight the negative impact these cuts would have on equity-deserving groups. The SGPS has coordinated widespread support across the University to present a unified opposition to the proposal.
The SGPS expressed gratitude for the collective support of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni in opposing the proposed cuts. While the SLT introduced the cuts as part of budget-balancing efforts, the SGPS noted the Board of Trustees has the authority to extend the timeline, allowing the SLT to reconsider the decision.
“We strongly believe that with more time, alternatives can be found that protect Queen’s values of equity, excellence, and the future of graduate education. The SLT can still reverse this decision, and we urge continued collective support to safeguard the future of graduate education at Queen’s,” Matiss said in a statement to The Journal.
Tags
Advocacy, masters funding, Townhall
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