September 14, 2010
Professor George Luste
President, University of Toronto Faculty Association
By Email- Public Letter
Dear Professor Luste
The Provost, Professor Cheryl Misak, has responded to your public letter dated September 10th, 2010, raising concerns about academic planning. We are pleased that, as Professor Misak pointed out, Dean Meric Gertler has now embarked on appropriately wide-ranging consultation as part of the academic planning process in the Faculty of Arts and Science. While we understand UTFA's concerns about the initial phase of the exercise, we also both feel obliged -- after some consideration and after numerous expressions of dismay by staff members -- to write concerning an unfortunate sentence in UTF A's open letter.
We are both proud to be professors at the University of Toronto who happen to be temporarily in 'administrative exile'. Over the years, we have tirelessly championed the excellence of faculty and librarians at the University and we have continued ourselves to contribute in a modest way to the research and teaching mission of this great university. However, UTF A's public letter over your signature claims that the University’s "well-deserved place of honour and pride in the international pantheon of elite institutions of teaching and research" is due only to your members "and no one else". With great respect, we have to disagree strenuously with that sweeping claim.
Over the decades, thousands of individuals on staff at this institution who were or are not members of UTF A have made a huge contribution to every aspect of our University. In one sentence, your letter has dismissed them all.
Furthermore, UTFA's claim makes no acknowledgment of the contributions of tens of thousands of current students who are the ultimate reason why any university exists, or the generations of outstanding students who have brought their talent, intellect, and enthusiasm to our institution -- and have then gone out as alumni to make their mark on the world.
We appreciate that this matter was not the central point of UTFA's open letter, which is why we hesitated at first to write. Knowing your personal perspectives on staff and students, George, we are also confident that it was never your intent to dismiss, out of hand, the contributions of staff, students and alumni. However, given the wide circulation of UTFA's public letter and the wording of the sentence at issue, we respectfully urge you to issue a clarification.
With thanks in advance and best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
David Naylor,
President
Angela Hildyard,
Vice President, Human Resources & Equity
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