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Board of Regents Chair Resigns

John Harris
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Board of Regents Chair Resigns

Glenn Barnes has resigned as Chair of the Board of Regents. A review by the Board has determined Barnes violated its Code of Conduct. In June, Barnes forwarded a pro-Palestinian email from alumna Becky Winsor to her father. The email was part of a MUN Students for Palestine campaign for MUN to divest from companies involved in Israel’s war on Gaza.

In an email to Winsor’s father, Barnes said that he is “telling parents that I know just what their kids are doing. Theirs is not the only viewpoint but this group thinks they are correct and that MUN ought to be in lock step with them. They need to grow up.“

Winsor said she is glad to see “the Board took it seriously when they did the code of conduct review.”

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“Students and community members are calling for divestment within the university … they feel their alma mater should not be participating in funding weapons for Israel,” said MUN alumna Becky Winsor. (Submitted)

She hopes the situation is a learning opportunity for Barnes and the University as a whole on how it engages with students and community members who come forward with concerns.

“I want to see the university move forward in a more positive and open way so that people can feel like they can approach people from the Board of Regents or administrators, if they have legitimate concerns,” said Winsor.

“Whether it relates to the genocide in Gaza or whether it relates to tuition fees … I would like to see a more open approach and people not having to fear whether someone’s gonna tell on them.”

Winsor said she was inspired to write to the Board of Regents after months of seeing the bombardment of Gaza on social media. Winsor said the underlying issue that sparked her email still needs to be addressed.

“Students and community members are calling for divestment within the university … they feel their alma mater should not be participating in funding weapons for Israel.“

“As a mom myself, I just keep thinking about these children that are losing parents, that are being murdered themselves.“

Education Minister accepts resignation

Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell said that the government “will work expeditiously to have a new chair appointed to the Board of Regents.”

Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents Anik Rahman, an alumni representative, will serve as acting chair until a new one is appointed by the lieutenant-governor in council.

MUNSU said via X that it is “pleased to see that Former Chair Glenn Barnes has resigned from the Board of Regents. It is unacceptable that our university administration has repeatedly ignored student concerns, broken confidentiality, and been dismissive and disrespectful when faced with criticism.“

Glenn Barnes has yet to respond to request for comment.


Calls Grow for Board Chair to Step Aside

John Harris
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Calls Grow for Board Chair to Step Aside

Glenn Barnes faces calls from MUNSU and the Progressive Conservatives for him to step aside as chair of the Board of Regents. In June, Barnes forwarded a pro-Palestinian email from alumna Becky Winsor to her father. The email was part of a campaign by MUN Students for Palestine for divestment from companies tied to Israel’s war on Gaza. A MUN privacy investigation determined this was a violation of her privacy.

In an email to Winsor’s father, Barnes said he is “telling parents that I know just what their kids are doing. Theirs is not the only viewpoint but this group thinks they are correct and that MUN ought to be in lock step with them. They need to grow up.“

The Board of Regents is conducting a review to determine whether Barnes violated their code of conduct. Members are expected to convene soon to decide how to proceed. Possible outcomes outlined in the code include a warning, a temporary suspension, or termination.

The specific sections of the code that could be relevant to the review are confidentiality and respect. It says that “Members are expected to respect the confidentiality of any materials provided as part of their duties as a Member of the Board.”

The code also states that “Members will recognize the diverse views, opinions, and experiences of Members and the University Community and look to build and support a culture free of harassment, discrimination, and intimidation.”

Both PCs and MUNSU call for Barnes’ removal

PC Education critic Paul Dinn released a statement calling for the removal of Barnes. Dinn said this incident “is both insulting and condescending to Ms. Winsor and her father, and contrary to board code of conduct.”

“It demonstrates a severe lack of judgement and professionalism. Unfortunately, MUN continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, and the Chair of the Board of Regents must be held accountable.”

MUNSU also called for Barnes’ removal. In a statement, it said that it is “very clear to the student body that Barnes must be immediately removed in order to prevent further reputational harm to the university, as well as harm to students impacted by the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.”

NDP Leader Jim Dinn said he’s taking the lead from students. “At the very least Mr. Barnes owes an apology,” said Dinn. According to Dinn, Barnes’s actions showed a lack of respect for the MUN community.

Liberal Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell said that “the Provincial Government is aware of the privacy breach” and that “the Department of Education will await the outcome of the Board of Regent’s processes.“

Josh Lepawsky
MUNFA President Josh Lepawsky says, ‘this particular instance is just yet another sort of blow to the university’s reputation.’ (The Gazette)

MUNFA called on Barnes to step down while the review is ongoing. President Josh Lepawsky said that “everyone is entitled to due process, but it simply makes sense that while the process is underway, that the person being investigated for whatever reason should step aside from the case.”

He continued, stating the situation “suggests a very severe lack of judgement on the part of the chair and an inability to separate the chair’s personal feelings from the mandate that he’s entrusted with, which is to oversee the best interests of the university as a whole.”

At the time of publication, Glenn Barnes has not responded to requests for comment, but in a previous statement provided by Media Relations Manager Chad Pelley, he said that he was “committed to participating in the investigative process and will not be speaking publicly on this matter.”

Man Charged After Allegedly Assaulting Two Women at Pro-Palestine March

John Harris
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Man Charged After Allegedly Assaulting Two Women at Pro-Palestine March

Ashlinn Pennell, a student organizer with MUN students for Palestine, and Kerri Claire, MUN alumna and ex-regent, were left with injuries Saturday after a 47-year-old man allegedly assaulted them.

Pennell and Claire were safety marshals at the Pro-Palestine march held weekly on Water Street. According to Pennell, a man got out of his car and allegedly assaulted her, knocking her to the ground.

“He walked up, said no words and tried to punch me in the face. I moved, I don’t really know what you do when someone comes at you with a fist, but instead he got my neck, and that is when Kerri Claire saw what happened and ran to my aid because there was a man still coming after me while I was on the ground. And that is when he punched her.”

According to Claire she had seen the situation unfold and ran over to help.

“I saw him kind of lean out and punch her. She fell to the ground. And at that point, I didn’t know what to do except to run over. I started yelling at him, he punched me and my glasses go flying and I just keep yelling at him … he proceeded to take my tambourine and hit me over the head with it and throw it at me.”

Police were called to the scene, however, the man left in his vehicle before they arrived. According to the RNC, officers located the 47-year-old suspect and placed him under arrest. He is charged with two counts of assault and assault with a weapon. He was released to appear in provincial court at a later date.

In a statement made by MUN Students for Palestine, Pennell says that “this act of violence against our community is unacceptable, but it does not deter us.” 

“These Saturday marches are tangible action we take every week to put pressure on all levels of our government and institutions, including Memorial University, to recognize this genocide, advocate for a ceasefire and divest from these war crimes and atrocities.”

MUN’s top earners: Bose Tops Memorial’s Sunshine List

Jacob Laybolt
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MUN’s top earners: Bose Tops Memorial’s Sunshine List

President pro tempore Neil Bose was the highest paid employee at Memorial this past year earning a total of $406,300. For comparison with other leaders in the public sector, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, is currently paid $400,000 per year, and NL Premier Andrew Furey makes $160,525. However, in comparison with the top 10 paid university presidents in Ontario, Bose would be number ten.

Last month, salaries and compensation for MUN employees earning over $100,000 were released through the provincial Government’s annual Sunshine List. 1,181 MUN employees have made the list, with an average compensation of $135,065.05, and a total of $161,132,600.

One individual was granted exemption on the basis that the disclosure of their compensation could “threaten the safety, or mental or physical health of that employee.”

In the interest of students and the broader public, the Muse has collected the top figures from this list and ranked the highest salaries.

Base Salary includes the minimum agreed amount which is paid to an individual at Memorial. Total salary includes other payments received from MUN such as overtime, bonuses, and retroactive pay. It excludes other compensation that comes from Eastern Health for clinical work, or other outside funding.

Top 25 Highest Paid Employees at MUN

Employee Name:Campus:Job Title:Base Salary:Total:
1. Neil BoseSt. John’sPresident$353,700$406,200
2. Margaret SteeleMedicineFull Professor$324,700$337,700
3. Raymond GosineSt. John’sAssociate Vice-President$291,400$302,800
4. Jeffrey PittmanSt. John’sFull Professor$274,200$283,300
5. Ian SutherlandGrenfellVice-President (Grenfell)$263,700$263,700
6. Lisa BrowneSt. John’sVice-President (Administration, Finance & Advancement)$247,000$250,500
7. Donna Hardy CoxSt. John’sAssociate Vice-President (Academic) & Dean of Students$238,800$247,000
8. Mark AbrahamsSt. John’sFull Professor$235,100$243,200
9. Jennifer LokashSt. John’sProvost and Vice-President (Academic) Pro Tempore$232,000$244,800
10. Octavia DobreSt. John’sDean/Full Professor$227,900$243,500
11. Ashlee CunsoloLabrador InstituteVice-Provost, Labrador Campus/Full Professor$227,600$241,800
12. Travor BrownSt. John’sDean/Full Professor$225,500$233,900
13. Paul BrettMarine InstituteVice-President (Fisheries & Marine Institute)$223,100$225,800
14. Sean CadiganSt. John’sFull Professor$221,500$229,100
15. Catharyn AndersenSt. John’sVice-President (Indigenous)$220,000$245,400
16. Robert SheaSt. John’sAssociate Professor$216,100$216,100
17. Shawn BugdenSt. John’sDean/Associate Professor$214,500$222,100
18. D. Scott WorsfoldSt. John’sGeneral Counsel$213,500$214,700
19. Natasha HurleySt. John’sDean/Full Professor$209,700$217,600
20. Jeffrey ParsonsSt. John’sFull Professor$209,200$216,200
21. Alice GaudineSt. John’sFull Professor$207,200$214,200
22. Brenda WilsonMedicineAssociate Dean/Full Professor$207,200$215,100
23. John HancharSt. John’sFull Professor$207,000$213,900
24. Edward KendallMedicineFull Professor$207,000$213,900
25. Lorne SulskySt. John’sFull Professor$207,000$213,900
Source: Memorial University Compensation Disclosure 2023.

MUN salaries visualized

For the purposes of accessibility, we’ve visualized this data through a series of charts, shown below.

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Figure 1: Represents the distribution of base salaries between the highest and lowest-paid.
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Figure 2: Shows the breakdown of the top twenty-five base salaries at MUN compared to total salaries.
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Figure 3: Represents the proportional shares of the top ten total salaries in size and comparison to one another.

Administrative Bloat? Ask the Auditor General

Last year, an investigation of MUN by the Provincial Auditor General found that MUN has the highest executive salaries in Canada compared to other universities. The report also highlighted a difference of $143,000 between the salaries of an assistant deputy minister and a campus vice president.

According to the report, MUN has the highest administrative costs in Canada, $2,369 per student as of Winter of 2023, $893 higher than the national average. Additionally, some executives were granted packages allowing ninety-five days of annual leave, this amounts to over a third of the working year. The report also found that there were no position descriptions for 97% of positions in one sample, which included twenty-nine management jobs and seven vice-president positions.

Memorial accepted findings of the Auditor General’s report but also provided additional context:

“The university and the Board of Regents are committed to addressing the recommendations while maintaining the university’s autonomy and continuing to serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. … Memorial is committed to ensuring the best possible use of public resources while attracting and retaining professionals with the necessary skills and experience to run its operations effectively. Memorial aims to pay its employees fairly by comparing their salaries to what is typical in the job market. The university strives to keep salaries around the middle point of what similar jobs in similar markets pay.”

We have reached out to Neil Bose and Memorial for comment and will update with their response.

Investigation Confirms Board Chair Violated Privacy of Alumna

John Harris
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Investigation Confirms Board Chair Violated Privacy of Alumna

An investigation has concluded that Board of Regents Chair Glenn Barnes violated the privacy of a MUN Alumna by forwarding her pro-divestment email to her father. As a result, privacy training has been recommended MUN’s Information Access and Privacy (IAP) Office.

Late Friday afternoon, Memorial announced that an IAP investigation has determined there was “an unauthorised disclosure of an email” by a “member of the Board of Regents” with reference to “recent media reports.” By the university’s definition, this is a privacy breach.

MUN has reported the incident to the NL Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

Access to information request comes back empty

Memorial is a public body, and emails sent as part of the Board of Regents’ business are subject to the Access to Information Act. MUN Students for Palestine (MUN S4P) filed an access to information request for emails Barnes sent or forwarded in response to the divestment email campaign. The IAP said they have no records to provide.

The IAP asked Barnes to provide the requested emails. However, he informed them that he was experiencing technical issues with his email and was unable to provide any records. It is unclear if this issue also affected the IAP investigation.

MUN S4P filed a complaint with the NL Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner seeking the records. In their complaint, they say that “the content of the email we have suggests that there are additional breaches,” referring to when Barnes wrote that he is “telling parents that I know just what their kids are doing.”

In response to the complaint, an Access and Privacy Analyst from the provincial office says their investigation into the complaint is ongoing.

Code of Conduct review underway

The Board of Regents is also reviewing the incident “through the processes set out in the Board of Regents’ code of conduct.” In the case of potential non-compliance by the Chair, the Vice-Chair, alumni representative Anik Rahman, has “the power to make a resolution to the Board for a recommended course of action.”

Possible outcomes of the Board of Regents review outlined in the code include a warning, a temporary suspension, or termination.

The sections of the code that could be relevant to the review are Confidentiality and Respect: “Members are expected to respect the confidentiality of any materials provided as part of their duties as a Member of the Board,”

and “Members will recognize the diverse views, opinions, and experiences of Members and the University Community and look to build and support a culture free of harassment, discrimination, and intimidation.”

At the time of publication, Glenn Barnes has not responded to request for comment, but in a previous statement provided by Media Relations Manager Chad Pelley, he said that he was “committed to participating in the investigative process and will not be speaking publicly on this matter.”

Board of Regents Chair Under Investigation Over Privacy Breach

John Harris
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Board of Regents Chair Under Investigation Over Privacy Breach

On June 21st, Becky Winsor, an alumnus, sent an email to members of the Board of Regents as part of a student-led campaign for MUN to divest from companies involved in Israel’s invasion of Gaza. The next day, she received a call from her father. He informed her that Board Chair Glenn Barnes had forwarded him the email and followed up with the message:

“I and other regents have received over 100 of these. They are intrusive and insulting. I am telling parents that I know just what their kids are doing. Theres (sic) is not the only viewpoint but this group think (sic) they are correct and that MUN ought to be in lock step with them. They need to grow up. Glenn.”

According to Windsor, her father replied to Barnes to say that he should direct his comments to her and that it was not appropriate for him to send the email to outside parties.

“My first response was, I’m 35. I have two children of my own. I’m not a kid. And, certainly, neither are any university students.”

“I’m an alumni, so I’m not a current student, but for any person, community, student, alumni, whomever, it’s very concerning that someone in that position … would be tattling to parents of adult children.”

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Becky Winsor is a teacher with a B.A. (2011), a B.Ed (2013), and a M.Ed (2018) from MUN. (Submitted)

Winsor, a former MUNSU executive, says she is fortunate to have parents who have always been supportive of her advocacy but that “there are definitely parents out there who would not be supportive and would probably be really upset if they knew that their children were involved.”

She says this kind of action discourages young people from “wanting to speak up or wanting to be involved in any sort of activism or protest … because they don’t necessarily want their parents to find out, or they don’t want their employer to find out.”

“I didn’t even really say anything about this for a while after it happened because I was a bit intimidated.”

Winsor says she has filed a privacy complaint with the NL Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Office but has yet to receive a response.

MUN has confirmed that the issue is under investigation by their Information Access and Privacy Office. In a statement provided by Communications Manager Chad Pelley, MUN says that

“In the event of a privacy breach, the university has a process to investigate such matters. The matter to which you refer is being investigated. The university will not comment further while this matter is under investigation.”

Barnes ‘experiencing technical issues with email’

MUN Students for Palestine submitted an access to public information request for emails sent from Barnes related to the email campaign.

The decision letter from MUN’s University Privacy Officer says they

“reviewed this request and Memorial University has no records responsive to your request. Please note that the individual asked to conduct a search for records had been experiencing technical issues with email.”

When asked for clarification, MUN’s Information Access and Privacy Office confirmed that Barnes has informed them that he does not have access to the requested emails due to technical difficulties.

MUN Students for Palestine has filed an access complaint with the NL Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, seeking the records.

Barnes has not responded to our requests for comment. However, MUN Communications Manager Chad Pelley provided us with a statement from Barnes:

“Potential privacy breach matters are investigated pursuant to a university process. I am committed to participating in the investigative process and will not be speaking publicly on this matter.”

‘Stop Killing Students’: Rally Against Bangladesh’s Violent Crackdown of Protests

John Harris
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‘Stop Killing Students’: Rally Against Bangladesh’s Violent Crackdown of Protests

Students gathered at the clocktower this past Thursday, July 18th, to show solidarity with student protesters in Bangladesh. Organized by the MUN Bangladeshi Cultural Community, participants say they are trying to spread awareness of the current situation to the international community.

Shaira, a MUN student from Bangladesh, says she wants the world to “talk about what’s happening in Bangladesh so that there’s pressure on our government to do better.”

Following the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence, a quota system gave 30% of public servant positions to ‘freedom fighters’ of the war. As the population of ‘freedom fighters’ at working age reduced, the quota was extended to their children and grandchildren. Amidst a high rate of youth unemployment in Bangladesh, protesters see this policy as unfair and that more positions should hire applicants based on merit.

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MUN students hold flags and signs to show solidarity with student protesters in Bangladesh. (John Harris/The Muse)

In 2018, mass student protests called for reform of the quota system, which led to the government cancelling it altogether. This changed on June 5th, 2024, when a Bangladeshi Supreme Court ruling reinstated the law. On July 1st, protests began on university and college campuses.

According to Amnesty International, protests started as peaceful demonstrations when protesters faced violence from police and groups affiliated with Bangladesh’s ruling party- the Bangladesh Awami League. Violence has continued to escalate, as the police response includes the use of guns, teargas, and rubber bullets. At least 115 people have been killed.

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Mahdi, a MUN student, holds a sign with the names of student activists killed by police in the ongoing protests. (John Harris/The Muse)

Mahdi, a MUN Student, says that his friends back home have been participating in the protest, and at least one of them is “hospitalized and had been beaten up very badly.”

“I would rather be in Bangladesh and help the protest, but the most I can do is ask the government over here to tell our Prime Minister to stop the killing of students.”

At the time of the rally, a telecommunications blackout had left MUN students from Bangladesh with little contact with their friends and families back home. Jawad Chowdhury, a recent MUN graduate, says that’s left many MUN students from Bangladesh worried.

“There’s a lot of Bangladeshi students here at Memorial who cannot contact their family members, the internet has been completely shut down for hours now.”

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Jawad Chowdhury, Deputy-Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. (John Harris/The Muse)

Chowdhury says, “It’s important that we show support from our university and get attention on the situation in Bangladesh.” Chowdhury says that the right to protest must be protected and that in the history of Bangladesh, students have been at the forefront of the fight for progress, including the movement for Bangladeshi independence.

“Student protest and student activism has played a crucial role in the roots of forming Bangladesh, and it’s very important that we preserve that right.”

On Friday, MUN President Neil Bose released a Message of Support “to remind all members of our community of the resources available to them.” In the statement, he obliquely references the situation in Bangladesh. Bose writes that the “Internationalization Office regularly reaches out directly to students whose home countries are experiencing turmoil, most recently to Bangladeshi students.”

As of July 21st, the Bangladesh Supreme Court has ordered that much of the quota be scrapped, although not removed completely. Following a top court ruling, 93% of jobs will be filled with merit-based processing, 5% will be allocated to veterans’ descendants, and 2% will be reserved for minority groups such as ethnic minorities and those with disabilities.

Another protest in support of Bangladeshi student protests takes place tomorrow at the clocktower, July 23rd at 4:30.

‘They Need To Grow Up’: MUN Board of Regents Chair On Student Protesters

John Harris
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‘They Need To Grow Up’: MUN Board of Regents Chair On Student Protesters

MUN Board of Regents Chair Glenn Barnes faces criticism from MUN Students for Palestine (MUN S4P) after he forwarded a pro-divestment email he received from an adult community member to their parent and said that he is “telling parents that I know just what their kids are doing,” and that the student protesters “need to grow up.”

On June 20th, MUN Students for Palestine launched a ‘click to email’ campaign with each member of the MUN Board of Regents as the intended recipients. A ‘click to email’ campaign is an online tool organizations use to demonstrate public support for a cause. When participants sign up for the campaign, a pre-written message gets sent from their personal email address to the emails of the individuals they intend to persuade. If they are successful, these campaigns can fill up the inboxes of the intended targets in a way that makes it difficult to ignore their message. 

As part of their campaign for MUN to divest from companies with ties to Israel’s invasion of Gaza, MUN Students for Palestine was successful in receiving a disclosure of Memorial’s investment portfolio, which shows that Memorial funds three companies that appear on divestment lists provided by the group.

As financial decisions like investment policies are made by the Board of Regents, they directed their pro-divestment emails to its members leading up to their board meeting.

Glenn Barnes
Glenn Barnes has been Chair of the MUN Board of Regents since 2022 and a member since 2017. (The Gazette)

Board of Regents Chair Glenn Barnes’ response was “unprofessional and concerning”: MUN S4P

MUN Students for Palestine say that while some members of the Board replied to these emails in a “positive and encouraging” way, Board of Regents Chair Glenn Barnes’ response was “unprofessional and concerning.”

The ‘click to email’ campaign message sent by the adult community member reads:

“Dear Glenn Barnes, I stand with the MUN Students for Palestine. MUN’s direct investment of over 7 million dollars in weapons manufacturing companies implicated in the genocide in Gaza is unacceptable. The failure of the university to listen to the facts laid out by the United Nations, International Criminal Court, and all major Humanitarian organizations is hypocritical, inhumane and appalling of a post-secondary institution. You have neglected your responsibility to develop and adhere to effective policies to ensure ethical investing. We don’t have the time to wait when almost 15,000 children have been martyred in Gaza. We demand you call an emergency meeting and act now.”

In an email obtained by the Muse, Glenn Barnes wrote back, “Really! 90 so far. This is personally intrusive and insulting to a volunteer board!”

In an accompanying email, which he sent to the parent of an adult community member, he wrote:

“I and other regents have received over 100 of these. They are intrusive and insulting. I am telling parents that I know just what their kids are doing. Theres (sic) is not the only viewpoint but this group think (sic) they are correct and that MUN ought to be in lock step with them. They need to grow up. Glenn.”

According to MUN Students for Palestine, the “parent of [the] adult community member notified Mr. Barnes that his actions were inappropriate and if he had concerns he could address them to the individual who had initially sent him an email.”

In response to Barnes, MUN Students For Palestine says that “this message … shows a lack of understanding of these issues. … students are not only representing their opinions, we are advocating for the university to listen to experts in their own institution and in the international community.”

MUN Students for Palestine also references the Board of Regents code of conduct:

“We feel that if Mr. Barnes or anyone else in the Board of Regents is unable to uphold the code of conduct, including confidentiality or control their emotions and act professionally when held to account, then they should not be on the board.”

The code of conduct section on respect says, “members will recognize the diverse views, opinions, and experiences of Members and the University Community and look to build and support a culture free of harassment, discrimination, and intimidation.”

The section on confidentiality states, “Members are expected to respect the confidentiality of any materials provided as part of their duties as a Member of the Board.”

At the time of publishing, our request for comment from Glenn Barnes has received no response.

MUNSU Hosts Pride On Campus: Queer Trivia, Drag, and More!

Kyle Phillips
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MUNSU Hosts Pride On Campus: Queer Trivia, Drag, and More!
Pride on Campus 2024 MUNSU via X
MUNSU Pride On Campus Schedule (MUNSU Instagram)

Memorial University of Newfoundland Student’s Union (MUNSU) is currently holding events all across campus to celebrate inclusion and pride in the community. Between July 15th and July 21st, 2024, MUNSU’s Pride on Campus has events for beginners to try drag, students to get gender-affirming haircuts and headshots, and more.

All eight events are free to attend and open to all students. The events range from a casual art day and movie night, to a protest for queer rights. The events look to give a place for everyone, engage a healthy community, and reaffirm the strength and importance of empathy for all individuals regardless of their gender, race, or sexual orientation.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alida Zedel, one of the organizers of MUNSU’s Pride on Campus event. Alida is the Executive Director of Campaigns at the student union.

Q: When did being a leader of queer pride and inclusion begin for you?

A: I have activist roots, I came up through Fridays for Future. As a queer person myself, I am non-binary and I also noticed coming up through that I saw the struggle, I feel it, I live it, it is my day-to-day, but I also see that within activists communities, most of the people I am around are queer. It is really wonderful to see but there is a reason for that, and I come back to all liberation is connected. We can’t be free until others are free and I really hope to embody that and bring it in to my work, this role, and my portfolio. 

Q: Can you speak on why Pride on Campus and Inclusive events are important not only for the community, but important for an educational institution where people come to seek continued education?

A: Finding a queer community and finding friends within the queer community is wildly important. I know there were times where I didn’t have a really good group of friends and offering supporst and offering opportunities for the community to gather and to hang out and make connections is the most important thing. We want to be able to support the community and give them these opportunities to connect and grow.

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Posters of Pride on Campus events in front of the Loft. (Kyle Phillips/The Muse)

Q: For continuing students, are there active clubs, societies, or committees to join to continue celebrating and embracing pride and the queer community?

A: SAGA and Intersections are two; we are working with SAGA on the event Gender Affirming Haircuts and Headshots. They will be there and tabling with Gender gear, and if you want to reach out and get involved they will be there and you can talk to them about how their group operates. Intersection to intersections is mostly a women’s space, but there are lots of queer women and it is a great way to get involved with clubs and societies. You can also join my committee, the Campaigns and Actions Committee. It’s not necessarily as pride-focused, but very intersectional, and lots of interesting things are happening this year so if you want to join, feel free to email campaigns@munsu.ca!

RNC Charges Three Student Protesters with Trespassing in Arts Building at MUN’s Request, CEP Clears Encampment 

John Harris
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RNC Charges Three Student Protesters with Trespassing in Arts Building at MUN’s Request, CEP Clears Encampment 

In response to a request from Memorial University, the RNC charged three participants of the occupation of the Arts and Administration Building with petty trespassing late Friday night. Charged protesters have received a court date, and could face up to a $200 dollar fine if found guilty. 

Since June 7th, student protesters have occupied the building as part of MUN Students For Palestine divestment campaign. It has since been revealed that $7,144,370 of Memorial’s portfolio is invested in two companies with direct ties to Israel’s invasion of Gaza and a third involved in the establishment and maintenance of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territories.

Devoney Ellis, one of the student protesters who was charged, says she is “feeling very disappointed in my university,” but is not dissuaded from continuing to protest. Ellis’s message to MUN is that they “are not going to silence us in the face of a genocide, thats simply not going to happen.”

Additionally, Campus Enforcement Patrol officers were given orders from MUN to dismantle and remove all tents from the science building courtyard. This encampment dubbed Yazan’s Yard by student protesters has now been cleared.

In a statement posted to Instagram, MUN Students For Palestine says they are “outraged by Memorial University’s gross misuse of resources” and says that their “methods were chaotic, disorganised and showed a complete disregard for safety, especially the safety of racialized and international students.”

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MUN Campus Enforcement Officers inform student protesters that they are removing all tents from Yazan’s Yard (John Harris/The Muse)

MUN Cites Ontario Superior Court ruling as Basis for Shutting Down Protest, Legal Expert Says Other Provinces Rulings are ‘not binding’ in NL

In a statement published in the Gazette, MUN defends their actions to shut down protest by writing that they align with the Ontario Superior Court decision that granted the University of Toronto an injunction to dismantle the pro-Palestinian student encampment on their campus.

MUN asserts that “the legal principles around property ownership and control of property are equally applicable,” however according to law professor Heidi Matthews, MUNs statement is misleading, and ignores whether or not Charter rights apply in this context.

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Heidi Matthews, Associate Professor at Osgoode Law School (Submitted by Heidi Matthews)

In a comment provided to the Muse, Matthews writes that “different provinces each have different regulatory regimes governing the relationship between provincial governments and universities. A court in this province may well decide the question of Charter application to campus differently than the Ontario court did in the UofT case; indeed, the Court of Appeal of Alberta has recently decided that universities are not ‘Charter-free zones’.”

Matthews explains that the facts of the UofT case and what’s happening on MUN campus are very different:

“The harm identified by the judge in the UofT case emanated from the fact that encampment members had ‘appropriated control’ over Front Campus in a way that excluded others and prevented the university from using the space.”

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Student protesters hold up sign following charges. (John Harris/The Muse)

In what Matthews calls “language taken from the UofT case,” MUN’s statement asserts that “students have been occupying the lobby of the building to the exclusion of others.” 

However, according to Matthews “there does not appear to be any evidence that the Memorial students occupying the Arts and Administration building had ‘appropriated control’ over the building.”

As for the three protesters who were charged with petty trespassing, Matthews says they may choose to challenge their charges on the basis of freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly rights granted by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

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