Kelly Sinoski
Surrey Now Staff Reporter
Wednesday, July 30, 1997
Page 5
Other university leaders are hoping to stall development of Tech B.C.
The Confederation of University Faculty Associations of B.C. and the Canadian Association of University Teachers have called for a world-wide boycott of the university unless government agrees to change the current legislation establishing it.
The organizations argue the legislation, passed Monday afternoon, violates professors' academic freedom on research projects and doesn't provide a student senate in which students and professors can give their views on developing courses.
Robert Clift, the confederation's executive director, said professors are concerned the new legislation will give the board control to change or eliminate programs without consulting students or faculty, leading to a "benevolent dictatorship."
The groups are calling for professors around the world to not apply to Tech B.C., saying it isn't a "real university." Clift said the board could also he dominated by business people developing programs for their own interests.
But proponents of Tech B.C. argue the university was never meant to he a traditional institution. Chairman Ron Dickson maintained the board is committed to academic freedom, saying the university has to remain flexible so it can be innovative and on the "cutting edge." The university will expand from the act, he added, and will include an academic council and advisory committee.