Re: Group letter from faculty members in the School of Communication regarding SFU's Zoom adoption

Dear Enda and All:

This is a very important issue. I’m very concerned as I’ll be teaching two courses this Summer term. Two things I noticed while testing Zoom with friends are these, having read the NYT article cited in your letter: in spite of the fact that I introduced a password for a meeting, my friends were not asked to insert the password. Second, Zoom acts as if it were a phone call, so my specific earbuds turn on the left (master) side only. Because these earbuds have a noise cancellation feature, it feels very strange to be hearing from one side only. In short, I find these technological shortcomings very problematic.

It would be great if on this and most occasions SFU would go with open-source software alternatives rather than the fashionable rising corporate behemoth of the day.

Best, Gerardo

Professor Gerardo Otero

School for International Studies
Simon Fraser University
7200-515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 5K3

Tel. Off: +1-778-782-4508

Website: http://www.sfu.ca/people/otero.html

From: Ronda Arab <ronda_arab@sfu.ca>
Date: Wednesday, 22April 2020 at 9:27 AM
To: Enda Brophy <enda_brophy@sfu.ca>, "academic-discussion@sfu.ca" <academic-discussion@sfu.ca>
Subject: Re: Group letter from faculty members in the School of Communication regarding SFU's Zoom adoption

Thanks to the Faculty of Communications for putting this together--very informative.

Best,

Ronda

Dr. Ronda Arab

Associate Professor of English

Simon Fraser University

From: Enda Brophy <ebrophy@sfu.ca>
Sent: 22 April 2020 09:19:52
To: academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Group letter from faculty members in the School of Communication regarding SFU's Zoom adoption

Hello,

This letter expressing concern from faculty in the School of Communication regarding SFU’s adoption of the online meeting platform Zoom may be of interest to members given recent discussion of online education on the mailing list. There are of course significant labour issues associated with the move to online education, which, while they are not all highlighted in this letter, remain directly relevant to SFUFA and TSSU members.

Take care,

Enda

Enda Brophy

Associate Professor | School of Communication

Associate | Labour Studies
Simon Fraser University | HC 3559
515 W Hastings St, Vancouver V6B 5K3

E: ebrophy@sfu.ca | T: 778-782-8085 | www.cmns.sfu.ca

Simon Fraser University lies on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm) Nations.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Director Secretary <cmns_dsec@sfu.ca>

Subject: Re: Group letter from faculty members in the School of Communication regarding SFU's Zoom adoption

Date: April 21, 2020 at 4:22:14 PM PDT

To: Mark Roman <mark_roman@sfu.ca>

Cc: "cmns-tenurefac@sfu.ca" <cmns-tenurefac@sfu.ca>

Dear Mr. Roman,

Faculty members in the School of Communication have ratified a group letter outlining the concerns of SFU's Zoom adoption.

Please find attached this group letter dated today April 21, 2020.

Best regards,

Jan Marontate

Director

School of Communication

Brenda Baldwin

Director's Assistant | School of Communication

Simon Fraser University | Room K-9681

8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6

T: 778-782-3470 | sfu.ca/communication