Re: Presidential reappointment survey

Hi Sun, annie, and others,

I've also received reassurance from SFUFA that our responses are anonymized. As I understand, they got this information directly from the Reappointment Committee.

I also want to note that it speaks volumes that faculty members are concerned about making their opinions known on the President's reappointment. The only way through this is if we as individuals reach a critical mass and give honest feedback, positive and negative, about the directions we want this administration and university to move.

***

Wendy Loken Thornton, Ph.D. R.Psych
Professor, Department of Psychology
Chair, Research Ethics Board,
Simon Fraser University

***

The SFU Burnaby campus is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Kwikwetlem Nations.

Note: My working hours and yours may differ. Please don't feel obligated to reply outside of your normal hours.

From: annie ross
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 12:11 PM
To: Sun Ha Hong; Ronda Arab; Wendy Loken Thornton; Behraad Bahreyni; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: Presidential reappointment survey

hello Sun Ha Hong and others,

i noticed same, and received assurance from SFUFA that our replies were confidential. having said that, i do not trust this administration with keeping any promises nor in maintaining any sense of fairness.

i have noted some of the issues others have addressed in my personal review. i too was reticent in writing my true analysis, but no matter.

for me, i reflect this administration uses the word 'reconciliation', but does nothing about things that truly matter. what they do in m y opinion (and i think an unbiased study would prove) is window dressing, bumper-sticker placating, placing yes men in positions of power, and actively contribute to the further erosion of Indigenous Rights and Title by saying nothing, doing nothing, about on-going assaults against Indigenous peoples, places, and rights all the while patting themselves on the back for their feigned 'reconciliation'. they write documents, edit out or disinvite those with whom they disagree, and then praise themselves for meeting their own self-identified goals. it is LOL.

people at this level of admin have all the money, power, connections and skills to make real, lasting, important societal impact to assist in obtaining true parity for all.

but they don't, and won't.

annie

dr. annie g. ross
Professor. Department of Indigenous Studies
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Dr., Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
T: 778.782.3575
www.anniegrace.ca

Love and thanks to all Wild, Sacred, and Good. I especially acknowledge that i live, learn, work with and benefit from the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh, Kwikwitlem, and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw First Peoples' HomeLands.

From: Sun Ha Hong <sun_ha@sfu.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 11:52 AM
To: Ronda Arab; Wendy Loken Thornton; Behraad Bahreyni; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: Presidential reappointment survey

I agree with Wendy and want to file a comment, but just wanted to be sure that it is anonymised, given the following in their Collection Notice?

"The personal information collected includes your affiliation with Simon Fraser University and your feedback regarding President Johnson’s performance [...] The information will be disclosed to SFU’s Presidential Reappointment Committee and may be disclosed to SFU’s Board of Governors. "

Sun-ha Hong | Assistant Professor
School of Communication | Simon Fraser University
sun_ha@sfu.ca | www.sunhahong.org | @sunhahong

Technologies of Speculation: The Limits of Knowledge in a Data-Driven Society (NYU Press @ http://tiny.cc/TSbook)

At SFU, we live and work on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples
of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

From: Ronda Arab <ronda_arab@sfu.ca>
Sent: October 3, 2023 11:02:09 AM
To: Wendy Loken Thornton; Behraad Bahreyni; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: Presidential reappointment survey

Hi all,

I just want to agree with Wendy that it is important for individuals to register their concerns to the presidential reappointment committee, if they have concerns, regarding "the President’s leadership and impact on institutional success, collegial governance, faculty morale, and public confidence." A number of the issues Wendy has highlighted in her email are concerning to me, as well as a few more she hasn't mentioned (the sudden dissolution of SFU Football and the SFU Alumni Association; the interference with the REB; the decision to strip the independence of the Human Rights Office; the firing of the lead general counsel and the ongoing chaotic loss of important admin positions; the slow-as-molasses movement on negotiating CAs for SFUFA and TSSU). The window of opportunity to comment is narrow--it closes on October 11--so if you want your voice to be heard, please do so soon.

Best,

Dr. Ronda Arab

Associate Professor of English

Simon Fraser University

pronouns: she/her

From: Wendy Loken Thornton <wthornto@sfu.ca>
Sent: 29 September 2023 14:53:59
To: Behraad Bahreyni; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: Presidential reappointment survey

I can't speak for SFUFA but I'm assuming from their communications that they feel it would be more powerful coming from individual faculty members as our experiences and priorities may be different and thus, more illuminating for the Board of Governors.

I doubt the Board of Governors understands how quickly this administration has eroded trust from the community (i.e., dissolution of SFU Football, SFU Alumni Association without consultation), squandered resources,(i.e., terminating lead general counsel over their HRO decisions; interfering with the REB) and generally completely de-prioritizing the academic mission of the university at the expense of students being able to get courses they need to graduate and faculty members not getting the resources they need to do their jobs (i.e., prioritizing hiring of staff positions over faculty positions).

If only SFUFA and a few people communicate concerns they will be seen as "disgruntled". If people are silent they will likely be presumed to be "happy" or "complacent". As individuals, we may be able to make a difference in the direction SFU is heading.

Best,

Wendy

***

Wendy Loken Thornton, Ph.D. R.Psych
Professor, Department of Psychology
Chair, Research Ethics Board,
Simon Fraser University

***

The SFU Burnaby campus is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Kwikwetlem Nations.

Note: My working hours and yours may differ. Please don't feel obligated to reply outside of your normal hours.

From: Behraad Bahreyni
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2023 1:52 PM
To: Wendy Loken Thornton; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: RE: Presidential reappointment survey

Will SFUFA be willing to comment on behalf of the faculty members?

Cheers

________________________

Behraad Bahreyni, PhD, PEng
Professor, School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering
Associate Member, School of Engineering Science
  SFU  Simon Fraser University

MSE 4176, 250-13450 102nd Ave
Surrey, BC, CANADA V3T 0A3

Tel: +1 (778) 782-8694
Web: http://sense.fas.sfu.ca/

From: Wendy Loken Thornton <wthornto@sfu.ca>
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2023 10:23 AM
To: academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Presidential reappointment survey

Hi all,

Taken from SFUFA's recent email:

"Community feedback regarding the President’s leadership and impact on institutional success, collegial governance, faculty morale, and public confidence are critical to the renewal committee’s work, and we would encourage all members to share their feedback with the committee over the coming weeks.

A web page for community feedback is now live, with details on the various ways to provide feedback.

Feedback must be received by October 11"

Here is a link for the feedback: Note that I've confirmed that responses are anonymized.

https://www.sfu.ca/bog/presidential-reappointment/community-consultation.html

Best,

Wendy

***

Wendy Loken Thornton, Ph.D. R.Psych
Professor, Department of Psychology
Chair, Research Ethics Board,
Simon Fraser University

***

The SFU Burnaby campus is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Kwikwetlem Nations.

Note: My working hours and yours may differ. Please don't feel obligated to reply outside of your normal hours.