On September 12, the Department of Biology sent an open letter to senior administrators outlining the effects of recent budget cuts and the perils of further cuts. The signatories write:
We hope this letter will inspire other faculties/departments/schools to speak out and communicate widely on this issue, and ultimately that this letter will engender a sense of cohesiveness and community across those departments/schools most severely affected to strongly resist further cuts. The bottom line is that the budget cut impacts are being felt within each department/school, and there’s little avenue apart from rumours and gossip to get a sense of how other departments are being impacted. Transparency from the administration, and open communication among departments and schools, both seem sorely lacking, and so faculty and staff perspectives are constrained in departmental silos that smack of a ‘divide and rule’ administrative approach.
QCAA could not agree more. We would like to hear from others about their experiences and ideas for action: What conversations are unfolding in your units? How are the loss of staff support and hits to your faculty complement affecting your programs and work environment? What can the campus community do to build solidarity and fight back?
QCAA can be reached at contact@qcaa.ca.
Queen's Coalition Against Austerity 