Thompson Rivers University says it’s investigating after complaints were levelled against two seniors executives.
The university says in a statement that an independent sub-committee was created to investigate allegations that have been received by an anonymous email. The investigation is expected to be done by March of 2022, but the university says it will go longer if needed.
“The sub-committee has worked together with the independent and Indigenous investigators, and legal counsel to put all appropriate and defensible safeguards in place for the complainants, in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation,” TRU’s chair of the board Marilyn McLean said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
“At this time, these allegations need to be proven, confirmed, and substantiated. Until such time as the investigation is complete and the findings and recommendations are made, it would be unfair and unjust for any action to be taken against these individuals,” McLean said.
According to reports from Kamloops This Week and CBC, the complaints have come from at least 13 current and former TRU employees, and the allegations are against Matt Milovick, the vice president of finance and administration, and Larry Phillips, the associate vice president of people and culture.
According to the reporting, the complainants allege Indigenous racism, sexual harassment and misogynistic comments and bullying by Milovick and Phillips. The allegations have not been proven.
The complaint was reportedly made on Feb. 8.
Milovick oversees the university’s budget and administration, and in the 2020-21 fiscal year was the third-highest-paid executive at the university, behind president and vice-chancellor Brett Fairbairn and provost and vice-president Christina Bovis-Knossen, who resigned at the end of June.
Phillips manages human resources and personnel matters at TRU, including hiring decisions for the university’s staff.