The President of Thompson Rivers University is remaining tight-lipped about the investigation against two senior administrators.
Brett Fairbairn was asked about the allegations against Vice-President of Finance and Administration, Matt Milovick, and Larry Phillips, the Associate Vice-President of People and Culture, who is no longer with the university.
Both men are accused of having fostered a toxic workplace at TRU, with Phillips also facing allegations of sexual harassment.
“You know it is important for all of us that we respect the time that it will take for the board to do investigations properly,” Fairbairn said Thursday after announcing a $10-million donation from the Gaglardi family. “We’ll really all have to be patient until we hear more.”
“Today is really about the excitement and the success of the business school and that is certainly what I want to focus on and this is a story of everybody working together. It is faculty, staff, students, and administration leaders in the university that have made this possible.”
His comments come as the TRU Faculty Association passed a non-confidence motion against Fairbairn and Board Chair, Marilyn McLean, over their handling over the situation.
TRUFA President Tara Lyster said 56 per cent of faculty members voted on the non-confidence motion on Feb. 8, with 80 per cent voting in favour of it.
“Our members want and need clear, transparent, and effective leadership at the top,” Lyster said, in a statement. “The President and Board Chair have failed on all counts.”
“This resounding vote of non-confidence is a wake-up call for the administration to address the problems at TRU now.”
In a Jan. 18 letter to Anne Kang, B.C.’s Minister of Advanced Education, Lyster also said the lack of transparency surrounding Phillips’ departure was concerning.
“There has not been an announcement to the university community, nor has there been an announcement about who is taking over his responsibilities,” she said, in the letter, which was also signed by Lois Rugg, the President of CUPE Local 4879, which represents support staff at Thompson Rivers University.
“This has led to a widespread feeling of apprehension among the campus community about the lack of empathy demonstrated by the top administrator towards the complainants.”
Fairbairn was asked about that non-confidence motion by NL News.
“You know we don’t comment on personnel matters and there is good reasons for that. I mean employees have rights and we respect those rights,” he said. “So that you very much for that question.”
TRUFA had been calling for Milovick and Phillips to put on paid leave while the allegations were being investigated, which the university expects to complete by March.
“The investigation is one piece but it goes further than that. There were immediate and obvious failings in the investigation process,” Lyster added, noting many Indigenous faculty members feel unsafe at work.
“The lack of action taken to address the trauma many faculty are experiencing from the allegations, the perception of lack of empathy for the complainants and for the concerns faculty have brought forward, downplaying and attributing concerns to a small number of faculty are adding to the lack of confidence.”
