TRU senior administrators Matt Milovick and Larry Phillips at the centre of harassment and discrimination allegations made by current and former university employees (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

TRU ALLEGATIONS

Faculty Association calls on TRU to place senior administrators on leave while improper conduct allegations investigated

Nov 24, 2021 | 4:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — It has been 10 months since a dozen current and former employees at TRU came forward with allegations of discrimination and harassment — allegations that are only now being made public.

The group alleges that Matt Milovick, the university’s Vice-President of Finance and Administration, and Larry Phillips, TRU’s Associate Vice-President of People and Culture, have partaken in damaging conduct that accusers say is a “pattern.”

A letter sent out by the anonymous group to TRU in February outlines the alleged behaviour. It describes the administrator’s actions as “disrespectful of specific Indigenous members of TRU and the wider community.” Both Milovick and Phillips “have demeaned, harassed, slandered, humiliated and/or intimidated other TRU employees,” and they “sexualize female employees by referring to their physical appearance,” according to the allegations, which have not been proven.

“My first reaction this morning was shock and grave concern that these allegations are being made,” said TRU Faculty Association President Tara Lyster. “This morning finding out about all this, [I have] concerns about what’s actually continuing to happen.”

CFJC TV Special

Top 10 Kamloops news stories of 2024

1h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: 2024 - a year to remember. Or forget

5h ago

CFJC TV Special

Inspirational stories of 2024

22h ago

TRUFA is now calling on the university to put Milovick and Phillips on leave while an investigation takes place.

“One of the things that’s most concerning to TRUFA is if this were faculty members involved, they would be put on immediate leave while the investigation was being conducted,” said Lyster. “It creates a safer space for all faculty, staff, all employees and students at TRU in this situation.”

CFJC Today contacted Milovick, who responded with a statement.

“Having only received the terms of reference on Monday, I understand the TRU Board of Governors will begin or has begun a confidential investigation into my professional conduct. I welcome the opportunity to fully participate in this process. I will not be making any further comments at this time.”

The university and its board say they have been aware of the allegations since the letter was emailed in February and are committed to investigating the matter.

“At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the seriousness of these allegations, and the board’s committment to addressing them through an independent investigation,” said TRU board chair Marilyn McLean. “We took immediate steps, including establishing a subcommittee of the board to address the concerns.”

McLean also noted the university hired independent legal counsel, which has been asked to speak to the complainants who have concerns.

“This tailored process, which was outside of TRU’s usual processes, included securing two independent external investigators to conduct the investigation and design the Terms of Reference,” read McLean. “As reqested by the anonymous group, one of the investigators is Indigenous.”

However, the staff bringing forward the allegations feel they’ve been silenced by the university to this point.

TRU says the sub-committee’s investigation into the allegation will likely wrapping up in the first quarter of the new year.

UNION CALLS FOR FAIR PROCESS

President of CUPE 4879 Lois Rugg, who represents staff at TRU, calls the allegations “very troubling.” She has sent a message to the membership, saying the union will be pushing for a thorough investigation.

“We do not condone any form of discrimation, sexist, racist, transphobic or homophobic, and have zero tolerance for that behaviour,” said told CFJC Today in a statement. “We will demand a fair process and that TRU do their due diligence for our members.”

Rugg says these allegations may be triggering information for some staff and she encourages anyone to reach out and take advantage of the union’s Employee Assistance Program.