By Chad Klassen

TRUFA says academic freedom its main concern during investigation

Nov 5, 2018 | 4:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — The faculty association at Thompson Rivers University has been quiet following the suspension of one of its members, Derek Pyne, who is accusing that his colleagues are publishing their works in flawed journals.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is investigating the claims TRU is suppressing academic freedom after pyne spoke out. President of the Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association (TRUFA) Tom Friedman says the association is co-operating with the investigation and says if it this is the case, it’s a huge concern.

Since Derek Pyne was suspended by the university in July for “defamatory language and accusations,” the faculty association that represents him has been working behind the scenes on his behalf. 

“We’ve taken action. It’s action that we would normally take for any of our members facing that kind of disciplinary action by the university,” said TRU Faculty Assocation President Tom Friedman. 

The faculty assocation isn’t able to get into many details, a big reason it’s been quiet to this point. The accusations made by Dr. Pyne, claiming several TRU faculty are being published in journals without professional credentials, are being investigated by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). 

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TRU has said it won’t co-operate with any of the investigation. The faculty association, on the other hand, have been backing Pyne from the beginning. It’s only now it’s coming forward publicly, declaring their support. 

In a statement by TRU last week, interim President and Vice-Chancellor Christine Bovis-Cnossen made it clear the university is all about academic freedom.

“TRU is unequivocally committed to the principle of academic freedom for all of our faculty members. This is fundamental to who we are as a university. We routinely work in concert with our faculty unions to ensure that the principle of academic freedom is protected and preserved in the research and teaching of every member of our faculty.”

CAUT notes there have been cases in the past where it’s blacklisted universities if it concludes there is wrongful conduct.

“This is way down the road, but we’ve had cases in the past where we’ve had administrations who refused to correct problems and refused to protect academic freedom,” said CAUT President David Robinson. “We’ve had to initiate what we call ‘censure proceedings,’ which are essentially blacklisting the university, community to the academic community in Canada and abroad that this is an institution that does not promote or protect academic freedom.”

All faculty received an internal letter on Monday, with the association ensuring they know what’s happening. Friedman says outside Pyne’s accusations, the university has been open in granting professors academic freedom.

“The provost made a statement a number of months ago recommitting the institution to academic freedom. I think there’s a strong sense that we can publish what we want, as long as it’s done in the name of academic inquiry,” noted Friedman, who’s also an English professor at TRU. “Unless we’re given an opportunity to raise these issues, even to be aggressively critical about the way society is going, then I don’t think the function of the university is being fully realized.

As for the professors that Pyne says are publishing works in questionable journals, Friedman notes the faculty association would view that as a red flag. 

“The TRUFA concern is really a reflection of the concern of all members, and that is that peer review has to be respected, and that if there are examples of people not publishing without adequate and rigorous peer review, then of course we’re concerned.”