Ending a dispute that lasted more than seven years, Nancy Olivieri, four colleagues who risked their careers to support her, and the University of Toronto Faculty Association reached a settlement with the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children in November.

In the face of widespread public and media criticism, Concordia University's board of governors and rector lifted their moratorium on the use of university space for events and activities related to the Middle East conflict.

I read with interest your recent Bulletin report (November 2002) of our strike and would like to offer a small, but significant correction. While it is true that there were improvements in salary and some benefits, the provisions in contracting out are actually a reduction of rights that were previously enjoyed by our members.

As an organization of scholars and academics, CAUT has consistently upheld its commitment to resolving disputes through reason, knowledge and understanding, not violence.

Over the last four years Industry Canada and Human Resources Development Canada have been working to develop an "Innovation Strategy" for Canada. Many faculty and student groups have expressed concerns that the objective of the strategy, to increase commercialization of university research through private sector partnerships, would alter the nature of Canadian post-secondary institutions and undermine basic research potential.

Universities have the sole mandate to explore knowledge for its own sake. This admission is regarded by some as being damaging. The pursuit of knowledge without further purpose will, they fear, be regarded as frivolous. I beg to differ. Scientific exploration is a noble activity and a necessary one, since understanding lies at the root of all we do. It would be folly to neglect the systematic pursuit of new knowledge to which the universities, as communities of learners, have traditionally been committed.

The federal government and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada have agreed to a framework agreement on federally funded research.

The University of California at San Diego has abandoned plans to discipline a student group for providing a website link to a site supporting an organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States government.

Michiel Horn, professor of history at Glendon College, York University, was honoured last month for his achievements and contributions to the cause of academic freedom. Horn received CAUT's highest honour, the Milner Memorial Award, at the November 2002 CAUT Council meeting.

CAUT Council has approved new policy statements on social justice, equity, outsourcing and renewal and retention of academic staff. Complete texts of the policy statements can be viewed at www.caut.ca/english/about/policy/default.asp.

Inadequate legal protection for privacy in the workplace is a threat to academic freedom, privacy-law experts Valerie Steeves and Eugene Oscapella warned CAUT delegates in a special session at CAUT's November Council meeting.

As universities become increasingly dependent on private donations, some donors are taking the opportunity to try to shape university policy and intrude on academic freedom, says CAUT executive director James Turk.

Members of Brandon University Faculty Association are getting a 9% wage increase over three years after ratifying a collective agreement Nov

Following a successful strike vote, members of the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association voted recently to ratify a new five-year collective agreement.

More than 60 university professors and academic staff from across Canada called on Ottawa to increase funding for post-secondary education as part of a one-day national lobby organized by CAUT and the Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d'université last month.

The United States is asking Canada and other members of the World Trade Organization to make sweeping new commitments that would bring higher education services under the full weight of the General Agreement on Trade in Services.

CAUT is expressing strong support for the recommendations unveiled last month in the final report of the Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada chaired by Roy Romanow.

The Public Safety Act, opposed by Canadian civil libertarians and privacy advocates, first appeared in November 2001 as Bill C-42. Withdrawn under a storm of protest, it returned as Bill C-55 in April 2002 only to die on the order paper when the parliamentary session ended. Now it's back again, resurrected under the label C-17.

There has been an alarming 40 per cent decline in the number of Ontario students receiving loans following the introduction of more restrictive eligibility rules in 1995, according to internal provincial government documents.