UBC's Clinical Faculty Association Joins CAUT

Clinical teachers in the faculty of medicine at the University of British Columbia are the newest members to join CAUT.

The University Clinical Faculty Association, which represents UBC's physician community in the faculty of medicine, was welcomed at CAUT's Council meeting April 29.

"We are delighted to welcome the first association of clinical faculty to join CAUT," said CAUT executive director James Turk.

UCFA president Derryck Smith estimates that UBC employs as many as 2,000 clinical teachers, many working part-time. They are not currently eligible for representation through the UBC Faculty Association.

Turk says the new affiliation is an important breakthrough for CAUT. "As we have seen in the cases of Nancy Olivieri, David Healy and Gabrielle Horne, there can be serious problems for clinical faculty in obtaining the same academic rights and freedom as other faculty members," Turk said. "Since clinical faculty are excluded from general faculty unions in many provinces, active clinical faculty associations take on new importance in the fight for academic freedom and faculty rights."

With the admission of UCFA, CAUT now has 69 member local and provincial associations.

Funds Donated in Wake of Jewish School Bombing

In response to the fire-bombing at a Jewish elementary school in Montreal April 5, the CAUT executive voted to donate $1,000 to the school to help rebuild its library and restore its collection of books.

CAUT Council delegates also unanimously passed the following resolution at their meeting last month: "Violence and hate crimes target and intimidate vulnerable groups and attack diversity of thought, belief and opinion, therefore be it resolved that CAUT reaffirms its active commitment to fight discrimination in all its forms and manifestations, to uphold the dignity and worth of every individual in society, and to promote and defend the civil liberties and human rights of all."