William Bruneau, professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, has been awarded the Milner Memorial Award by CAUT Council.

Bruneau earned the award for his wide-ranging and significant contributions to the cause of academic freedom.

Over his 32-year career at UBC as a professor of educational studies and academic staff association leader, he advanced academic freedom for his colleagues both locally and nationally. He has served on several CAUT investigatory committees that produced important reports on alleged violations of academic freedom and provided vital guidance in advancing academic freedom in his six years as a member of CAUT’s Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee and during his tenure as president and past president of CAUT. In his writings on academic freedom, university politics and history, he has pushed the case for academic freedom consistently and effectively.

“Bill has helped preserve the most basic freedom of all, the freedom of our members to teach and conduct research unrestricted by special interests,” Victor Catano, past chair of the AF&T committee, told the Council audience while presenting the award May 6.

“During his tenure at UBC and CAUT, he provided visionary leadership in defending academic freedom on every front. We salute the mentor, the colleague, and the inspiration. It is with a distinct honour and deep appreciation that we present the Milner award to Bill.”

The award was established in 1969 to recognize “actions undertaken on behalf of academic freedom, or writings which contribute significantly to an understanding and strengthening of academic freedom in the Canadian community” and is named in honour of James Milner, formerly chair of CAUT’s Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee. The award is given by CAUT Council based on a nomination from the AF&T Committee.