CAUT has established an ad hoc investigatory committee to examine concerns of five staff at Brock University regarding their right to criticize a program created in relation to a university agreement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Catharines. The committee will also look into the university’s handling of complaints made against the staff members’ actions in opposition to the program.

The committee’s terms of reference are to investigate the university’s handling of complaints made against faculty members Ana Isla and Cathy Van Ingen, associate dean June Corman, and teaching assistants Ian Wood and Tim Fowler; to examine the university’s “res­pectful work and learning environment policy” and the procedures for handling complaints under the policy; to determine the appropriateness of the policy in a univer­sity context; to determine if the procedures for handling complaints under the policy are consistent with the principles of natural justice; to determine whether there were breaches of or threats to the aca­demic freedom of the five individuals; and to make any appropriate recommendations.

John Baker, professor of philo­sophy at the University of Calgary, will head the inquiry. He will be assisted by Penni Stewart, professor of sociology at York University, and Mark Gabbert, professor and head of history at the University of Manitoba.

The committee will be operating under guidelines for “CAUT Procedures in Academic Freedom Cases”.