Joan Orwell (II)

Evidently Joan Orwell doesn't read the papers. This was Joan Orwell, last Friday:

Education
August 1, 2008

Minister Affirms Province’s Support for Academic Freedom

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador today confirmed its full support for the academic freedom of Memorial University. The Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education, said the province has never undermined the academic freedom of the province’s university and its involvement in approving a new President for Memorial is in keeping with past practice and in full compliance with the legislation governing Memorial, an Act Respecting The Memorial University of Newfoundland (act).

“Our government has in no way made any attempt to intervene in the academic freedom or autonomy of Memorial,” said Minister Burke. “Memorial is a world-class institution with a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars serving some 18,000 students. Obviously, government would have an interest in the leadership of this institution. That has nothing to do with academic autonomy and those who are suggesting so are simply wrong and are doing a disservice to the reputation of the university.”

...

“I have yet to hear one concrete example of how exactly our government has impeded or interfered in academic freedom or autonomy,” said Minister Burke.

And this was Dr. Evan Simpson, former vice-president (academic) and pro vice-chancellor of Memorial University, in The Telegram, earlier the same day:

The university depends heavily upon its operating and capital grants from the government. Memorial used to receive block grants and set its priorities within the financial limits they imposed. Now, in submitting a budget, the university presents a menu of initiatives and the government chooses those it likes.

In effect, Memorial has surrendered its capacity to set its own priorities. Basic operating funding continues but room for innovation is limited. The government expects Memorial to have a strategic plan, but it is difficult to take this seriously when the Treasury Board decides what it will or will not fund.