e OPEN LETTER TO ANGUS REE, MLA NORTH VAN-CAPILANO I am one of many British Columbians concerned about the Bennett govern- ment’s plans to alter drastically our current way of life. I am totally opposed to the restructuring of educational decision-making authority, the firing without cause of public sector employees and the abolition of the Human Rights Com- mission and the Rentalsman. I am most concerned about the proposed removal of the tenure system from our provincial universities. sovernment Such: a_ proposal is un- conscionable for several reasons, but I will remind you only of the most impor- tant: tenure preserves and encourages academic freedom. A professor who has strong feelings on political, economic or moral issues, and whose job is pro- tected by tenure, can speak out without fear of reprisal through dismissal. Of course, academic freedom also gives a voice to jargon-loving political and economic dogmatists and fuzzy-minded ‘advocates of everything from _ peculiar sexual practices to bee- pollen diets. But if through the_removal of tenure you muzzle these anomalous in- dividuals, you will also silence many of the reasonable, thinking, com- passionate and ethically- committed people who are the majority of the academic community. And when these people are silenced, we will be left with a depleted social conscience. I believe and fear that a society without its con- ‘science intact will potential- ly ‘tolerate anything. Retrograde educational standards and working con- ditions, persecution of political and _ religious minorities, racial and sexual Democracy denied Dear Editor: Recently the provincial government has introduced a Bill 20, entitled College and Institute Amendment Act, 1983. This bill has been brought forward in the general framework of Bill 3, the Public Sector Restraint Act. This legislation introduces a fundamental. change to the very foundation of democratic policy and civil liberty 1 that the people of this | province have struggled, and - yes, even fought .a. ‘bloody World. War, to protect. This government in the name of. recovery has economic removed elected representa- tion on the Gollege board, Now only goyernment ap- pointed people will govern. In the name of economic recovery, this government has repealed the Academic Council, Management Ad- visory Council, and Univer- sities Council, all of which were professional advisory boards who had constituent representation. The people have no longer a voice in the manner in which their community col- lege is to be run. Indeed, the PINTO (most models) CAPRI (most models) -economic “economic recovery and yet CHEVETTE PRICE INCLUDES PRESSURE PLATES, 0180, AND LABOUR © FREE chitch edjustmenta * FREE customer tawing We fix af makes of chaches Check your clutch at: UNIQUE Auto Clutch 34 Wont Piret &1., N.Y. “community” in the college is gone. Capilano College is now in effect a government college, teaching only material that the govern- ment or its Minister ap- proves of. Faculty who teach material that is contrary to the government line may be subject to .be ‘fired. without notice and without. cause. I think that the implications are obvious. . I do not“ believe that. the people who _ voted for the ‘Social Credit:party in the last election voted for the denial of -:the most fundamental principles of democratic rule: elected representation and:civil liberty. All this has been done in the name of restraint’ and there has been no factual data provided to show how the placing of 7,000 more people on UIC, then welfare will save the already burden- ed tax payer any money. In- deed there will be 7,000 fewer people paying taxes. I urge you all to become aware of the implications of this legislation. The legisla- tion constitutes the greatest threat to the fundamental WHAT’S SO UNIQUE | ABOUT OUR CLUTCHES? ... THE PRI MUSTANG (most models) (most models) principles of democratic government, faced by the people of this province since joining Confederation. Gordon Wilson, President, Capilano College Faculty Association Layoffs fair FROM PAGE AG thousands more dollars of | i agai ast fee money will be the pay ae be veected to’ give. UP ‘through .'s ‘strike some way loss of a ‘right. Tenure does not. apply in: - the private. sector and will no © longer apply” in the public sector..The taxpayers « can no longer afford it; they cannot be expected to guarantee lifetime job tenure for the public sector. The only real security for all of us in British Columbia is an ex- panding economy. y Ree » E tenes ‘tha huge ‘public’ ser" vice, say ‘loss of tenure is in | discrimination will not re- quire even that flimsy ra- tionalization, restraint. Although I see little evidence that the Bennett government cares anything for such abstractions as ethics and. conscience, I am nonetheless naive enough to hope that I am wrong. Perhaps you are not wholly beyond having some em- pathy for those whose sex, race, politics or income level makes them less powerful and more in need of protec- tion than you and all the other aggressively self- sufficient Socred* MLAS, party members and sup- ecomomic Keep Canada Beautiful .. . ‘ Pitch-in. 7 986-3487 736-0341 A7 - Wednesday, August 17, 1983 - North Shore News porters. 1 you do have the vestiges of such a feeling, then I wish that you would use whatever influence. you have to help direct Social Credit policy toward a minimum standard of humanity. There is nothing I wouid iike better than to have this letter become the CORPORATION FOR 2 Memberships for the price of one 1 limited time offer Beginner & Advanced Aerobic Classes Done to music for men & women Open 7 daysaweek 6:45am - 9:309m 730 Marine Dr., North Vancouver Also: 2625 West 4th Ave., Vancouver THE RON ZALKO WORKOUT COMPLETE VIDEO PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE AT YOUR NEAREST VIDEO STORE. 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