Earlier today, Carleton students received an email from the university announcing the departure of Carleton president Benoit-Antoine Bacon.
“After five years at Carleton, President and Vice-Chancellor Benoit-Antoine Bacon has announced that he will be leaving in the fall of 2023 to take on the presidency of the University of British Columbia,” the email read.
The email added Jerry Tomberlin, the university’s provost and vice-president, will begin serving as interim president and vice-chancellor on Sept. 1.
“A full search for the new permanent incumbent will be launched in the fall,” the email read.
Tomberlin will also be succeeded as provost by the Dean of Carleton’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, L. Pauline Rankin, effective Aug. 14.
Controversial university action: CUPE 4600 strike
Bacon’s withdrawal from the Carleton community comes on the heels of controversial university action during the recent CUPE 4600 strike. CUPE 4600 represents all teaching assistants (TAs), internally-funded research assistants and contract instructors at Carleton.
The labour dispute saw nearly 3,000 TAs, contract instructors and other education workers take strike action during the winter 2023 semester. During the dispute, a number of students and union members publicly expressed concerns about a lack of communication from the university and wage clawbacks, among other issues.
Noreen Cauley-Le Fevre, president of CUPE 4600, expressed shock and disappointment with Tomberlin’s interim appointment.
“He created a climate of animosity during the strike and post-strike. So his appointment as interim president of Carleton is, I think, bad news,” she said.
Cauley-Le Fevre explained that CUPE 4600 initially “welcomed the news” of Tomberlin’s retirement from the role of provost as an opportunity for community healing. However, after discovering he would serve as interim president, Cauley-Le Fevre said she is no longer optimistic.
“We’re concerned that we’re entering into a more adversarial relationship,” she said.
“[Tomberlin’s interim presidency] calls into question the value that Carleton places on its workers.”
‘Climate of animosity’
Lowell Gasoi, a contract instructor for the School of Journalism and Communications, also shared concerns about Jerry Tomberlin serving as interim president.
“His record, in terms of labour negotiations, does not exactly bode well,” Gasoi said, adding the university did eventually reach an agreement with CUPE 4600.
Gasoi said that universities’ missions should be to promote learning, critical capacity and democratic systems—not money making.
Carleton’s Senate came under fire following the strike when a motion to implement the SAT/UNSAT revised grading policy employed questionable democratic procedures.
“I can only imagine,” Gasoi said, “the board, or the government, or the donors, or I don’t know whom … are taking precedence over the concerns of students and staff.”
“Some of the actions that Mr. Tomberlin took during the negotiations were really questionable, and those actions have been cited by the union as part of their grievance procedures,” he said.
Overall, “it is a little bit alarming,” Gasoi said. “It’s alarming as much as it indicates that that kind of behaviour, that kind of vision for the university is being promoted.”
“This person, who’s been involved in … very acrimonious negotiations, and actions that I think were not to the benefit of the university as a whole, is now in charge.”
[Graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi]
