To the professors and faculty of Dalhousie University who have sat with me in office hours, answered my late-night emails, attended student-run events and wholeheartedly supported my education — I’m sorry that my tuition dollars fund a university that does not respect you.
Just to be clear, I truly love telling people I study at Dal. I’ve never taken for granted the opportunity to pursue my education at a top research university just steps from the ocean. However, maybe that pride is part of the problem.
Dal sells a chaotic administration wrapped in an oceanside dream, and a new arena running millions over budget won’t make up for it. I say this as the co-president of Dal’s figure skating team, who might be tired of busing to the Halifax Forum, but is far more tired of dealing with a dysfunctional university administration that does not respect its educators.
This dysfunction reached a new low on Aug. 20 when Dalhousie became the first U15 Canada research school to lock out its faculty.
The Dalhousie Faculty Association, representing almost 1,000 professors, instructors, librarians and counsellors, has been without a contract since their previous collective agreement expired on June 30. Following weeks of labour negotiations, Dal’s administration opted to lock out faculty association members after the two sides failed to reach a deal. The DFA responded by issuing a 48-hour strike notice in an attempt to regain control and avoid being mandated back to work without notice. The primary concern for the union is securing wage increases that keep pace with inflation.
Just hours after the lockout began, my roommate emailed one of her professors — only to be met with an automated reply. In addition to some basic administrative remarks, the message included the following:
“The biggest privilege of my career is the opportunity to support your learning … Once any job action has ended, I’ll do what’s in my control to facilitate your academic progress. I hope I’ve earned your trust that I’ll act in your best interest.”
That last sentence struck me — I trust our professors; I do not trust Dalhousie’s administration.
The gratitude I feel for the professors who have taught me, and the respect I have for their immense knowledge, cannot be overstated. I often open CBC articles and see Dalhousie professors cited as expert sources, a reminder of the education and professional experience they bring to the classroom. But what stands out about Dal’s professors is their commitment to looking beyond their research to support and prioritize their students.
By choosing to cut off the heart of its academic machine, Dalhousie’s administration is embarrassing itself, and it’s not the first time.
Like a toxic ex, Dal initiated the breakup with its faculty — pre-emptively ending things to avoid being left themselves. Instead of returning to the bargaining table in good faith, Dal’s administration initiated a lockout before union members even finished voting on the university’s latest offer.
At the beginning of the labour dispute, I struggled to articulate my opinion on the situation. Focusing solely on wage increases, the dispute initially felt somewhat overblown — especially when juxtaposed with the recent Air Canada strike, which saw flight attendants fighting to simply be compensated for unpaid work and secure a livable wage. In contrast, Dal’s compensation disclosure report includes a lengthy list of faculty members earning over $100,000 per year.
But on reflection, I realized this lockout isn’t about the dollar figure — it’s about the value our university places on our education and the respect it shows to those who make it possible.
In today’s social and political climate, supporting educators is more important than ever, as universities face growing scrutiny fueled by populist and anti-intellectualist rhetoric.
By locking out its own faculty, Dalhousie’s administration has made it clear that it undervalues the contributions its professors bring to the university. It shows a willingness to embarrass its employees by denying them access to their emails, let alone the ability to do their jobs. Above all, Dal has shown that the bottom line matters more than its students, who now face uncertainty heading into the fall semester.
I love this university, but it needs to do better.
