Gong Show at MRU

[troutman]

Attempts to end bullying and harassment among Mount Royal University profs cost $250,000

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...fs-cost-250000

Mount Royal University has spent nearly $250,000 investigating workplace harassment and trying to repair the toxic atmosphere among a small group of faculty members in the school’s justice studies department.

Documents obtained by the Herald under access-to-information legislation show the university took several steps to address a fractious environment that had developed among a dozen or so full-time faculty members in the department, including hiring an investigator to probe harassment allegations, bringing in a mediator to promote “healing” among staff and a providing a psychologist for one-on-one sessions.

According to a confidential letter from a senior university official sent in August 2012 to staff members involved in the investigation, McDougall documented 72 allegations made by eight staff members against five others in the department.

The letter said McDougall was able to substantiate 24 allegations. The university said it would take “appropriate action” against staff members guilty of substantiated allegations, but added the complainants weren’t allowed to know how the perpetrators were punished.

[I know one of the commenters]

[chemgear]

Whenever I hear MRU, I still get the Oprah meme in my head.

"You get to be called a university, you get to be called a university, EVERYBODY gets to be called a university!"

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Whenever I hear MRU, I still get the Oprah meme in my head.

"You get to be called a university, you get to be called a university, EVERYBODY gets to be called a university!"

I don't get this. Are you saying MRU does not deserve to be called a university? Why?

Alberta has the lowest access to university education in the country. That is even after MRC became MRU. Provinces like BC have Simon Fraser, Nova Scotia has St. FX, yet MRU somehow does not belong in their class? Because why?

We are not talking about a new, small school operating out of one building. MRU in all senses of the word is a true undergrad university like every other province has in Canada.

So please tell me why MRU does not deserve this title and recognition?

[Weitz]

Probably went to U of C and has a complex.

[Doodlebug]

Wonder if he feels the same way about Athabasca.

[Rjcsjc62]

[chemgear]

LOL, relax folks. I don't really care about the label to the organization.

Didn't realize I'd accidentally knock the thread off-topic there Troutman.

Maybe we can discuss the actual outrage towards the "Gong Show" that Troutman and the article mentions about the MRU? Seems pretty crazy and petty for a bunch of profs (at any organization) to be fighting for so many years. That's a lot of money trying to get them to act as professionals.

[Regulator75]

I'm close friends with one is his colleagues that he harassed, detained and threatened.

This guy is such a power hungry, controlling ass clown.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I don't get this. Are you saying MRU does not deserve to be called a university? Why?

Alberta has the lowest access to university education in the country. That is even after MRC became MRU. Provinces like BC have Simon Fraser, Nova Scotia has St. FX, yet MRU somehow does not belong in their class? Because why?

We are not talking about a new, small school operating out of one building. MRU in all senses of the word is a true undergrad university like every other province has in Canada.

So please tell me why MRU does not deserve this title and recognition?

Along with the title and recognition came a doubling of the time and money to earn a whole host of degrees, without any evidence that employers were looking for graduates with four years of education instead of two. I went to Mount Royal when it was a college, and the two-year programs were intense, focused, and highly-regarded by employers. The four year programs that replaced them are none of those things. Of course Mount Royal likes the university status because it's more prestigious and it means more money in the pocket of administration. But nobody asked potential students, parents, and employers if they wanted it.

University status shouldn't be about deserving recognition. It should be about matching the needs of the economy with the needs of students. Far too many Canadians go to university and spends tens of thousands of dollars when a two-year diploma is perfectly suitable for the fields they plan to enter. In fact, the whole post-secondary model in this country today is a massively inefficient dinosaur with soaring costs that is ripe for disruption.

[flylock shox]

I think this stuff is probably common in academia. Lots of entitled egos with little fiefdoms and no real accountability.

[skudr248]

LOL @chemgear's comments. I want to say some really bad things to you, but I'll just refrain from doing so in the spirit of how happy I am today Flames made the playoffs. But seriously get your head out of your ass dude.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Alberta has the lowest access to university education in the country. That is even after MRC became MRU. Provinces like BC have Simon Fraser, Nova Scotia has St. FX, yet MRU somehow does not belong in their class? Because why?

So please tell me why MRU does not deserve this title and recognition?

I personally don't care about the title, but I think that on average the programs they used to run were most useful than the programs that they've added. That means society as a whole is likely paying more for something of lesser value, imo.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I think this stuff is probably common in academia. Lots of entitled egos with little fiefdoms and no real accountability.

Yeah, in the private sector someone would have been identified as the problem and let go. Problem solved.

[sharkov]

Mru students, this is where ur tuition goes

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

I'm close friends with one is his colleagues that he harassed, detained and threatened.

This guy is such a power hungry, controlling ass clown.

The guy has been known to be a very controlling personality for a number of years, the problem is that they have tied their brand to him being a distinguished professor it seems and consequently can't do anything to punish him for a lengthy track record of poor decisions and interpersonal conflicts.

That being said, what a useless program at Mount Royal, I just took a look at the program website and out of 37 courses, 12 of them are "general education" courses. Almost 1/3 of the coursework in the program isn't related to the actual program.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

That being said, what a useless program at Mount Royal, I just took a look at the program website and out of 37 courses, 12 of them are "general education" courses. Almost 1/3 of the coursework in the program isn't related to the actual program.

How else will you turn a two year diploma program into a four year degree program?

[Table 5]

Who is this alleged super bully?

[terminator]

Originally Posted by chemgear

whenever i hear mru, i still get the oprah meme in my head.

"you get to be called a university, you get to be called a university, everybody gets to be called a university!"

nvm

[meanmachine13]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Who is this alleged super bully?

I believe it was Winterdyk, the private motion against him was stayed in 2012ish, for the forcible confinment.

[Kybosh]

Winterdyk is coming?