Rally opposing TransformUS cuts held at University of Saskatchewan

Watch above: a rally was held at the U of S to protest TransformUS

SASKATOON – Students, faculty, staff, and community members attended a rally Thursday at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) to protest against its program prioritization process.

Professors, staff, and students took part in an open mic session and a panel discussion.

More than 240 employees have lost their jobs at the U of S over the past year, triggering an outcry of anger and frustration.

“People are just thinking very seriously, very critically about where the university’s going, ” said professor Dr. Richard Julian, a U of S religion and culture professor.

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TransformUS was launched last year in a bid to restructure the school’s programs and shore up its finances.

A sociology professor emerita from the University of Connecticut, Dr. Gaye Tuchman, discussed the barriers to academic freedom during a keynote address. She also outlined the problems with a bloated administrative budget.

At the end of February, U of S council voted down a non-confidence motion on TransformUS.  But rally organizers said they won’t let that defeat hold them back from trying to ignite change.

“The academic council, which we respect, is full of senior administrators from deans upwards, and so it’s not a reflection of the university faculty, or the student body,” said Dr. Howard Woodhouse, a U of S education foundation professor.

Another heated topic at the rally was the harmful effects of tuition hikes for the 2014-15 academic year.

“Tuition fees here at the University of Saskatchewan were raised by 4.5 per cent,” explained Woodhouse.

“Saskatchewan students have among the highest tuition fees in Canada.”

Several professors at the rally said two U of S employees have been laid off just this week, and many are bracing for the layoffs to come.

TransformUS is expected to give recommendations by the end of April.