Moore Defends Chancellor Appointment
Prince George, B.C. – A UNBC English professor has criticized the school’s board of governors decision to appoint former Conservative MP James Moore as chancellor.
Dr. Robert Budde says he was first shocked and confused by the announcement.
“And then the second response after that was dismay and then some anger and now it’s kind of resolve to see what can be done about it and how to respond.”
Considering Moore’s political background, he says he’s concerned about the message it sends to the communities UNBC “works with and engages with.”
“There’s a lot of world views that James Moore’s connected with that you know he’s still associated with and so as chancellor he brings that to the table in ways that I’m uncomfortable with.”
For example the Harper government’s decision not to call a inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
“The relationship between First Nations and the Conservative Harper government was not good, it was divisive, it was insulting to a lot of First Nations and you know James Moore was a part of that,” says Budde.
He says another concern was the government’s treatment of scientists.
“There’s the issue of muzzling scientists, you know it seems counter to everything UNBC stands for. If I were a scientist on campus how would I feel with a chancellor that was part of a government that prevented scientists from communicating their findings to the public?”
However Budde admits Moore’s appointment likely isn’t being condemned universally.
” It’s a very diverse faculty and a lot of different interests and certainly James Moore role as minister of industry for many years brings something to the table at UNBC,” he says. “There’s no doubt about that. I’m just looking at the pros and cons and weighing them from my perspective.”
And how does Moore, a UNBC graduate himself, react to Budde’s criticisms?
“Well look, I don’t know the professor, I’m happy to talk to him and allay whatever concerns he might have,” he says. “But look, I’m in the post political part of my life, this is about the next 25 years at UNBC.”
Moore adds appointments like his are hardly anything new.
“You know Andrew Petter, who was the finance minister for the NDP government in B.C., has become the president of Simon Fraser University,” he says.
“There are people who had concerns about whether or not he should be in that role or if he was partisan or not and he’s certainly performed very well.”
Moore says the same can be said of former Liberal cabinet minister Stephen Owen who went on to become vice-president at UBC and former Conservative Senator Hugh Segal who now holds a leadership position at the University of Toronto.
“So you know the last election was the last election, the last 15 years of my life, this is about the next 15 years. I think you judge a person by the totality of their acts,” he says.
“A big part of my life was at UNBC, it was a very important part of my life and I’m looking forward to working with all people with all political backgrounds, it doesn’t really matter.”
Comments
I’ve met James Moore and my opinion of the man is he’s a pompous gas bag that likea the sound of his own voice. Thankfully his position is purely ceremonial and he has zero say in the direction of the University.
I am sure that he would be singing a different song if it were a liberal that was appointed. How dare they appoint a conservative as chancellor in one of Canada’s liberal breeding grounds.
I am going to try to sum up the obvious in one sentence: The Left Wing Professor does not like the Right Wing Chancellor.
My question is: What is the true purpose of this public attack just one day after the appointment?
Must be a slow news day for the Fry-Guy. How many actually care what an English prof has to say about this appointment? Its way above his pay grade and why would the selection team consider a lowly English profs opinion ?
Moving forward, if Budde doesn’t like the appointment, man up and quit…….. (Like that would ever happen)
Why would they appoint a political hack of any stripe . Why do these cherry positions always go to politicians . It looks as bad as it smells . Or are you guys trying to create a blue school west . Shouldn’t education be a nonpartisan affair .
This appointment strikes me as a bit of a head-scratcher. James Moore was a long-time front-bencher in a government in which ideology generally trumped informed decision-making; kind of the antithesis of what a university is about.
I’d prefer to see someone with a track record of accomplishment in positions like this, rather than a person who has spent his entire adult life in politics. And aren’t there any good northern candidates for this position?
As noted above the position is largely ceremonial, but the symbolism is strange.
CL
Apester > “… a conservative as chancellor in one of Canada’s liberal breeding grounds.”
So is Moore a reject then since he is a conservative? Should he be taking some courses over again to make sure he comes out in the liberal cookie cutter shape?
Maybe UNBC is not quite as big a liberal breeding ground as assumed. How many of UNBC graduates have achieved the level Moore has achieved in Federal and even Provincial politics.
Likes the sound of his own voice? I agree with you on that. It is the single most common characteristic of politicians. Did he learn that at UNBC?
This is the second politician to have been appointed as Chancellor. Iona Campagnolo was the first politician and founding Chancellor of UNBC. She was a Liberal MP and became the President of the Liberal Party of Canada. In 2001 she became the first woman Lieutenant Governor of BC.
There were also industrialists like Dr. John MacDonald who was one of the founders of MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates, a world class high tech industry headquartered in Vancouver.
Moore has some big shoes to fill. But then, it is just a ceremonial position, so it is just an image that he gives to UNBC.
This is not the appointment I would like to have seen.
His appointment is the reflection of UNBC’s Board of Governors. That worries me more than his appointment. Perhaps it was simply that this was a good opportunity to appoint a graduate from UNBC during its 25th Anniversary.
Firstly, the original chancellor of UNBC was a longtime Liberal politician, Iona Campagnolo. Secondly, James Moore has a well known history in Prince George. While attending UNBC he often sat in for Ben Meisner and contributed greatly to the entire north. His political background should not be contributing factor in his appointment. His intelligence and ability to communicate in conjunction with his personality make him an excellent candidate.
I bet the righties are not sleeping at night knowing former NDP premier Glen Clark is running one of the largest right wing corporate empires in Canada.
“James Moore has a well known history in Prince George”.
That is true.
I had concerns about someone living in Vancouver getting this position.
It mumbles of friends taking care of friends….
Dumbfounded. Can you name a few left wing corporate empires?
Government of China.
Hopefully he can stop starting his sentences with “well look” or “okay look”. Is this something the CPC party programs into all it’s talking heads? I find it kind of rude, but maybe that’s just me.
It’s not just you govsux . It’s rude . It’s immature and CONdescending . Listening to Stevie Talking at mansbridge was cringing worthy at the begining of every sentence . Now listen , now look . Now look , now listen . see how annoying that is ?
Look, I was going to comment on that same mannerism earlier but decided not to.
Look, it is very condescending as far as I am concerned. When responding to a question or an opinion presented by someone else, it basically starts off by implying they are wrong or simple and do not understand and the response is to clarify with the correct point of view.
I wish someone would tell Obama to quite using it so often. Maybe that is Moore’s idol and he is simply copying him …. LOL
Look people, read the comment on look linked below.
huffingtonpost.com/bill-swadley/look-stop-saying-look_b_145336.html
I think this is a good backgrounder on Moore
macleans.ca/politics/the-power-issue-james-moore
To quote him from the article:
“Look, I’ve had my moments that I’m not proud of,” he says of the 45 minutes of daily sparring in the House.
:-)
What moments would that be? Perhaps one could be the time he said it’s not the Fed Government’s job to feed hungry children. Which he had to apologize for.
Dumbfounded said, I bet the righties are not sleeping at night knowing former NDP premier Glen Clark is running one of the largest right wing corporate empires in Canada.
No you got that wrong, its the lefties .
Digitus Impudicus answers with China, a violent dictatorship which sunny boy Trudeau admires, very interesting!
Telling someone to look is meaningless when they still won’t see.
As for Glen Clark, he must be doing a decent job for Jimmy or he wouldn’t have lasted with him this long. Perhaps his experiences as Premier taught him some lessons on how to be a better manager. Likewise with Moore’s past experiences in politics, they may well fit him for the job he’s now taking on.
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