Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones is congratulating Dr.
Eddie Campbell on his new position at the University of New Brunswick (UNB)
and believes the province and Memorial University (MUN) has lost a great
visionary and supporter due to political interference from the provincial
government.
Last year, Education Minister Joan Burke personally
got involved in the search process for a new president of MUN. She
interviewed and rejected the candidates recommended by the search
committee, one of the candidates being Dr. Eddie Campbell. This move was
seen both nationally and internationally as political interference and
threatening the autonomy of the university.
“I have great respect for Dr. Eddie Campbell and I
am certain he will be an asset to UNB,” said Ms. Jones. “It is
unfortunate that our university has lost the opportunity to have such a
high caliber individual lead us into the future due to political agenda of
the Williams Government.”
Jones says she hopes the new presidential search
committee will move forward quickly, but has reservations that the best
candidates will come forward knowing the political environment the
university is working under.
“There are certainly a number of gaps at MUN that
need to be filled. There are people in acting positions at the presidency
level, vice-president level and principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.
For the benefit of the university and its students, I hope government will
put aside their political agenda and put the interests of MUN front and
centre.”
