SUDBURY 

Laurentian cuts threaten Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, advocates say

For now, Laurentian University's restructuring process has spared Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies — or WGSX.

But professors, students and supporters say WGSX faces an uncertain future, especially since Laurentian is tearing up its agreements with its federated universities, including Thorneloe, where the program has been housed.

"If they are targeting core offerings (math, physics, engineering, etc.) then I wonder what’s next," said Jennifer Johnson, who chairs the department. "We worked in tandem with midwifery, and overlap with social work and Indigenous Studies. We are efficiently run and economically successful. This program is no burden to Laurentian."

“It’s such a disaster for our community. We were so blindsided with the errors that have been made.”

Laurentian is insolvent, is restructuring and has cut almost 70 programs and more than 150 professors and staff. The university, however, said students will be able to continue to study and graduate from a restructured Laurentian.

“While not among the nearly 70 programs axed last Monday at Laurentian, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies is nonetheless one of the many academic programs also threatened by the LU administration’s handling of its financial crisis,” Johnson and program support Beth Mairs said in a release.

For the time being, the program remains in place and have qualified faculty to lead them.

The program is strongly networked in the community and it provides students with first-hand experiences in advancing social justice and provides exposure to work roles, and needs, within many organizations and advocacy groups.

Professor Mercedes Steedman offered the first course in Women’s Studies in 1979. Margaret Kechnie and Andrea Levan developed on-campus and distance education programs. Current enrolment is 53 program students and more than 500 taking courses towards minors, a certificate and electives every year.

A diverse range of courses and pathways has always been encouraged at Laurentian and its federated universities, at least until now. Laurentian has shared funding with Thorneloe, the University of Sudbury and Huntington; that ends May 1 when Laurentian will keep all the money.

“I think right now the administration at Laurentian is having a hard time making the connection between programs that are explicitly about gender equity and what they are actually doing to our community," Johnson said. "WGSX has been left in a precarious situation since Laurentian’s announcement April 2 that it was unilaterally cancelling the federation agreement

"The whole process that has happened at Laurentian has been so violent. My students have tried to speak, but have been shut down by the administration. It all runs counter to the mandate of the university, which is to encourage dialogue.”

Johnson said Laurentian's decision to end the federation agreements "was my signal, very clearly, that the administration does not care about Women and Gender Studies students and the program’s place within the university.

“Almost two years ago they tried to cut things at the feds (the federated universities). The day that theatre arts was closed, I cried and cried. Its closure was a direct result of the budget cuts at Laurentian. We know COVID didn’t cause the insolvency. Laurentian had problems before that.

She said the lack of certainty about the state of the program and Laurentian generally has already severely affected students, especially those near graduation and with concentrations in Women’s Studies.

“I know I am not the only student who is a stone’s throw away from graduating," said fourth-year student Courtney Nelson. "This change in programming puts us in an impossible position of needing to sacrifice our education for Laurentian's poor financial management. I am now in a position where I may have to start over again.”

Another student, April Scott-Nichols, said in a statement students and faculty within WGSX have fought against the system their entire lives.

“We were born fighters, and we will fight here for the future of our WGSX program.”

Community member Beth Mairs the program is a key to the future of gender equity in the North. “Women's and Gender Studies isn't just a program, it is a network of advocates, employers, and families, who care about these things," she said.

“That the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies program speaks to marginalized groups and draws eager students from communities with historically less access to higher education, the community mobilization to preserve this program has been strong. An open letter to LU resident Robert Haché drew over 1,000 signatures in less than one week.”

The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government.

sud.editorial@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @SudburyStar

Hugh Kruzel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Sudbury Star