A petition has been launched calling for the rehiring of the former president of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the firing of its board of governors.
Late last week, the board of governors of NSCAD University removed the president, Aoife Mac Namara, who had been in her post for less than a year.
NSCAD’s faculty union said Sunday there was no consultation with the university community, and members of the executive are “shocked and appalled at the actions of the board, who made this decision in the middle of a global pandemic.”
A petition launched by the Friends of NSCAD said the board of governors is “recklessly endangering the future of the university and exposing it to significant financial and future risk. . . . Dr. Mac Namara was in the process of implementing significant and much needed positive change at NSCAD, including initiating a project to recognize and redress systemic and structural racism at all levels of the university.
“Faculty, staff, students, alumni, artists, educators and friends of NSCAD locally, nationally and internationally have been stunned and outraged, and are calling for the reinstatement of Dr. Mac Namara as President.”
Mac Namara's supporters decried her departure on social media Monday. MLA Lisa Roberts of the NDP tweeted Mac Namara "showed energetic, visible leadership that I admired and appreciated.
The former president's relationship with the Mi'kmaw community was also noted.
"She is definitely one of the best allies that the Mi’kmaq have and I feel she has been silenced partly because of that," tweeted Philip Prosper, the Keptin of the Mi'kmaq Grand Council. "I’m sorry if I’m wrong but I’m tweeting emotionally right now. I hope you land on your feet."
Struck at how many good folks are - like me - confused, disappointed, concerned @aoife_macnamara being booted by board @NSCADUniversity. She showed energetic, visible leadership that I admired and appreciated. Watching. #nspoli #Halifax
— Lisa Roberts (@LisaRobertsHfx) June 29, 2020
The Friends of NSCAD petition calls on the Nova Scotia government to intervene and fire the board of governors and rehire Mac Namara. The Friends of NSCAD has sent a letter to that effect to the Department of Advanced Education.
The province is staying out of it, a spokesperson said in an email Monday afternoon.
"Universities are board-governed, independent institutions and decisions like these are made at the university level."
As of Monday morning, Mac Namara was still listed as NSCAD president on its website.
In an email to The Chronicle Herald in response to a request for comment, the university said “the Board of Governors is focused on the appointment of an interim president, and will be sharing details with the broader NSCAD community in the days to come. Until then, the university will not be providing further comment in accordance with our Confidentiality and Privacy Policy.”
In a memo sent to members of the NSCAD community, board of governors chair Louise Anne Comeau didn’t provide any reasons why Mac Namara was fired. The memo said NSCAD vice-president Ann-Barbara Graff had been appointed interim president.
“We recognize that we are in the midst of significant change and the faculty and staff are all working very hard to prepare for the fall under new conditions,” Comeau said in the memo. “We have a strong senior leadership team and exceptional faculty and staff –all of whom are working to ensure the best experience for our students, and the continued success of our university.”
An information session for faculty is set for Tuesday.
“We are hopeful that some more explanation will come from the board about their actions," Mathew Reichertz, president of the union, told The Chronicle Herald on Sunday.
Former NSCAD board member Eric Walker called Mac Namara's firing an "immoral action" in a letter to Premier Stephen McNeil.
"I have to strongly disapprove of the firing of NSCADU president Aoife MacNamara by your proxy NSCADU board," said Walker, a visual artist now living in Ottawa. "I must assume they cleared the move with you before going ahead. . . .
"I am actually disgusted that you would fire the best president of NSCADU since Garry Kennedy to facilitate the redevelopment of Granville Street Historic Properties by your intimate developer friends and at the same time give no assistance at all to Aiofe MacNamara and NSCADU to find a new post Granville Street home for the college."
NSCAD BOG Announcement June 28, 2020 by The Chronicle Herald on Scribd
