February 10, 2005 Vol. 41 No. 6 The University of Western Ontario’s newspaper of record www.WesternNews.ca ‘Rae-to-Budget’ campaign begins The Rae-to-Budget strategy “These investments would A lobbying “This effort begins at home. Our faculty and students involves, among other things, transform the university system newspaper ads, “lots and lots of in Ontario and we need to gather campaign to need to get behind the recommendations they agree lobbying” of cabinet ministers all the support among not only with and spread the word on how important investing and all members of the provincial our own community, but also in parliament and encouraging peo- the general public,” says Daven- sway public in Ontario Universities is.” ple in the community to write and port. Western President contact their representatives. In the end, says Rae, public opinion is being Paul Davenport “We have to lead the members opinion will play a major factor of parliament to understand that in the fate of universities. a lot of people in Ontario think budgets by 2007-08. more money, or spend it differ- launched this is very important,” says Van Many of the recommendations ently, because they believe that is Loon. were exactly what Ontario uni- what people want and expect and “We need to work together to Y AUL AYNE versities have been requesting because they decide it is in the B P M make sure that this gets through for years. broader public interest.” the budget process because it’s Western President Paul Dav- Council Chair Richard Van The Council of Ontario Uni- pretty clear to us at the Ontario enport praised the analysis and Loon says only about four weeks versities is about to unleash a Council of Universities that the recommendations. “This report are available to make a differ- The ThinkOntario theme adopted by major marketing initiative to government wants to do this, but paints an accurate picture of the ence to the provincial budget and the Council of Ontario Universities is rally public support around key they need to know there’s enough state of postsecondary education he called on students to join in expected to be central to upcoming recommendations in a pointed public support for it.” in this province, and what must be the cause. lobbying efforts. The Web site is at review of the state of postsecond- In a Viewpoint column in done now to ensure its future.” “Presidents, and hopefully the www.thinkontario.com ary education. today’s Western News (see Page Still, universities have a small students, will be pressuring very Dubbed the Rae-to-Budget 4), Davenport calls on the campus window of opportunity during hard on the government to make strategy and featuring an adver- community to help communicate which to sway public opinion and sure it pays very close attention tising campaign and extensive the need for major reforms. More Rae Report Coverage Inside political minds. Finance Minis- to these recommendations. At the lobbying, the council hopes to “This effort begins at home. ■ Page 4 – Viewpoint by President ter Greg Sorbara is expected to Council of Ontario Universities, push a proposed massive funding Our faculty and students need to Paul Davenport unveil the budget in early spring. we have quite a well-developed increase onto the provincial bud- get behind the recommendations During a December town hall at strategy between now and then.” ■ Page 8 – Bob Rae lays out the prob- get expected out in the spring. they agree with and spread the Western and again this week, Rae Failure to generate support lem, offers solutions Released just this week in word on how important invest- prodded universities to action, would leave the postsecondary Toronto, a six-month investiga- ing in Ontario universities is. We ■ Page 8 – Excerpts from the Rae saying budget-setters are more system mired in a state Rae has tion by former Premier Bob Rae need to make the best effort we Report revealed gaping holes in the level likely to respond favourably if characterized as “in jeopardy.” can,” he said in an interview. ■ Page 9 – Reaction from campus of federal and provincial govern- public opinion builds around their “We really need to watch this,” Davenport says he will be groups, London MPPs needs. says Van Loon. “If there aren’t ment support for Ontario colleges working with the COU in com- “The fate of this Review is now commitments, fairly solid com- ■ Page 9 – Highlights of key recom- and universities. ing weeks to help sway political in the hands of others,” says Rae. mitments, in the provincial bud- mendations Rae said at least $1.3 billion opinion. must be injected into operating “Governments decide to spend get, we’re in trouble.” Paul Mayne, Western News Campus groups across the province are being urged to help generate public support for reforms and additional funding for postsecondary education as recommended in a report this week. 2 F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 0 5 WESTERN NEWS CONGRESS COUNTDOWN: 107 Days Congress hiring tool for academic units B Y P AUL M AYNE for him and the university. such a huge gathering, adding “Each unit has the opportunity to showcase to its “People came early and stayed you can’t control everything. With more than 6,000 of North later,” he says. “The city ben- “The fi rst few days were rainy American’s top academics pre- colleagues around the country as to what their efi ted along with the university.” and the federal government paring to spend over a week at strengths are and where they stand.” Boldt also encourages and decided to call an election at the Western this spring, you can be reminds all faculties that there same time,” he says. assured the word recruitment Ed Boldt is no better time to put your “best “You can’t control things like will come up in conversation at Academic convenor, Congress 2004 foot forward” than at the Con- that; you just make the best of it. some point. gress, adding fi rst impressions Overall, it was a wonderful expe- This, according to University fessors, researchers and oth- become the largest multi-disci- can go a long way. rience for us and I wish Western of Manitoba sociologist Ed Boldt, ers,” says Boldt, who was aca- plinary gathering of scholars in “The academic units are really the best in hosting this year’s is just one of the key benefits demic convenor at the Congress. North America. Delegates from at the heart of this event,” he Congress.” Western can expect as host of the “Things are tightening up with Europe, Africa and Asia are also says. “Each unit has the opportu- 2005 Congress of the Humanities recruitment and an event such as expected to travel to Western. nity to showcase to its colleagues Let Western News know what and Social Sciences, May 28-June this can make a huge difference Boldt says it had been 18 years around the country as to what your area is doing for the Con- 5. The University of Manitoba in decision making.” since the University of Manitoba their strengths are and where gress. Contact Paul Mayne at presented last year’s event. Now in its 74th year, the Con- has held this gathering, which at they stand.” [email protected]. For informa- “This becomes a very impor- gress will feature more than 80 that time was called the Learned Boldt admits there is a tremen- tion about the upcoming Con- tant tool for Western when it academic disciplines presenting Societies Conference. The oppor- dous amount of organizational gress, visit www.fedcan.ca/con- comes to recruitment and pro- a wide array of research and has tunity to hold it again was a thrill work that goes into putting on gress2005/index.htm. Transparency applies to universities, too B Y P AUL M AYNE good thing, he says. ency gives you the right to oper- “Transparency as a force is ate and stay in business, adding Financial data, grievances, affecting every institution,” says it creates a network of trust with internal memos, product weak- Tapscott, who spoke to students the consumer which ultimately ness – good news and bad, it can at Western’s Ivey School of Busi- gives you a competitive advan- be seen by anyone who knows ness February 3. “Everybody is tage over the competition. where to look. opening up because people are In the case of Western and For author and entrepreneur going to find out anyway, and other post-secondary institutions, Don Tapscott, the new world of when you’re open it turns out Tapscott says transparency needs transparency is revolutionizing there are all kinds of benefi ts to to apply as well. every aspect of the economy and doing that.” “Universities historically have forcing corporations to rethink The author of The Naked Cor- had their little bastions of opacity, fundamental values. And that’s a poration, Tapscott says transpar- but they’ve tended to be fairly open institutions,” he says. “When you just consider academic dis- cussion, which by definition is kind of open, the peer review process, science and research in the university…it’s a very open Paul Mayne, Western News process. “On the other hand, a lot of Author and entrepreneur Don Tapscott speaks to Ivey students regarding institutions, universities included, how the age of transparency will revolutionize business. have not exactly has the great SUBMISSIONS TO THE transparencies towards various “It’s a powerful new force in honest and abide by their com- CAMPUS & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE stakeholder groups.” the economy that’s changing the mitments and increasingly that of the BOARD OF GOVERNORS Tapscott says the “train has left way every institution operates they’ll be open.