Protesters at TRU halt board of governors meeting

Students and faculty gathered outside the Thompson Rivers University board of governors meeting on Friday for what was supposed to be a silent protest of the university's handling of accusations brought against two senior members of the administration.

Matt Milovick, TRU’s vice-president of finance and administration, and Larry Phillips, the university’s associate vice-president of people and culture were both named in complaints alleging misogyny, racism and discriminatory behaviour in the work place. The complaints were made in February but only became public knowledge last month.

Jenna Woodrow, TRU Faculty Association's equity committee chair, was one of the faculty members who organized Friday's demonstration. She said she wants to see Milovick and Phillips treated the same way a faculty member would — placed on paid leave to ensure a fair investigation.

“We're asking our administration to put their money where their mouths are — to act according to their promises, because right now they are breaking their promises,” she said.

“And that harms us as an institution, and us as faculty members who work in this institution.”

Melissa Kelm, a student at TRU who took part in Friday’s rally, said she was shocked to learn the university knew about the allegations in February but kept it secret.

“This is supposed to be safe space for students to learn and grow, and knowing that there are people like this still on campus and that they might even have those opinions it's just it's not right,” Kelm told Castanet Kamloops.

“It just doesn't make me feel safe on campus anymore.”

A group of about a dozen protesters entered the board of governors meeting and sat behind TRU President Brett Fairbairn. Kelm said the group began to speak after the land acknowledgement.

“It just kind of happened,” Kelm said.

“Olivia [one of the protesters] is an amazing person, and she just was like this is just not enough, it's just nothing's happening.”

In a statement, TRU said the meeting was halted because of the protestors and reconvened in a virtual format.

“This afternoon, a small group of vocal protestors interrupted the TRU Board of Governors meeting, resulting in a brief adjournment of the meeting until the board could reconvene virtually a short time later,” the statement said.

“As we were able to continue our agenda, it did not interrupt the governance and oversight the board provides the university.”

The investigation into Milovick and Phillips is ongoing.