'We need to be seen': Demonstrators protest devastating Laurentian University cuts

Voices of protest continued to cryout Fridayamidthe fallout from massive cuts to Laurentian University's staff and programs in Sudbury, Ont., with about 150 demonstrators gathering downtownin near-freezing temperatures.

The protest followsthe university's layoff Monday of roughly 100 staff and cuts of about 70 English, French and Indigenous programs. The schooldeclareditself financially insolventearlier this year, and filed for creditor protection on Feb. 1, a first for a universityin the province.

Melanie Murdock, who organized Friday's rally of concerned students, professors and community members,saidshe will grieve the loss of the school's midwifery program in particular.

Murdock wantsfundingrestored to the bilingual program the only of its kind in Ontario.

"We want to be funded so that these program closures can be reversed, and we need the government support in doing this," she said.

"We need help and we need to be seen today."

Murdock graduated from the program last spring.

"That's why it hits really close to home. I'm doing this not only in support for my fellow classmates that are still in the program, for my profs, the support staff in the midwifery programs, [and] for the profession as a whole."

Under theCompanies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), organizations in the insolvency process are allowed to restructure while working to deal with financial issues.

But Murdock saidthe closure of the midwifery programthreatens the profession, as well as access to reproductive health care in Canada.

"People have a right to access reproductive health care, including midwives, which is difficult enough as it is," said Murdock.

"This threatens the growth of our profession. Itthreatens franco-Ontarians, who cannot access French-speaking midwives."

Another protester, Casey Lalonde, saidwhat's happening at Laurentian is wrong.

"[I heard] that some of my favourite professors from the university were terminated on Zoom, including one prof who'sbeen teaching there for 53 years," she said.

"To lose somebody like that,it's going to affect the quality of the program. I just can't believe that the university would treat its faculty that way. I think there's going to be negative ramifications for Sudbury and for all of northern Ontario with all of this."

Lalondeis hoping for a miracle to get things turned around at the school.

"There's going to be a lot of people who are rethinking their decision to enrolin Laurentian this coming fall and in the future. We're going to see a worse out-migration of youth fromSudbury and our local economy is going to be negatively affected."

The cuts will also impact the city's culture too, she noted.

"A university contributes so much to the city and to the community, and we're going to lose so many important things."

Recipient renounces honorary doctorate

Beyond the rally, there have been other voices of disdain from the Laurentian community.

Jean-Marc Dalp, arecipient of an honorary degree from the university, saidhe'srenouncing the doctorate.

The francophone author, poetand playwright said he doesn't agree with the decisions the university is making.

"All of this was just too much for me personally, so I wanted to make a gesture in solidarity with the teachers and the students that have lost so much,"said Dalp.

He said he was honoured when he first received the honorary degree about 20 years ago, buthe's upset withall the cuts, in particular,to French-language programs.

In a letter to university president RobertHach, Dalp iscalling for an investigation to determine the real causes of the financial chaos at Laurentian.

Court challenge filed

In other news, the president of Thorneloe University, also in Sudbury,has filed a court challenge of Laurentian's decision to cutties with its federated universities.

Laurentian announced April 1it would retain funding that would normally flow to Thorneloe and Huntington Universities and the University of Sudbury under its federation agreements.

Thorneloe president John Gibaut saidit's a complicated relationship, but what the schooldisputes fundamentally "is the capacity of Laurentian to unilaterally terminate a common agreement."

Gibaut saidhe doesn't believe Laurentian will benefit financially by cutting ties with its federated partners.

Huntington University has negotiated terms to end the agreement,which includes Laurentian acquiring its online gerontology program.

It's not clear whereUniversity of Sudbury stands at the moment.

Proposed Indigenous program questioned

But anassistant professor in the Indigenous studies program at the University of Sudbury saida new Indigenous Perspectivesprogram proposed by Laurentian is not a suitable replacement for what has been terminated. The program is yet to be structured and developed forapproval by University of Sudbury's senate.

Tara Beedssaidthere's no guarantee a new Indigenous perspectivesprogram will be led by Indigenous scholars, or provide similar content to the University of Sudbury program.

"Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous nations have a right to have our education and our people represented properly," she said.

"And in order to do that, you have toput the time and the energy in.Indigenous studies is a discipline."

Federal politicians weigh in

Adding to the voices condemning the dismantling of Laurentian is NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who called for the federal government to step in with financial support.

"Weneed to immediatelyprovide some supports so we don't see these devastating cuts. And we can figure out what is the right model for long-term sustainability," he said during a Friday news conference held virtually.

"But in a crisis, you've got to stop the bleeding. And right now we've got to stop the bleeding; we've got to save the university."

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saidthe federal government is waiting to see what steps the Ontario government will take regarding Laurentianbefore offering any support.