Chris Frey Memorial

It deeply saddens me to announce that our beloved friend and faculty member Chris Frey passed away on January 25th, 2024. For years, Chris was an active member of the AUAFA Faculty Association maintaining various leadership roles such as Negotiations' Chair, Grievance Officer, etc.

Chris's contribution spanned beyond the professional--he was a passionate advocate of the arts and quite often you could hear Chris playing his guitar or turning favourite tunes way up so that everyone who walked past his classroom wished they were in on the fun. Chris was an animated storyteller and critical thinker coining his students as "crows" (a.k.a. Critical Creative Research and Writing Scholars). I was lucky enough to know Chris first as a Professor and then later as a colleague in the Faculty Association. Chris was a poet, a provocateur and our friend.We will miss you dearly Chris. Rest in peace.

Faculty wanting to express their condolences or share a memory can write a message to his family (follow link).

Karin McGinn, AUAFA Office Manager

AUAFA Letter in support of trans* youth

Paul Robert | February, 2024

Office of the Premier 307 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 February 23, 2024 Dear Ms. Smith, As faculty of the Alberta University of the Arts, we condemn the recent proposals by Premier Danielle Smith seeking to limit transgender healthcare and participation in society. We will always be committed to fostering a safe environment where diverse identities are celebrated and safeguarded. Among our students, 35% identify as members of the 2S/LGBTQ+ community with a percentage of that comprising non-binary and trans* individuals. The Premier’s suite of measures seeking to restrict healthcare for transgender children, disclose private information regarding their gender identity without their consent and segregate transgender women from participation in sports do not reflect the values of our community.

Any proposal regarding the health and welfare of transgender children needs to include expert medical advice and involve consultation with all concerned parties: teachers, social workers, families, legal professionals, and most importantly the transgender community. Instead, the UCP’s proposal interferes with Canadians’ protected charter rights and runs contrary to the evidence-based medical practices and research over the past 80 years. If implemented, this suite of measures risks placing trans* youth who have unsupportive families in harmful situations, segregates trans* women from participation in social activities, and limits access to resources for trans* youth, even with parental consent. It is well established that transgender students are at much higher risk of homelessness-related circumstances, unsafe living situations, food insecurity, unemployment, and underemployment. AUAFA calls on Alberta’s government to fully rescind its plan to implement regressive transgender legislation. We stand in solidarity with 2S/LGBTQ+ youth, educators, and all who are committed to fostering a society where every individual can live authentically and safely. We will continue to fight against policies that threaten our communities and we will continue to work tirelessly to support the well-being and rights of 2S/LGBTQ+ individuals based on research and evidence-based policy recommendations. We urge all Albertans to join us in condemning this policy and advocating for the protection and respect of all youth, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. The future of these youth depends on our ability to uphold the values of compassion, understanding, and equity for all.

With sincerity,

Paul Robert President,

AUAFA auafa.president@telus.net

AUAFA Statement on Freedom of Expression in Relation to the Middle East Conflict

Paul Robert | 2024-04-02; amended 2024-04-04

The Alberta University of the Arts Faculty Association acknowledges the deep, irreversible and irreparable losses experienced both directly and indirectly by members of our community in relation to the conflict in the Middle East. In light of a recent increase in students’ and faculty’s expressions of support for the people of Palestine and a pattern of Universities limiting such expression nationally and internationally, including at AUArts, AUAFA reasserts its commitment to academic freedom, artistic freedom, and freedom of expression. We remind our members of AUArts’ Freedom of Expression Policy–a response to a 2019 mandate by the Alberta Minister of Advanced Education that all publicly funded post-secondary institutions adopt free speech guidelines based on the Chicago principles. In the University of Chicago’s 2014 report, the authors state that, It is not the proper role of the University to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. . . . Although all members of the University community share in the responsibility for maintaining a climate of mutual respect, concerns about civility and mutual respect can never be used as a justification for closing off discussion of ideas, however offensive or disagreeable those ideas may be to some members of our community. . . . Although members of the University community are free to criticize and contest the views expressed on campus, and to criticize and contest speakers who are invited to express their views on campus, they may not obstruct or otherwise interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject or even loathe. AUArts’ Freedom of Expression Policy allows for the restriction of “expression that violates the law, falsely defames an individual, or constitutes a genuine threat or harassment that unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality of interests.” AUAFA is likewise committed to protecting members from anti-Palestinian racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia. Simultaneously however, we also share the position that legitimate criticisms of the State of Israel and Zionism are not inherently hateful or antisemitic*, just as legitimate criticisms of Hamas are not inherently Islamophobic. AUAFA also directs its members' attention to Article 26: Academic and Artistic Freedom in the Collective Agreement and Article C4: Statement of Academic Freedom in its Constitution and Bylaws. At a time when many faculty are feeling a need to support, guide, and set an example for students as they are initiated into citizenship–learning to engage in the exchange of ideas, debate, and protest–know that we are also here to support you as faculty. Given all that we as a society now know about mental health and the significance of psychological harm, we also implore you to balance your legal entitlements with respect, patience, empathy, compassion, and curiosity for others and their views.

* see also the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism