Gerald Hannon Discusses Ryerson Settlement
Last revised... Tuesday 24 September 1996
At a news conference on 13 September 1996, Gerald Hannon
discussed his settlement with Ryerson University. No written
statement was handed out at the conference, but here is the
text of his statement as supplied by Hannon.
September 12, 1996
STATEMENT AT PRESS CONFERENCE FRIDAY, SEPT 13, 11 A.M.
Ryerson University, CUPE and I have reached a settlement in the
grievances filed over the past year. The settlement includes the
following provisions:
- That I will not return to teaching at Ryerson this year.
- That I will never again apply for teaching work at Ryerson, though
that restriction may be lifted by order of the president.
- That
there will be no repercussions for students or staff who supported me
over the past year.
- That Ryerson has agreed to hold a competition
for the position I will not be taking, so that those who, for reasons
of probity refused to accept a position they saw as rightfully mine,
can reapply.
- I have accepted a cash settlement, the amount of which
I have agreed not to reveal.
The following is not part of the agreement, but I want to use this
forum to announce that I am donating from $5000 to $10,000 of the cash
settlement to create a fund at Ryerson to keep alive the issues raised
by this case. Issues of academic freedom, freedom of speech,
queerness, deviance, prostitution were thrown into high relief over
the past year, but the discussions all too frequently had to happen in
an all too hysterical atmosphere. These are important issues, and they
deserve the just deliberation of sensible people in an atmosphere the
university can provide. I will consult with others as to the best way
of making this happen, but I am committed to ensuring that the issues
raised by this case don't die with this settlement.
This is not the settlement I wanted. I made it clear, up to the last
day of conciliation, that what I wanted was to return to teaching,
and that money could be taken off the table. Ryerson was
intransigent. I want to say some harsh words about Ryerson but I want
to make it clear about whom I am speaking. I am not speaking of the
students here, who have always struck me as a curious, energetic,
involved, demanding group of young people. It has been a pleasure
teaching them and I shall miss that sorely. I am not speaking of the
journalism department, which is among the best in this country and
has on its staff many dedicated, talented people whom I admire very
much and whom I shall miss working with. There is rot, however, at
the highest levels of this institution and I do mean the highest
levels. The administration's handling of this affair struck me as
cowardly, visionless, [de]moralizing, and deeply irresponsible, given
the
financial difficulties faced by academic institutions these days. The
Ryerson community deserves better.
Ryerson's goal in all of this seemed to be that I never teach at
Ryerson again, and that the issues raised in this case die as quickly
as possible. I have, since yesterday, accepted three invitations to
guest lecture, and one to do writing coaching with individual
students. And I'm using some of the money they hoped would end this
forever to ensure that the issue[s] continue to be discussed at Ryerson.
I'd say the Ryerson administration has been screwed -- but then that
is one of my part-time jobs.
END
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Jeff Lindstrom <au834@freenet.carleton.ca
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Copyright (c) 1995 Jeff Lindstrom