May 29, 1998

Who's out to get ENS 402?

Fears that a controversial environmental advocacy course offered at the U of A will be cut are premature, says Dr. Jim Beck, chair of the Department of Renewable Resources, despite a front-page story in the Edmonton Journal May 23.

In the Journal story, reporter Ed Struzik wrote "concerns it has offended the sensitivities of the forestry industry and the millions of dollars it donates to the university could see it dropped from the curriculum next year."

The story does not name any faculty members or forestry companies opposed to the course.

Bob Udell, manager of forest policy and environmental affairs for Weldwood of Canada shrugged off any concerns and was quoted "I have no particular problem with the course." Struzik says a call to Weyerhauser Canada was not returned before the story went to print.

The two forestry companies recently donated a combined $950,000 to create an Institute of Enhanced Forest Management at the U of A.

"It's a non-issue to the forest industry sector once they see it's not an environmental terrorism course," says Beck.

Struzik says he was approached by a group of professors "who asked to remain very anonymous," about their concerns that corporate dollars to the U of A would dictate whether the course ENS 402 would continue next year.

"There's a general sense that politics has taken control of the issue, not the question of academic integrity," says Struzik. "They feel forestry companies are flexing their muscles, not perhaps directly, perhaps indirectly. Some people in the university may be influenced, but not Jim Beck."

In fact, says Struzik, the professors were concerned about much more than the future of one class. "Somehow, it turned into a debate over corporate sponsorship of the university programs. Whether real or not real, does it constitute a threat to academic integrity?"

Beck says he received about six complaints, on and off campus, since the course was offered for one semester last year. "I had faculty members say to me -- who don't know the forest industry sector -- 'Will this affect donations?' and I said no. I don't think they're [faculty members] worried. They trust my judgment about the forest industry sector. I told them we would be getting money from Weyerhauser and Weldwood and I was right."

When pressed to name the concerned faculty members, Beck said these were comments made in passing, not formal complaints.

The environmental course, taught by Dr. Jim Butler in renewable resources, is considered unconventional compared to other academic courses. It was offered for the first time as a special topic course, and is currently going through normal channels to be approved as part of the environmental conservation program.

Butler teaches students about advocacy procedures and legal aspects of environmental issues and encourages them to attend environmental protests, such as rallies against the Cheviot mine near Jasper National Park, demonstrations against captive dolphins at West Edmonton Mall and the grizzly bear hunt in Alberta. "It's about individual empowerment," says Butler.

"I was talking to another faculty member, who suggested there may be a rocky road ahead," says Butler. "People are asking about it because of the issue it represents. My feeling is there's not a problem. It's going through the process and going to a debate. It symbolizes the conflict of who decides what's taught."

Butler says there were no obstacles to course approval at the departmental level and anticipates there will be none at the faculty level. "It's not an issue until GFC. It happens all the time because that's when faculties have their shot at it," says Butler. He predicts a hearty debate with strong opinions on either side.

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