September 2003
In a front page article of
the June 26 edition of SFU News, it was reported that VP-academic John
Waterhouse plans to apply a quota system for the remainder of SFU’s appointments
under the Canada Research chairs program. While I share the concern that
this program may have been remiss in allowing departments to make appointments
without advertising properly, I doubt that the outcome would have been
very different in terms of the male/female ratio. The bulk of the program’s
positions appear to have gone to science faculty, and women do not choose
science nearly as often as men, and do not achieve outstanding success
as often.
In any case, instituting
a quota system for women is not the appropriate solution even if the current
procedure were flawed. This is especially important since the program’s
guidelines stipulate that “excellence is the defining criterion” (not group
identity). A quota system violates the merit system, the program’s
guidelines, and presumably also policies negotiated with the SFU faculty
association. It should be unacceptable to all faculty.
Doreen Kimura
Visiting Professor
From Simon Fraser University
News, July 10, 2003.
Doreen is a SAFS member.
Help us maintain freedom in teaching, research and scholarship by joining SAFS or making a donation.
