TRU deans ‘have challenging task’ to avoid confusion over who they’re speaking for
NEWS/ AJAX — Making sure the public doesn’t mistakenly think TRU administrators speak on controversial issues on behalf of the university is challenging but “we’re all trying to do our best,” vice president advancement Christopher Seguin said today.
He made the comment in the midst of a controversy over an Ajax promotional video that includes a testimonial by Lindsay Langill, TRU’s dean of trades and technology.
Langill is seen in the video talking about job opportunities that will be created by Ajax, with his title displayed beside him.
Seguin said there’s no written policy on how administrators are identified when speaking about public issues but they need to be aware that the public can mistakenly think they’re stating TRU policy.
“It’s challenging,” Seguin said. “The deans have a challenging task.”
Some members of the TRU community have criticized the inclusion of Langill’s TRU title in the video, though Langill has emphasized he was speaking as an individual and “probably KGHM shouldn’t have put the title in there.”
Seguin said only the university president or the chair of the board of governors or a designate can speak on behalf of the university as a whole.
KGHM International has provided no response today to two phone calls and two email inquiries from The Armchair Mayor News about whether it will make any changes to the video with respect to how Langill is identified.
Meanwhile, one of the founding members of the Kamloops Moms for Clean Air said the video’s message is consistent with what Ajax supporters want to hear. “People want to hear there are jobs for people coming out of university,” said Gina Morris.
She said there might be a tendency for opponents “to get down-hearted” when they see expensive videos being produced and events held, but there are environmental questions that have to be answered.
“We’re saying hey, let’s look at Kamloops air and what we can do about that. We’ve got to be able to breathe it.”
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Back in the anti-flouride fight days, the Kamloops Safe Water Foundation was ultimately granted equal dollars by council to present their case as the pro fluoride side had spent (to my best recollection).
Today we drink unadulterated water (but for necessary chlorine)-
It seems profoundly unjust that the deep pockets of a multinational should be pitted against a rag tag, but committed lot of local opponents who can only battle with a pen and paper – and their free time (yet of significant number and with no vested interest but for the true health and well being of our community).
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The video is great. It is showing us our future if Ajax is allowed. It’s a great example of a nightmare. Dark and foreboding. Remember trying to run in a dream and not being able to move.
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