TRU’s choice of former premier Campbell for honorary law degree raises some eyebrows

By MICHELE YOUNG

and MEL ROTHENBURGER

The president of the Thompson Rivers University Student Union said today (Friday) he probably should not have tweeted his personal opinion about Gordon Campbell being named an honorary degree recipient for this year’s convocation.

Dylan Robinson, a philosophy and political science student, said the tweet was only his opinion, not that of the student union. It said many were opposed to the choice in the in-camera TRU senate debate on the choice and that Campbell “helped destroy BCPSE (B.C. Public School Employers’ Association) and chronically underfund TRU. Total embarrassment.”

Robinson later deleted the tweet. In a telephone interview with Kamloops A.M. News, he avoided giving much opinion on the choice of Campbell for an honorary law degree.

“He’s certainly a polarizing figure,” he said. “There are people who believe his policies were great for TRU and those who don’t believe his policies were good for TRU.”

Campbell is one of “seven inspiring individuals” to receive honorary degrees, a TRU press release said. Also on the list are humanitarians Craig Kielburger and Samantha Nutt, physician and actor Evan Adams, theatre director Kim Collier and philanthropist Ron Fawcett.

Campbell is joined by Hon. Justice Lance Finch in receiving a degree from TRU’s law school.

The former premier’s name was forwarded by the dean of law, Anne Pappas.

The TRU senate discusses the candidates in-camera. While Robinson was in on that discussion, he is not supposed to disclose anything that was said.

TRU’s vice president advancement Christopher Seguin said nominations for honorary degrees are submitted to an honours and awards committee where they’re evaluated and passed onto the senate and from there to the board of governors for final approval.

The general criterion is excellence within the individual’s field of practice. The only restriction on the nomination of politicians is that they can’t currently be in office. Former B.C. House Speaker Claude Richmond is a past recipient.

“The very nature of the Senate is to have issues such as these discussed in an open forum,” said Seguin. “Not all candidates are popular with all members. We have a huge community of stakeholders with varying political views.

“I think discussion happens on every state stage and that’s why we have these committees as teams and that’s we have a voting procedure,” he said.

“That being said, controversy is part of what we do and many of our past winners and probably of our future winners will be met with controversy.”

He said he’s received “some but not extensive” reaction to the choice of Campbell, who was in office when TRU was granted university status in 2005.

“There are many people who contribute to the evolution of our institution and Gordon Campbell is one of those people,” Seguin said.

“A public figure such as this, and a controversial one at that — you would expect this kind of reaction.”

Asked if Campbell, who is currently Canada’s high commissioner in London, will be able to attend the ceremony to receive his honorary degree, Seguin said, “At this time we believe so.”