The American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) stands in solidarity with the faculty, staff, and students at Laurentian University.
The decision to eliminate – effective May 15, 2021 – 60+ programs and more than 100 faculty members, mostly housed in the Faculty of Arts, without discussion or negotiation as a means to financial solvency is not only concerning but also problematic as it is based solely on the financially quantification of student enrollments, which is contrary to the philosophy of the Liberal Arts. Furthermore, it is clearly a desperate solution lacking creativity or critical thinking.
The AATI is very troubled by the decision to eliminate both Italian Studies and ALL other language programs from the Department of Modern Languages. The Italian Studies program at Laurentian was over 30 years old and home to both a major and a minor. The program was propelled by a dynamic faculty who worked with students to create new opportunities on campus, in the community, and abroad. From undergraduate research to Le Maschere Laurenziane, the faculty worked closely with students of Italian to create experiential learning opportunities directly connected with the local community, as well as Canada at large. This feat is not found elsewhere.
It is shameful that a public institution whose hallmark is bilingual education, should choose to eradicate programs that support second and third language and cultural acquisition.
On another critical note, the AATI is extremely disappointed by this slashing of humanities programs because of its connection to the Laurentian faculty in Italian Studies, past and present. These persons are active members of our academic Association and dedicated educators, who have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of Laurentian and its students for several decades. It is disgraceful and reprehensible that the university administrators could not find a means to support its faculty and students in the same committed manner.
The AATI stands with Diana-Iuele Collili, Christina Sansalone, and all the other faculty members who were unceremoniously and, we believe, wrongly, terminated on April 12, 2021. It should be noted that the manner in which faculty members were dismissed – via Zoom and with no opportunity to ask questions of the current Vice President – was both embarrassing to the university and disrespectful of the hard work and dedication of the faculty members, as well as to the memory of Paul Colilli, who was also responsible for the growth and success of the Italian Studies program at Laurentian.
We, at AATI, are ready to assist our colleagues in Italian at Laurentian who have been dismissed by this irresponsible decision by the administration, in an attempt to repair those financial problems incurred by a clearly ineffective administration. Therefore, the AATI stands with Nipissing University Faculty Association and The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association, in calling for the immediate resignation of those administrators and governing entities who failed to protect the best interests of the Laurentian faculty, staff, and students:
- Ross Romano, Provincial Minister of Colleges and Universities;
- Robert Hache, President of Laurentian University, along with his senior leadership team;
- The Board of Governors
Finally, the AATI encourages all of its members to learn more about the current Call to Action from the Canadian Association of University Professors (CAUT) here.
In solidarietà ,
Ryan Calabretta-Sajder
President – American Association of Teachers of Italian