Roxanne Rideout-Scott and Jennifer Browne at a retirement celebration.
Former Memorial University Student Support Team Lead Roxanne Rideout-Scott had a reputation for always taking the side of the student, often drawing criticism from her colleagues. In her meetings with students to inform them of the supports available, often in difficult situations, Rideout-Scott would leave many students in a better position than they were in when they arrived at her office. However, she was not without her shortcomings, as she was very much of the status quo otherwise. For example, she told students that she was a firm believer in the university’s established processes and told them to trust in the professionalism of the decision-makers. With that said, I admittedly had a great deal of respect for Rideout-Scott over the years. Rideout-Scott’s reputation changed when Vianne Timmons took the helm at Memorial.
On September 16, 2021, President Vianne Timmons, who has since been removed after a major scandal, said to CBC that my posters calling for her resignation due to massive tuition hikes and out-of-control spending violated the university’s Respectful Workplace Policy. My response was that the university’s president should not be the one to determine whether something violates this policy, especially if it involves them. Since I was a student, and not an employee of the university, the policy is not applicable. I argued that the statement by Timmons served to inappropriately discredit me in the eyes of the students, the university community, and the province.
St. John’s Lawyer, Geoff Budden, stated, “Tuition issues aside, Dr. Timmons certainly should consider resigning over this abuse of her authority.”
On March 15, 2022, I filed a formal complaint with the Memorial University Office of Student Support against Timmons for what I believed was inappropriate behaviour. On March 25, 2022, Roxanne Rideout-Scott, responded that the matter was reviewed by her office and the Office of General Counsel. She said that the complaint did not provide a “sufficient basis” to meet the definition under the complaint policy. “Complaints that do not meet the definition of inappropriate, unfair or objectionable complaints cannot move forward,” she said.
Despite Timmons’ removal from Memorial and a performance audit by the Auditor General that revealed many of her expenses were inappropriate, the university’s refusal to investigate my complaint seems like corruption. It appears that all members of the administration involved in this decision were protecting Timmons, who had a history of drawing lower managers into her “fold” to do her bidding, both at the University of Regina and Memorial University.
Rideout-Scott’s direct report, Director of Student Life Jennifer Browne, also seemed to fall under Timmons’ influence. Before Timmons’ tenure, neither Rideout-Scott nor Browne appeared manipulated, and former President Gary Kachanoski had little involvement with the Student Life portfolio. Rideout-Scott’s decision not to investigate Timmons casts a shadow on her otherwise exemplary career, an egregious mistake that cannot be overlooked.
Matt Barter is a graduate of the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, holding a degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, taking walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.
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