Sources confirm that Gregory McDougall, the embattled Chief Risk Officer at Memorial University since July 2020, is no longer in his position—a long-overdue departure for someone whose tenure was defined by hostility toward dissent and a blatant disregard for civil liberties.
McDougall’s tenure was marred by a relentless campaign against me and others who dared to question the administration. In October 2021, he wielded the University Respectful Workplace Policy as a weapon to silence an academic staff member who raised concerns about the vaccine mandate. MUNFA President Josh Lepawsky condemned this abuse of authority, calling it a clear violation of the staff member’s right to critique university policies under the Collective Agreement.
But McDougall’s disdain for free expression did not stop there. Following my peaceful protest on December 2, 2021, against then-President Vianne Timmons, McDougall escalated his crusade against dissent. He lodged a baseless complaint under the Student Code of Conduct, accusing me of “intimidation and harassment” and falsely claiming my actions were gender-based. Even former Provost Noreen Golfman, a previous target of my protests, dismissed his claims as a desperate overreach, referring to me as an “equal-opportunity activist.”
In December 2022, McDougall targeted student union members after their peaceful protest against Timmons. He threatened to strip them of their positions on university committees, vowing to replace them with students who toed the administration’s line. Such actions were not only authoritarian but a direct attack on the principles of democratic governance within the university.
For years, I have called for the elimination of the Chief Risk Officer position, a bloated and unnecessary expense with a staggering $198,400 annual salary. McDougall epitomized the worst excesses of this role, using it as a platform to shield the administration from accountability while stifling criticism.
At a Presidential Search Committee consultation in September 2024, I challenged McDougall to debate civil liberties—an invitation he declined. His refusal spoke volumes about his inability to defend his actions when faced with public scrutiny.
McDougall’s exit signals the end of a toxic era at Memorial University. As a close ally of the disgraced former President Timmons, his removal is a critical step toward restoring transparency, accountability, and respect for the voices of students and staff. It is a moment for Memorial to reflect and ensure that such abuses of power are never allowed to fester again.
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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