Memorial University professor Gerard Curtis called for replacing President Janet Morrison and the Board of Regents in a November 4, 2026, interview on CBC’s On The Go.
“So there’s a litany of disasters here that are just unfolding under the president and the Board of Regents. And why I said I think, frankly, we should get rid of both of them and start anew,” said Curtis.
Curtis said Memorial could not afford to pay an American organization roughly a quarter of a million dollars to develop an enrolment strategy. He said the auditor general had warned the university about its use of outside consultants. Curtis argued that Memorial could develop an enrolment plan through its Senate and that hiring the American organization shifted responsibility for that work away from the president.
Curtis called the decision “a type of Trojan horse” and “a run around the Senate.” He also questioned why Memorial chose an American organization when Canadians were trying to support Canadian endeavours amid tariffs.
“It’s just unbelievable that they went this route, that they were so bald-faced that they couldn’t see in front of themselves what they were doing,” said Curtis.
Curtis said Morrison dissolved the Senate at Sheridan College during her time as president there. According to Curtis, Morrison doesn’t like broad consultation with university members or collegial processes.
“These are complex issues, and we understand them within the university. That’s our job. And it’s like she wants to give up our job, bring this Trojan horse in, and effectively create an end run so she can carry out the mandate she feels she wants to,” said Curtis.
“It’s a little bit oligarchical. I feel sometimes like I’m living in a Trumpian dystopia here at the university as well, with similar sorts of characters,” said Curtis.
Curtis also questioned the Board of Regents’ judgment in choosing Memorial’s presidents.
“Stop using American consultancies. It’s a disgrace to our Canadian drive at the moment… And, you know, like, we need really shop-floor, you know, good management at this university. I think the Board of Regents has failed us on this and their hires for the presidency, what’s going on there, and I think we need definitely a drastic change in administration,” he said.
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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