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UTM aims to grow graduate research UTM’s newly appointed Principal Ulrich Krull details plans for UTM’s development in medicinal studies ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR Ulrich Krull, the newly appointed vice president of the University of Toronto and the new principal of the University of Toronto Mississauga, listed expanding graduate research and research facilities for the science and medicinal studies as part of his long-term goals for the UTM campus, in an interview with The Medium. Krull served last year as the interim principal of UTM when his predecessor, Deep Saini, left. In the interview with The Medium, Krull described his wish to see UTM expand its research initiatives. “The University of Toronto is internationally known for research,” said Krull. “That’s supposed to be a good thing for the students because you’re getting instruction from those thought leaders who are actually changing the world. But on this campus, that investment hasn’t taken place.” “My mandate perspective of what
OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM
Krull anticipates expansion in graduate research as UTM’s population continues to grow. I am going to bring forward is more of an investment in terms of the research presence. You’ll see this immediately because it’s already started. We’ve something called the Centre for Medicinal Chemistry.”
Krull cited UTM’s professor Patrick Gunning as the focus of the medicinal centre. Gunning is working on cancer therapeutics and his compounds have created great international interest, according to Krull.
While the product of Gunning’s research is gaining notoriety, Krull stressed the way the research is being conducted as a point of focus for future research. “The way this is being researched, the methods that are
being used, are actually shortening the discovery period tremendously,” he said. “Putting all these things together, we really have an opportunity to push the sciences forward and what we’re going to do is use this Centre for Medicinal Chemistry as an anchor to build a much larger set of research labs around it. So we’re building a science building and the science building will house, at its core, the Centre of Medicinal Chemistry. But around that will wrap the wide variety of laboratory infrastructure,” he continued. Krull mentioned the possibility of a robotics facility on campus as a way to bring engineering to UTM, and eventually, expanding infrastructure to a new arts centre for the humanities. Several infrastructure changes, such as the construction on the Phase B of the North Building and the renovations soon to take place in the Davis building, signify UTM’s changing façade, according to Krull. Research continued on page 3
U of T begins bargaining with labour union CUPE Units 1 and 3 are seeking to renegotiate the terms of their collective agreements with U of T FATIMA WASIF WITH NOTES FROM ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR
Around 6,000 teaching assistants and sessional lecturers forming Unit 1 of the local labour union, CUPE 3902, are expected to return to the bargaining table to renegotiate contracts with the University of Toronto administration starting on September 25. CUPE 3902 is working in collaboration with other resident labour unions, including those representing childcare, maintenance, building, trades, and library employees, and the United Steel workers, as part of the “2020 Vision” alliance. This alliance places forth nine demands for the university management to reach by the year 2020, including steps taken by the university to ensure that job security exists through lasting employment. During the bargaining process, those specific members to CUPE
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
CUPE 3902 is currently working in collaboration with other resident labour unions. 3902 will bargain for at least $20,000 per annum for graduate students, and for student appraisals to be excluded from appointment and advancement decisions due to their
undependable nature in general, and bias against certain marginalized communities. The union also expects to attain a $10,000 rate for contract course instructors.
“This would mean, for our members, that finally a contract faculty member teaching a full-time course load would earn a decent, middleclass salary. This is the minimum
we should all expect for full-time academics with Ph.D.’s teaching at Canada’s top university,” said CUPE 3902 Chair Ryan Culpepper in an interview with The Medium. The UofT administration stated to The Medium that they are not permitted to discuss terms of the bargaining process while negotiations are underway. As for Unit 3, which comprises roughly of 1,500 contract teaching staff, they have already begun negotiating with the university as of July 31st. According to the university’s director of media relations, Althea Blackburn-Evans, in an interview with The Medium, the administration is currently meeting daily with Unit 3 of CUPE 3902. “We are always bargaining with the hope that we’re going to have productive conversations and we’re going to work very collaboratively with our union partners to reach a collective agreement,” stated Blackburn-Evans. Contracts continued on page 2