FNUC Students Troubled By New Allegations

FNUC Students Troubled By New Allegations

Monday, January 25, 2010 at 15:40

 

 

Students at the First Nations University of Canada are threatening to take action over recent allegations of financial mismanagement at the school.

 

Student spokesman Cadmus Delorme says the students’ association was disheartened to see a report in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix that indicated a lawsuit had been filed against the school by its former financial officer, Murray Westerlund.

 

Delorme also says the students’ association recently received copies of internal memos sent by Westerlund, which outlined troubling claims.

 

Delorme says the student body was told by senior brass at FNUC that Westerlund’s departure from the school was a mutual decision, but it now appears he was fired.

 

Delorme says if the school’s board of governors doesn’t take action to address these issues, the students will.

 

A spokesperson for the university’s administration says FNUC president Charles Pratt will hold meetings with staff, students and faculty on Wednesday, but will not be commenting publicly before then.

 

The provincial government is weighing in on the situation.

 

Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris has called an emergency meeting with the University of Regina, since the U of R has oversight over NUC.

 

Norris wants to know what contingency plans the larger university has in place, should the students require assistance.

 

Norris says he expects that meeting to take place sometime this week.

 

The chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is reassuring students at the First Nations University of Canada that they won’t get left out in the cold.

 

Guy Lonechild says he will not support any action that does not enable students to complete their studies this year or in the future.

 

Lonechild is urging the FNUC’s board to governors to address concerns raised over the recent reports of financial impropriety at the school.

 

Lonechild says the FSIN is continuing to gather information and will work with the various stakeholders to ensure the long-term viability of the school.