The

asthead

‘Over The Eee

Letter from the

llow me to play Devil’s Advocate.

The appointment of James Moore as
UNBC Chancellor is not going to destroy
this institution. People have cited Moore’s
membership in a government that many
accused of muzzling science and scientists,
funding cuts to the CBC during his tenure
as Minister of Canadian Heritage, his
involvement in a minor scandal involving the
Terry Fox Foundation during the last federal
election campaign, and even their own
personal experiences with Moore as reasons
he is unfit for the position. However, does
that matter?

= Ole = itor

According to UNBC’s website, the Chancellor
is: “[...]the formal head of UNBC, the
Chancellor is responsible for conferring

all the degrees granted by the institution
and plays an important ambassadorial role
for the University in the community...”
From that description, the position appears
to be largely ceremonial. Though the
Chancellor is a member of both the Board
of Governors and the Senate, one person
cannot make decisions for the institutions
by themselves. Moore will probably not
attempt to slash UNBC expenses or funding,
because he is not really an executive. He

is an ambassador. Say what you will about
Moore as a person, but he is UNBC’s first
chancellor to have graduated from the
institution, and as a graduate, can accurately
explain what UNBC can do for students,

and what UNBC has meant to him. Even if
you disagree with his politics, he has been
successful, being a Member of Parliament
for 15 years and a Cabinet Minister for many
of those. Moore has yet to do anything,

and I believe he cannot yet be judged on

his value as an ambassador for UNBC.