The Argosy, April 10 2014

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Mount Allison’s

THE April 10, 2014

ARGOSY Independent Student Newspaper

Mad as hell and not going to take it anymore since 1872

Vol. 143 Iss. 21

The fume hoods in Flemington, such as the one pictured above in lab 213, have been condemned since September. A report from November confirmed their leakage. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy)

Ireland resigns over faulty fume hoods concerned. Many biology students are familiar with the Flemington Building’s lack of ventilation, which is necessary for animal dissections and etherizing fruit flies in genetics classes. In November, The Argosy reported that several biology professors also need ventilation for their research. “It’s already had a strong effect, in Animal Biology, even though samples aren’t preserved in formaldehyde… they’re preserved in fermium, a very pungent arable nasty thing,” said Chris Zinck, a second-year biology student. “It’s so atrocious smelling, it causes migraines.” “Some of our most hazardous labs have moved to the biochemistry lab space in Barclay, an inconvenient contingency that was supposed

He’s headed the biology department for five years, but on April 2, Robert Ireland resigned from his position, citing the university’s decision not to repair ventilation systems in the Flemington building in time for the next school year. “For many years we’ve been promised that we would get ventilation

in this building,” Ireland said. “The provost and dean [of science] assured us come September 2014 we’d have at least one lab ventilated.” But on March 31, Ireland was informed in an email from science dean Jeff Ollerhead that there was “a zero per cent chance” that Flemington would receive adequate ventilation in the coming year, with Ollerhead adding, “I am as frustrated as anyone else, but this is the reality.” Ireland, who has been a professor at Mount Allison since 1992, said after receiving the email, “enough is enough, I resigned.” In his official resignation letter, Ireland stated that “since the university declines to address basic health and safety problems pertaining to our students and staff, I can no longer execute my duties as head of the

Biology Department as required by the collective agreement (clause 18.12.2) as such I resign my position as head immediately.” “I can’t in good conscience do this to the students and the faculty, I can’t be party to another patchwork solution to something completely avoidable if only the administration would stand up and do it,” he added. “It wasn’t my intention to do something [disruptive] with this, I did it because I don’t think I can do my job properly under the circumstances,” he said, “perhaps this will indicate the amount of importance we attach to this issue, but I think that was already understood. It would be sad if one had to resign to make it clear that health and safety are important.” Ireland is not the only one who is

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Former biology department head says ‘enough is enough’ Clay Steell

to be temporary, two years ago. The department worries that this supposedly stop-gap measure will become permanent and our labs will forever be housed in the Barclay building, in unsuitable facilities shared with biochemistry. The administration continues to exclude the entire biology department from what they are really planning. This pattern of secrecy does not reassure anyone in the least. Apparently the administrators know what is best and will let faculty and staff know what is happening when they feel like it. Some Mount Allison family!” read an email from a source whose work is affected by the improper ventilation. The source requested anonymity in concern for

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Turnout grows for rebate protests: Pg. 2

Dixon: Gun control a must for U.S.A.: Pg. 5

Tintamarre stresses inclusion: Pg. 12

SappyForever wait is almost over: Pg. 13

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