The Northern Undergraduate Student Society is inviting James Moore to speak with students in January before it takes a position on the controversial appointment of the former Conservative MP as the university's next chancellor.
The student society will also organize a student opinion poll to direct its response after the University of Northern B.C.'s Faculty Association came out in opposition of Moore as the symbolic representative for the institution.
"I got the sense there was more uncertainty than confidence in the process... but also in the choice (of Moore as chancellor) that was made as well," said Duncan Malkinson, president of the 11-member student board, to explain NUGSS's choice to delay a decision. "Our board is committed to engaging students on this issue to make the best decision possible."
Moore phoned into the student society's board meeting Thursday afternoon. The discussion afterward involved a mix of opinions.
"Some of the members were pleased to hear from Mr. Moore. I think it was good to actually put a voice to some of the allegations that circled around, some of the uncertainties and I think above all it was really respectful," he said.
"Some of the board members said they weren't sure (Moore) was necessarily the best choice to carry the values they see the student body having in UNBC."
Malkinson said there were about 20 in attendance for the call with Moore, which also included Board of Governors chair Ryan Matheson.
"We had students asking questions about the process, about whether or not his recommendation while he was still a sitting MP was a violation of, I guess, the faith people put in the process and not having those who are in political office fill those roles," said Malkinson, noting Matheson said the appropriate process had been followed.
The students asked very pointed questions, Malkinson said, addressing Moore's record on the environment and more.
"He'd said generally that the past was the past and he's concerned about the future of UNBC. We heard that quite a bit," Malkinson said.
Reached by email, Moore said he hopes to be able to come to campus in January.
"Something will be coordinated through the university that will be convenient with student schedules, my commitments, and also allow me to meet with as many people as I can while I am there," Moore said.
Moore said he enjoyed chatting with the students on Thursday.
"They asked great questions about UNBC, about my efforts as chancellor, about my time in public life and about the university's future. I appreciated the conversation," Moore said.
"I look forward to meeting them again soon, as well as with other members of the UNBC community, as we move forward."
An online petition started last Friday has more than 1,900 people calling on Moore to step away from the appointment, which doesn't take effect until next May. That was also a topic of discussion, Malkinson said.
"Online petitions are what they are but you still can't ignore the fact that many people have voiced their opposition and are maybe saying engage us on this issue. The process I think rightly, according to some, is not as exhaustive as it could be and the chancellor is a key representative of the university."
Malkinson was careful to separate his personal opinion from his role as president to represent the position of the student society, but said he agreed with the recommendation of Moore as chancellor.
"He's a very successful UNBC grad. I don't think his appointment is tacit approval of all that the Conservative party has done over the last 10 years. He's been an opponent of some unpopular Conservative policies and he's been a proponent of very progressive policies in the past too."
On Thursday, the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of B.C. challenged Moore as chancellor, following UNBC faculty association's charge that he is "closely associated with many anti-progressive policies that negatively impact the operations of Canadian universities."
Malkinson said the tension apparent in this issue can't be separated from the ongoing arbitration between faculty and administration - meetings for the binding arbitration started Nov. 17 - or the unveiling of the academic plan.
"It's just so amplified right now," he said.
Even so, Malkinson thinks students are a good example of disagreement done right.
"I vehemently opposed some of the opinions that the other board members had, but after the meeting we were still able to respect each other, to laugh with each other, and I think that's the attitude that really needs to prevail here - an attitude of calm, an attitude of working with everybody, to try and build the university for the north.
"We need to try to be collaborative in a frustrating time."
