UPEI board chairman resigns over toxic culture report, says new leadership needed
CHARLOTTETOWN – The chairman of the board of governors of the University of Prince Edward Island has resigned following a report describing a toxic culture of harassment and racism at the school.
A June 21 letter from Pat Sinnott said he was leaving with immediate effect because new leadership was needed to address the university’s problems.
The 112-page report released last week says the school has failed to address allegations of sexual and gender-based violence, with some cases of harassment continuing for years despite persistent complaints.
The university commissioned Toronto-based law firm Rubin Thomlinson to investigate allegations of workplace misconduct against former President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, who stepped down in December 2021.
The island’s only university receives $50 million annually in operational funding from the provincial government.
In light of the report, Prime Minister Dennis King has said this could change.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 22, 2023.
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This story was produced with the financial support of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
