DEPARTURES RAISE QUESTIONS

I am writing to express my deep concern with the recent dismissal of Chris Huggan as the director of athletics and recreation at UPEI in September. With reference to the two letters sent by Len Lang and Brad McKnight regarding the same subject matter, as a father of two and a big soccer fan, I am equally frustrated to see how Mr. Huggan was reportedly treated by the university in his dismissal with the contributions he has made over the years in his position. Something was missing in this important process.

The recent departures of the university’s director of athletics, the manager of development in athletics and the co-ordinator of promotions and community engagement have communicated a pretty bad message to the community.

Were the decisions representing a shift of focus that athletics and sports developments are no longer holding the same importance as before? Or, the dismissals were simply some office politics that cannot be fully unfolded to the public?

Whatever the true reasons are, it seems now both UPEI and their young athletes are the losers of the whole saga.

I can see UPEI recruiting more international students these years and in an interview with CBC last year, president Alaa Abd-El-Aziz even claimed that adding a medical school for P.E.I. is in the cards. I truly hope the president can have a good balance in his strategic plan to make UPEI a better place for all students! Michael Lok, Charlottetown