Local historian gives behind-the-scenes look at writing history of UNBC
UNBC professor Jonathan Swainger found himself in an unusual position as a historian when he began writing a history of his own university.
He was both a participant in the establishment of UNBC, and the documentarian tasked with recording how it was done.
In the end, Swainger decided to have a researcher interview him early in the process, so as to avoid changing his account after hearing others describe their roles in the founding.
“We wanted to get that out of the way, so my interview wouldn’t be skewed by what I then subsequently did,” Swainger said.
The behind-the-scenes work of documenting this recent history is the subject of Swainger’s upcoming lecture at UNBC. Swainger’s book, Aspiration: A History of the University of British Columbia to 2015, was published in 2016 and won the 2017 Jeanne Clarke Award for Publication, an award that recognizes works documenting local history.
The establishment of UNBC in the early 1990’s took place after a lengthy grassroots campaign.
The university has since become a symbol of pride for northern B.C.
The institution allows young people to pursue research and studies in the region, and has helped stem the tide of youth out-migration from northern B.C.
One challenge of recording this story, according to Swainger, was the rose-coloured glasses with which people tended to view the process years later.
“I made the mistake, when I was talking to one of the community founders, I said ‘it seemed to have happened oh so quickly,’ And then he tells me about eight years in the trench, there was nothing quick about it. It was an absolute battle. It was a dogfight!” Swainger said.
Swainger believes that remembering the struggle that many endured to establish UNBC is important for those looking to maintain a strong university in the north today.
“It’s easy to think, my gosh, that place has been up there on the hill for 25 years. It’s as solid as a rock. But, in point of fact, if the community wants the university to be a vibrant and integral part of their lives, the community has got to help fight the fight too,” Swainger said.
“I could not tell you the university will be here in 25 years.”
Government funding for UNBC, like other post-secondary institutions in B.C., has remained flat in recent years as costs have increased.
Between 2010 and 2016, provincial block grant funding for the university grew by less than 0.5 per cent.
Swainger’s lecture, entitled ‘We were just so proud: recalling the birth of a university in documents and oral history” will take place on Jan. 30 at 4:30 p.m. at UNBC’s Canfor Theatre.