The once vocal search committee for a new dean of law is now silent over accusations that University of Saskatchewan president Peter MacKinnon overlooked their recommendation for the new dean.

Accusations published in the StarPhoenix in recent weeks indicate that the search committee — which is made up of volunteers from the university and community — suggested appropriate candidates for the job, but MacKinnon’s choice, University of Alberta law professor Dr. Sanjeev Anand, was vetted.

Anand previously worked at the U of S, according to the StarPhoenix.

Jim Germida, the chair of the search committee, was unwilling to comment to media on the specific accusations, stating that whatever the university president and his vice-president Brett Fairbarn have said must be taken as correct.

At university council Jan. 27, MacKinnon acknowledged the accusations but mostly highlighted the demolished relationship between faculty and administration.

He said that the first time he was informed of the accusation that he had ignored the search committee’s suggestions was in the StarPhoenix.

“I was under the mistaken belief that if members of the faculty association executive felt [negative towards our hiring practices], they would have communicated such to me before such a, quote, ”˜scathing public message,’ ” said MacKinnon.

“The charge that elite university administrators are making all the decisions is utterly without substance,” he added, pointing to “Section 49 of the University of Saskatchewan Act [which] makes it clear that deans are appointed by the Board of Governors.”

Brett Fairbarn, university provost and vice-president academic, stated to council that “we really should not be relying on the StarPhoenix as a source.”

He accused the newspaper of misquoting but would not clarify the inaccuracies to StarPhoenix reporter Jeremy Warren because, he said, he could not comment on this specific case.

MacKinnon said that of the 15 appointments in the last five years he is familiar with, 14 saw an offer made to the candidate the search committee preferred. It is only when the search committee cannot come to consensus over candidates that the Board of Governors makes a decision on its own.

“This was a case where there was not a consensus,” said Fairbarn after the meeting.

Germida would not confirm whether or not the committee had come to a consensus.

– –
image: Pete Yee