Education minister vetoed two MUN presidential candidates

Newfoundland and Labrador's education minister said Tuesday that she, not Premier Danny Williams, was involved in the selection of a new president at Memorial University of Newfoundland — and she vetoed two candidates who were up for the job.

Joan Burke said she personally interviewed two candidates for the top job at Memorial University, but she didn't think they were up to the task, and rejected them.

"I was advised that some people were shortlisted, and as the minister of education, I interviewed those people. And following the interviews, I advised the selection committee that I felt that they should continue to search and bring forward some more names."

On the weekend, the Globe and Mail said Williams vetoed a candidate chosen by the 18-member search committee.

Normally, the committee selects the best candidate for the job and sends the name to the university's board of regents which then sends the name to the provincial cabinet for final approval.

Burke told reporters she wants to do things differently and bring a list of names to the table, so cabinet can make the final decision.

Ross Klein, the president-elect of Memorial's faculty association which represents the university's professors, is worried the government's involvement will damage MUN's reputation in the academic community.

"The impact is more what the effect on our reputation is in terms of the ability to attract new faculty and, in a sense, to renew the faculty we have," he said.

Klein also said other candidates could be deterred from wanting the job.

Memorial University has been without a president since Dec. 31, 2007, when Axel Meisen left the post eight months earlier than expected to join the Alberta Research Council. Eddy Campbell has been serving as president since Jan. 1, 2008.