To the Members of the Board of Governors of Mount Royal University:
Chairman Bryan Pinney; President David Docherty; Messrs. Jim Campbell, Daryl Fridhandler, Paul Kundan, and Rusty Martel; Drs. David Clemis and Alykhan Nanji; Mses. Shifrah Gadamsetti, Eleanor Chiu, and Jennifer Pierce:
We, the students, alumni, parents, donors, and supporters of the Mount Royal University Conservatory, have recently been informed of the termination of Mr. John Kadz and the abolishment of Mr. Bill van der Sloot’s position as Manager of the Academy Program for Gifted Youth, Advanced Performance Program, and Choral Programs. These terminations came without warning and without cause. They are the continuation of a long streak of departures at the Conservatory coinciding with the Conservatory’s struggles with the senior administration - a streak that has included the losses of Paul Dornian, Director; Sheldon Nadler, Manager of Orchestral and Other Programs; Ab O’Neil, Manager of Theatres and Support Services; and now Messrs. van der Sloot and Kadz. These most recent terminations leave zero full-time staff in management positions at the Conservatory and mark the loss of its most senior faculty. As students, alumni, families, donors, friends, and taxpayers, we are shocked, outraged, and perplexed by this decision, and we refuse to accept the systematic demolition of our Conservatory, its programs, and the benefit it brings to the entire Mount Royal community.
The Conservatory is internationally recognized as an elite institution; you don’t need to look far to find a staggering list of alumni, which includes the names Yuja Wang, Nikki Chooi, and Jan Lisiecki, among many others. It has put Calgary on the map as a leader in the arts due to its outstanding programs, management, and faculty, and it has done so while both being supported by and contributing immensely to the Mount Royal community. The Conservatory does not only attract superb students from across the globe - it has been cultivating excellence in Calgary’s, and Alberta’s young people for decades, and has established itself as a flagship for educational greatness in our city and country.
It is the responsibility of Mount Royal, as a public institution, to contribute meaningfully to the society which funds it. Understanding this, previous administrations have had the wisdom and foresight to invest in the Conservatory, aware that it attracts students to other programs, inspires leadership across the student body, and elevates the entire school. It is our belief that the legacy of the current administration will be one of destruction, dismantling a world-class institution to the detriment of all current and future students at Mount Royal.
Messrs. Kadz and van der Sloot are two of the most outstanding employees the University has ever had. Both have contributed enormously to their field at Mount Royal and far beyond; their termination is bewildering, and the loss will be immeasurable. The irresponsibility of this decision calls into hard question the competence of Mount Royal’s administration and points to leadership that appears strikingly short-sighted, feckless, and inept. Is this truly the way to encourage the pursuit of excellence in the young people who walk through your doors?
Mount Royal is publicly mandated to “serve(s) its communities by providing… through its internationally recognized conservatory, music instruction particularly for younger people” and to “support(s) scholarly activity that contributes to instructional excellence and to the cultural, social and economic well-being of the community locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.” The Conservatory is a pillar of excellence at Mount Royal, with a cultural impact and legacy that is exceptional in strength and scope. To fail to preserve this is to fail the mandates set by this University, the communities it serves, and multiple generations of young people.
It is the responsibility of the governing board to protect future students from the terrible decisions of a few people. We ask that you hold these people accountable and that you protect our Conservatory, our outstanding faculty and staff, our incredible programs, and the excellence it inspires in our school and community.
This petition calls for the reinstatement of Messrs. John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot, and any additional remedial actions to be determined by the governing board to protect the future of the Conservatory and the future of Mount Royal University.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
September 6, 2016
September 4, 2016
The momentum is undeniable. This level of support proves how much this community values our legacy.
Reached 100 supporters
September 3, 2016
408 Comments
I add my shock and deep concern to this long and eloquent list of comments. Yes, the world is watching indeed, and the repercussions of this will be felt for generations to come. How shortsighted. Prof. Laurie-Jeanne Lister MiraCosta College San Diego, CA
Aside from the fact that this was a crazy move which will ruin MRU, it was done two weeks before term starts. Pretty deceptive to students already enrolled! A huge loss for MRU and for Calgary. They fired (or didn't renew contracts) for the wrong people!
As a Calgarian and Conservatory alumnus, I have long valued the important role the Conservatory plays in this city and the nation. There is no other institution to fill this role in the city. It has earned and deserves continued support. a
One of the absurdities of academics is administrations do not always recognize that the core value of the institute lies in the faculty. Certainly, if for "economic reasons", this decision makes no sense. These are the names students come for.
Music programs teach and reinforce thinking, collaboration, cooperation, planning, and leadership skills, all of which seem to be sorely lacking in this appalling and short-sighted decision. It's clear that they are desperately needed among MRU's administration.
Reputations take years to build and a moment to destroy. MRU conservatory recent firings bring to mind the U of C marketing campaign when it advertised that you only needed a D average (60%) for admission.
We are very sad to hear of the changes at MRU and hope that this decision will be changed to keep this well-known and respected program in Canada.
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To the Members of the Board of Governors of Mount Royal University:
Chairman Bryan Pinney; President David Docherty; Messrs. Jim Campbell, Daryl Fridhandler, Paul Kundan, and Rusty Martel; Drs. David Clemis and Alykhan Nanji; Mses. Shifrah Gadamsetti, Eleanor Chiu, and Jennifer Pierce:
We, the students, alumni, parents, donors, and supporters of the Mount Royal University Conservatory, have recently been informed of the termination of Mr. John Kadz and the abolishment of Mr. Bill van der Sloot’s position as Manager of the Academy Program for Gifted Youth, Advanced Performance Program, and Choral Programs. These terminations came without warning and without cause. They are the continuation of a long streak of departures at the Conservatory coinciding with the Conservatory’s struggles with the senior administration - a streak that has included the losses of Paul Dornian, Director; Sheldon Nadler, Manager of Orchestral and Other Programs; Ab O’Neil, Manager of Theatres and Support Services; and now Messrs. van der Sloot and Kadz. These most recent terminations leave zero full-time staff in management positions at the Conservatory and mark the loss of its most senior faculty. As students, alumni, families, donors, friends, and taxpayers, we are shocked, outraged, and perplexed by this decision, and we refuse to accept the systematic demolition of our Conservatory, its programs, and the benefit it brings to the entire Mount Royal community.
The Conservatory is internationally recognized as an elite institution; you don’t need to look far to find a staggering list of alumni, which includes the names Yuja Wang, Nikki Chooi, and Jan Lisiecki, among many others. It has put Calgary on the map as a leader in the arts due to its outstanding programs, management, and faculty, and it has done so while both being supported by and contributing immensely to the Mount Royal community. The Conservatory does not only attract superb students from across the globe - it has been cultivating excellence in Calgary’s, and Alberta’s young people for decades, and has established itself as a flagship for educational greatness in our city and country.
It is the responsibility of Mount Royal, as a public institution, to contribute meaningfully to the society which funds it. Understanding this, previous administrations have had the wisdom and foresight to invest in the Conservatory, aware that it attracts students to other programs, inspires leadership across the student body, and elevates the entire school. It is our belief that the legacy of the current administration will be one of destruction, dismantling a world-class institution to the detriment of all current and future students at Mount Royal.
Messrs. Kadz and van der Sloot are two of the most outstanding employees the University has ever had. Both have contributed enormously to their field at Mount Royal and far beyond; their termination is bewildering, and the loss will be immeasurable. The irresponsibility of this decision calls into hard question the competence of Mount Royal’s administration and points to leadership that appears strikingly short-sighted, feckless, and inept. Is this truly the way to encourage the pursuit of excellence in the young people who walk through your doors?
Mount Royal is publicly mandated to “serve(s) its communities by providing… through its internationally recognized conservatory, music instruction particularly for younger people” and to “support(s) scholarly activity that contributes to instructional excellence and to the cultural, social and economic well-being of the community locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.” The Conservatory is a pillar of excellence at Mount Royal, with a cultural impact and legacy that is exceptional in strength and scope. To fail to preserve this is to fail the mandates set by this University, the communities it serves, and multiple generations of young people.
It is the responsibility of the governing board to protect future students from the terrible decisions of a few people. We ask that you hold these people accountable and that you protect our Conservatory, our outstanding faculty and staff, our incredible programs, and the excellence it inspires in our school and community.
This petition calls for the reinstatement of Messrs. John Kadz and Bill van der Sloot, and any additional remedial actions to be determined by the governing board to protect the future of the Conservatory and the future of Mount Royal University.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
September 6, 2016
September 4, 2016
The momentum is undeniable. This level of support proves how much this community values our legacy.
Reached 100 supporters
September 3, 2016
408 Comments
Bil van der Sloot and John Kadz are absolute leaders in their field. They are recognized and sought after nationally and internationally and are 'rock stars' in the music education world. Hard to understand what the decision makers think they are accomplishing.
I add my shock and deep concern to this long and eloquent list of comments. Yes, the world is watching indeed, and the repercussions of this will be felt for generations to come. How shortsighted. Prof. Laurie-Jeanne Lister MiraCosta College San Diego, CA
Aside from the fact that this was a crazy move which will ruin MRU, it was done two weeks before term starts. Pretty deceptive to students already enrolled! A huge loss for MRU and for Calgary. They fired (or didn't renew contracts) for the wrong people!
As a Calgarian and Conservatory alumnus, I have long valued the important role the Conservatory plays in this city and the nation. There is no other institution to fill this role in the city. It has earned and deserves continued support. a
One of the absurdities of academics is administrations do not always recognize that the core value of the institute lies in the faculty. Certainly, if for "economic reasons", this decision makes no sense. These are the names students come for.
Music programs teach and reinforce thinking, collaboration, cooperation, planning, and leadership skills, all of which seem to be sorely lacking in this appalling and short-sighted decision. It's clear that they are desperately needed among MRU's administration.
Reputations take years to build and a moment to destroy. MRU conservatory recent firings bring to mind the U of C marketing campaign when it advertised that you only needed a D average (60%) for admission.
We are very sad to hear of the changes at MRU and hope that this decision will be changed to keep this well-known and respected program in Canada.
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Bil van der Sloot and John Kadz are absolute leaders in their field. They are recognized and sought after nationally and internationally and are 'rock stars' in the music education world. Hard to understand what the decision makers think they are accomplishing.