Kin-Yip Chun

Kin-Yip Chun is a Canadian geophysicist at the University of Toronto's Department of Physics. He gained attention when he sued his university for alleged racial discrimination.

Academic career

Chun received a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in Geophysics at Columbia University and a Ph.D. at Berkeley. He joined the University of Toronto as a research associate in 1985. His research was in seismology.[1]

Chun was allegedly promised a tenure-track position with the department when he accepted. His duties matched or exceeded the senior professors of the department. Chun brought in $1.4 million in research grants, had 26 research publications in international journals, represented Canada at a United Nations conference, supervising graduate students, and teaching classes.

As a research associate, he was not on the university's payroll. He depended upon research grants to fund his work and cover his living expenses as well. Chun remained a research associate for ten years, while being passed over for tenure four times. One time, when he applied, the other candidates were given a month to prepare for the presentation, while he was only given a few days. In another instance, Chris Chapman was selected over him but only stayed for a short time before leaving for the private sector, while the position was eliminated after his departure, leading to allegations that Chapman was given the job in order to preempt Chun from getting it. Up to 1992, as Full Member of the Graduate Faculty, Chun held the responsibilities of a professor, as he supervised graduate students and taught lectures, but not the pay and benefits that accompany such a position.

In 1994, Chun complained to the Dean of Arts & Sciences, stating that he would commit suicide if the search process continued to be unfair, and his suicide threat would later be frequently used against him although Dr Chun maintained that his statement was clear hyperbole.

The Dr. Chun Case

Chun's dismissal soon drew nationwide media attention to his plight. He was supported by many student groups and the Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton. In June 1995, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) sent two members of the Academic Freedom and Tenure (AF&T) Committee to the University of Toronto to investigate, and their report suggested a pattern of systematic discrimination. The AF&T also made several recommendations, including allowing Chun to return to the university with a salary and job security, and holding a fair competition for a tenured position in the faculty. The Ontario Human Rights Commission backed Chun's complaint, stating that racism was a factor in stopping him from obtaining a full-time position, describing the Physics Department as a "poisoned work environment", "cronyism", "the dynamic of an 'old boys' network" operating in all four job competitions, and "a series of reprisals culminating in his dismissal".

The University however refused to acknowledge the AF&T report and its recommendations, and tried to have the OHRC dismiss the case. The case dragged on for years. Back in 1994, the University's own appointed investigator for the case, Dr. Cecil Yip, stated that Dr. Chun "acted and has been treated like a professoriate in spite of the fact he has derived his salary support entirely from his own external research contracts. And he has served the Department and the University well in this capacity." Further, "it is certainly justified for Dr. Chun to feel ... he is being penalized for good performance", and concluded, "In my judgment Dr. Chun has been exploited by the Department." Overall, the Yip Report concluded that Chun had been exploited, though it found no evidence that he had been a victim of racism.[2]

In 1998, Chun launched a $1-million lawsuit against the University for unjust dismissal.

Settlement and Aftermath

By the time the controversy had ended, President Robert Prichard had departed and he had been succeeded by Robert Birgeneau. A mediated settlement was reached in 2000 and Chun dropped his appeal against the Ontario Human Rights Commission, as well as his $1-million lawsuit against the University. In return, Chun received a full-time faculty position of Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor, $100,000 in compensation, an estimated $150,000 in legal fees and a $260,000 research start-up fund.

A column by Margaret Wente of The Globe and Mail which attacked the settlement received severe criticism from many students and faculty.[3][4]

The Arts & Science Students' Union (ASSU), which represents more than 22,000 full-time undergraduate students at the University of Toronto described the incident as the "Dr. Chun miscarriage of justice" when bringing up the controversies of Prichard's administration, on the back of their 2001 Arts and Sciences Anti-Calendar.

In 2003, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) established a committee to study Dr. Chun's case. They concluded there were "serious irregularities" in the hiring process in each case and that Dr. Chun was treated unfairly. They discovered when he had made allegations of systemic discrimination, he was subject to various forms of harassment and unfair treatment, such as being prevented from attending departmental meetings, denied a faculty library card, frustrated from pursuing his research, and prohibited from teaching courses. The inquiry described this as a serious violation of academic freedom.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2001-11-23. Retrieved 2001-11-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2001-11-23. Retrieved 2001-11-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. http://www.safs.ca/issuescases/uta.html
  4. http://www.safs.ca/issuescases/wente.html
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