- Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, launched a whistleblower hotline earlier this year
- Violations of university policies or regulations as well as financial or academic misconduct can be reported via the hotline, which is open to all employees and students
- Mark Mercer, a professor of philosophy at the university, said he was concerned about the cost and impact of getting people to snitch on each other instead of talking
A Canadian university professor has expressed dismay at the creation of a “whistleblower hotline” at his financially struggling college – and paid a major accounting firm to do it.
Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, launched the anonymous phone number earlier this year to encourage any staff and students with concerns about policy violations, research issues or behavioral issues to report them.
But Mark Mercer, a professor of philosophy at the university, said he was troubled by the idea that issues could be escalated rather than discussed in person.
He also criticized the university for going all out on the initiative, while telling staff they had to reduce spending due to financial problems.
He told the website True North he was concerned about the impact “on the culture of the institution” and warned that people could define “unacceptable behavior” as anything they don't like.
“I think the effect of the university’s funding is that it gives the impression that we are not a collegial place,” he told the website.
Professor Mark Mercer, who teaches philosophy at Saint Mary's University in Nova Scotia, said he was concerned about the impact of the hotline
The hotline is managed by accounting firm Grant Thornton
“We are not a place where people, when they have different opinions, either discuss each other critically or ignore each other.”
“We are now turning to an authority to clarify these issues.”
Mercer said the hotline is part of the broader initiative to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
“One of the goals is something like comfort on campus for people from historically marginalized groups,” he said.
“And the means is to involve the authorities and impose sanctions to scare people into saying or doing things that are considered productive to unpleasant by those in power.”
Saint Mary's University defended its introduction of the whistleblower hotline
The university defended the introduction of the hotline – but did not address the costs.
The university told True North that the hotline “provides a mechanism for university members to disclose concerns confidentially and/or anonymously.”
The hotline will be available to everyone, it said.
“The Safe Disclosure Policy applies to all Saint Mary’s employees, students, volunteers, contractors and suppliers and works in conjunction with our other codes of conduct and policies, such as: B. the Research Guidelines, the Student Code of Conduct, the Sexual Violence Policy and Harassment Policy and others.'