Letter to Redeemer University’s Board, Senate, and Student Senate

September 13, 2021

To The Attention of Redeemer University’s Board of Governors, Senate, and Student Senate:

Having reviewed events that have occurred at Redeemer over the span of years, with a particular focus on events that came to a head in the last two years and reached a crisis point starting in April 2021 (outlined in detail here – The Bigger Story), I am submitting the following items for your consideration, asking for immediate action.

I believe that several items have a direct or peripheral influence on the level of suicide risk for students and staff by contributing to intense levels of stress, sudden shock, long-term financial burden, or feelings of isolation and therefore warrant a firmer level of accountability than simply placing a request for change and have noted these items with an associated deadline. Having gained insight into how badly students have been hurt in the past and having spoken with students who were afraid to return to Redeemer this September, I believe it is the right thing to do to lovingly and firmly say, this needs to be dealt with now.

If reasonable constructive action has not been taken and proof of that action made available for review by Redeemer’s broader community by the deadlines noted then I will be reaching out to my Member of Parliament and Member of Provincial Parliament to submit a letter stating that after extensive review I agree with the government’s concerns that the school is not a safe environment for students or staff and request that a more in-depth investigation and a higher level of accountability be provided. I will request that the Parliamentary Library and Legislative Library compile a summary of every time Redeemer University has been mentioned in government or legal documents in connection with concerns regarding discrimination or financial matters and that a copy of this summary be provided to each government body Redeemer must come in contact with in order to apply for or renew items that allow it to function as a university. This will give each government body the opportunity to confirm Redeemer has addressed issues around discrimination and financial trustworthiness before granting the school any approvals or renewals. This kind of accountability system gives Redeemer a great deal of control over its future as it will either be able to demonstrate it has made constructive progress or that it hasn’t and the school’s progress has the opportunity to be re-evaluated with each application or renewal it submits. There are other accountability systems that can be enacted if this one turns out to not be the right fit, but I feel this is the best place to start.

Where I have suggested solutions they may be strongly worded but remain suggestions only rather than required action. I do not wish to confuse my providing deadlines with any kind of requirement that things be done as I have said, particularly as the Interim President has already taken statements I have made out of context and suggested I threatened to close the school if the school would not use my professional services. An expansion on my intent to provide firm accountability and how that differs from a threat is available here. I simply want to see Redeemer and its community thrive and am doing my best to bring concerns about destructive elements hurting that community to your attention so that action can be taken, and whenever I see fit to point out a problem I always do my best to share potential solutions as well. I remain interested and available to connect further and would like to keep the broader Church updated on constructive progress achieved by sharing it on this website, www.firmaccountabilityforredeemeruniversity.ca, if you would be so kind as to share any pertinent web links with me.

Having needed to bring the Church into the conversation to share my concerns because my earlier attempts to work with Redeemer’s leadership in private were unsuccessful, I would love to use this platform to share Redeemer’s triumphs. Along with providing healthy accountability, sharing Redeemer’s constructive forward motion would make it possible for us all to do another thing that is important to do as a community, and that is to celebrate. I am grateful for your time and consideration and submit the following requests to you for your review:

1. The immediate dismissal and replacement of Redeemer’s legal counsel, Sean Jackson, and the firm Ross & McBride LLP. This counsel does not appear to be supporting Redeemer in staying out of unnecessary legal trouble. Redeemer’s leaders appear to be working with counsel that is leading the school deeper into muddied legal waters and with a willingness to take statements out of context in order to threaten people. An unacceptably high number of people are walking away from their interactions with Redeemer’s leaders expressing feelings of having been stonewalled, lied to, or threatened and Redeemer’s legal counsel appears to play a role in this.

Students, alumni, and staff trying to approach the leadership with concerns are being worn down or frightened away when they have information that could help Redeemer improve and grow. People are holding back from speaking up because Redeemer is entering conversations with language suggesting they are preparing for legal action rather than listening as human beings.

Legal action needs to be saved for issues connected to the law and Redeemer’s leadership needs a coach that can walk them through how to work in partnership with concerned parties who approach them. Knowing that very real legal concerns are looming in the form of government bodies and universities discussing Human Rights and vaccine requirements in education settings, new legal counsel is needed now to get the leaders on a more constructive track. It is time to end the practice of using law as a tool of fear within the Redeemer community, and instead, use a legal counsel’s skills to empower and represent the school community well in times of change such as the upcoming discussions about shaping vaccine policies and law.

2. The immediate removal of David Zietsma from the position of Interim President and repositioning elsewhere in the team. David’s phenomenal fundraising and communications skills have been an asset to Redeemer in so many ways and his contribution to the school’s survival in previous hard times should not be downplayed or overlooked in any way. He is a valuable and gifted member of Redeemer’s staff. However, an incredible amount of damage has been done to the relationships and trust of students, alumni, and staff during his time in office as Interim President, largely due to the misapplication of his public relations skill in this particular role. No further damage should be allowed to occur.

It is only after receiving professional development in the realm of de-escalating tense and complex situations with particular focus on how to show up and work in partnership with concerned parties, answering difficult questions with forthrightness and transparency, that he should be reconsidered for this esteemed position. It is more valuable to the school to have a leader who protects trust and connection with its Community than to have one who spars in words with that community to protect the Brand and Image being presented to strangers. Taking good care of people within an organization has a powerful draw for bringing new people in and demonstrates a better understanding of how to care for human resources. Someone else is needed in this position at this time and has a tall order to repair recent damage done.

3. An immediate review of whether Hank de Jong should be removed from the position of Vice President and repositioned elsewhere in the team. Hank has been a key part of the leadership communications team which is responsible for the incredible damage to student, alumni, and staff relations that has occurred in such a short period of time. It should be reviewed if he was an active contributor or following orders and can therefore be constructively redirected under new leadership.

4. An immediate review of whether a conscious campaign has occurred to adjust and remove evidence in online communications (including posts digitally signed by the former President) that alerted alumni to problems at the school, or if the ‘updates’ were being made without awareness of the broader implications and repercussions to alumni trust. It should be reviewed if any communications staff were active contributors to altering evidence or if they were following orders and can therefore be constructively redirected under new leadership.

The school has hinted at and actively threatened legal action against people while changing evidence. The changes being made are having the effect of gaslighting alumni who are saying something is wrong and who are calling for change and no longer have access to proof of what Redeemer said. Rather than simply improve clarity, it appears an internal team is systematically changing web content as concerned individuals bring to the school’s attention what on the website alerted them to the need to speak up which is unacceptable. We need a Communications team and strategy that embraces the wisdom of “failing forward”. Correct spelling where needed or adjust a sentence to improve clarity, but if an adjustment would change the message then one needs to recognize the mistakes made and either change it with a clear notice of correction/update or fail forward and create a new communication, not just alter the old one. If a person’s digital signature is included then that person’s permission needs to be obtained before changing their message on their behalf.

5. The immediate review of criteria being used to hire the new President and review of what the new Interim President will need to accomplish in the meantime. Ideally, an opportunity and clear invitation will be provided for the broader alumni, student body, and membership to share what they believe needs to be considered. The current alumni communication and governance system is not working properly and trust is broken that the desires of members are actually making it through to the Board of Governors and Senate in order for them to represent Redeemer’s members accordingly which has an impact on Presidential hiring.

Anyone holding the office of President, whether as a permanent position or as an interim, must be someone who is equipped to lean into difficult conversations, demonstrating the ability to be Present, A Fellow Human Being, and Listening, working with concerned parties to problem-solve with the end achievements of healing and growth. We need a President equipped to lay down shields and spears to help Redeemer recover from the damage done to student, staff, and alumni relationships over the past years and particularly over the last several months. This is a priority task which the new Interim President will need to take on in the meantime.

A culture has taken root where you can be on the inside and still be on the outside. Redeemer has been struggling for quite some time with being able to clearly understand the difference between belief and bigotry and making Redeemer a safe space where everyone can reason through their beliefs together. For all the exploration of faith that is encouraged and facilitated, the school is still not a safe place to talk about being a nonvirgin, being unmarried and pregnant, or being non-binary (ie. LGBTQ2A+). Bigotry is present every time the conversation is shut down because it is uncomfortable. Bigotry is present every time misinformation is spread and left unquestioned or because questions aren’t allowed. Discrimination is present every time vulnerable people are hurt and the person who hurt them knows that gossip, abuse, and harassment are wrong, but thought it was okay this time because of who they were hurting. Redeemer needs a President who is prepared to tackle addressing discrimination and bigotry in Redeemer’s culture. I have expanded further on these web pages: Do You Struggle With Bigotry and Bigotry, Christianity, and Redeemer University.

Because problems with lack of understanding and clear policies regarding prevention of discrimination and bigotry remain an ongoing issue for Redeemer, it should also be reconfirmed that the search committee is considering all appropriate candidates for the position of President and not discriminating in that process. Discrimination is a double-edged sword that hurts some and benefits others. The right person for the job should absolutely be the person who is hired, the school simply has a history of placing middle-aged, straight, white, Dutch, men in this position. And while the school should not feel pressured to hire a less ideal candidate in order to present an informed Image, it should be confirmed that being middle-aged (ageism), straight (sexual orientation discrimination), white (biological racism), Dutch (cultural racism) or male (sexism) are not discriminatory criteria being used as filters for reviewing candidates at all. [Note: The Christian Reformed Church’s stance is that “Same-sex oriented Christians, like all Christians, are called to discipleship, holy obedience, and the use of their gifts in the cause of the kingdom. Opportunities to serve within the offices and the life of the congregation should be afforded to same-sex oriented Christians as well as to heterosexual Christians.” You can read more here.)

On the list of challenges the President can expect to undertake, I also request a review of Redeemer’s decision to sign on to an academic freedom document with other universities that may have questionable outcomes when Redeemer is not like other universities in a very fundamental way. This decision raised concerns within the staff body and seems reflective of the era that has developed under the current legal counsel. I am requesting that the new President open the document for review by students, staff, alumni, and members to receive feedback as to whether the Redeemer community feels it would be more supportive of Redeemer’s mission and vision to stand apart and choose to be removed as a signatory.

6. The release of a public web link to documents outlining Redeemer’s Respectful Campus Initiative that proves it exists and is functional and addresses the combination of both common and unique expressions of gender inequality, racism, discrimination, and bigotry within the school’s culture, including confirmation that the on-campus mental health support group for LGBTQ2A+ students will be allowed to openly inform students of its existence from this point onwards. (Deadline: October 29, 2021).

Could you please include a summary of what the initiative entails, who is overseeing its execution, what resources have been devoted to it, and what it intends to achieve this academic year? A summary at the end of each academic year summing up what was actually achieved would also be appreciated as well as clarification as to whether this will be an ongoing initiative or if it is a bridging initiative that will come to a close when Redeemer’s policies have been updated to make the heart of the initiative an ongoing part of Redeemer’s operations and culture. Could you also please make clear how the initiative is supporting both staff and students. There are many staff who are equipped to make Redeemer a safer place for students if it were also made clear that the staff are safe. Staff feeling unsafe (for example, fearing losing their tenure-track job if they speak up about problems) means they aren’t able to in turn provide openly safe space for the students. Both staff and students need support through this initiative to create constructive forward momentum.

Note: Amnesty International has an excellent resource here that explores what discrimination is, why it happens, and how to stop it. Doctors Without Borders has been openly sharing its journey in reviewing, recovering from, and overcoming the unintentional culture of discrimination it had developed and could be an excellent resource to contact for inspiration and guidance on navigating such a process. Redeemer also has internal resources it can look to such as the Education Department who teach their students about how to create safe and inclusive classrooms, the Psychology Department who can discuss gender studies and mental health, and the Political & International Studies Department who can help explore how our understanding of gender influences governance and law-making and how this differs around the world.

As part of efforts to understand how the current culture at the school developed in the first place and where it is headed if there is no intervention, it would be worth pausing to explore why Redeemer is pushing with so much effort to further its immersion in being “Christian Reformed”, particularly when it is not even a member of the denomination. Between a 2025 Strategic Plan that emphasizes that its primary goal is to become more Christian Reformed and with a $50,000 monument to Christian Reformism having been commissioned, it is worth asking who is pushing for the school to emphasize so strongly “we follow Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin”? These two men lived and died in the 1500s. What are the outcomes resulting from aligning so strongly with these imperfect humans? Recognizing their interpretations of the bible, Christianity, and Christ or even using their thoughts as guiding posts for one’s faith is one thing, but Redeemer appears to have reached idolatrous levels of focus on Christian Reformism. A monument is being erected in a central location of the campus! Would you please consider pausing and reflecting on what is happening and if this is the path to continue down?

Note: The 2025 Strategic Plan emphasizes strengthening the CORE program. Would you please consider making Human Sexuality and Gender Studies a CORE class? Sexual health throughout the entirety of life including maternal and infant care is not adequately covered in the public school curriculum and many Christian youth grow up with parents and churches afraid to even say the word ‘sex’, yet being a sexual being is a universal experience that all Christians are trying to navigate. Discussing the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects as well as the ability to discuss gender and have time and space to discuss and unpack our understanding of life as sexual beings would be an incredibly valuable CORE class to offer. Learning practical health in the context of understanding that you are Fearfully and Wonderfully made could be very supportive of and cohesive with the Respectful Campus Initiative.

7. The release of a public web link to documents confirming Redeemer has retired the archaic practice of having a Lifestyle Contract and transitioned to providing Lifestyle Supports that equally value biblical living and better equip students to make biblical choices without reserving the right as an institution to punish people who choose differently or make mistakes. Redeemer being denied government funding and fighting in court for its Charter Rights instead of questioning the practice of Lifestyle Contracts and what other options exist was a missed opportunity. Transitioning to Lifestyle Supports has the opportunity to go hand-in-hand with the Respectful Campus Initiative. I have expanded further on this concept here – Do You Struggle With Bigotry? (Deadline: December 31, 2021).

8. The release of a public web link to documents outlining Redeemer’s policies and procedures for phasing out programs and staff to ensure a responsible and respectful process is followed and that we never repeat what has happened with the Theatre and French programs ever again. (Deadline: December 31, 2021)

The manner in which the Theatre and French programs were dropped and the fact that Redeemer has confirmed in writing that it is in a strong financial position as an institution (it is far from bleeding out and needing to amputate programs to save itself) is a LOUD call to Redeemer’s leadership to create a clear written outline of how all future program closures will be handled with excellence, creating a path for phasing programs out rather than dropping them. Communicating the intended closure of a program to staff and alumni for one year leading up to an official program phase-out announcement to allow for intervention to be considered followed by a four-year phase-out process would be a good place to start.

9. The release of a public web link to a written confirmation of the relaunch of sustainable Theatre and French studies at Redeemer for January 2022, including a formal apology to the staff and students who were impacted when the programs were unceremoniously dropped. First invitation for employment reasonably needs to be offered to the staff who were released and an opportunity for healing provided as part of their re-entry to the team, shaped by those staff in partnership with the school so that it reflects each person’s unique needs for healthy reintegration should they choose to return. (Deadline December 31, 2021)

Recognizing that the way in which the Theatre and French programs were dropped was wrong does not mean we should simply be wiser next time around. Particularly because Theatre and French play critical roles in helping Redeemer become a self-sustaining business as I have explained on this website. There is a small window of opportunity in which to apply the lessons learned and turn this massive failure into a valuable growth experience worth navigating to experience the benefits on the other side.

The reality is that so much damage has been done to staff and student relations at this point that the staff may have zero interest in returning to their positions and students may have made alternate plans they can’t undo. Rather than see this as a reason why Redeemer should not bother, this opportunity should be seen as a chance to act with Integrity, rebuild Trust, and demonstrate Good Business Practices since Business studies have become such a strong focus at the school. Demonstrating it is a financially trustworthy institution is an investment in the future as students can trust that they will be able to complete their studies as planned without worry that their studies could be terminated suddenly like the Theatre and French debacle of 2021.

Note: Would you please consider strengthening the CORE program by making the following courses requirements for graduation:

• Human Sexuality and Gender Studies: Help students explore and understand the physical, mental, social, spiritual, and financial outcomes of existing as a sexual being who must make ongoing choices about how to care for oneself and others. What is gender from a biological and cultural view? How does your sexual health change over time as an adult and senior or through pregnancy? How can you protect your physical and mental health as they connect to your choices about sex? How does pregnancy impact working women? How does having and raising children impact one’s concept of having a career? There is so much that can be discussed under this banner that would help set students up for long-term success!

• Theatre Performance and Presentation Skills: Graduates who excel in engaging with their audience and engaging with a narrative, whether their own or someone else’s, are consistently the people who excel in their fields. Redeemer’s reputation benefits from putting out graduates who are consistently in demand and acknowledged as Excellent at what they do. Learn more here.

• French Studies: Requiring all students graduate with their CBC/CBC government language levels to qualify for management positions rather than worker bee positions (Redeemer can become a government language assessment centre) not only dramatically increases their success but also does incredible things for Redeemer’s reputation as students can more consistently move into respected positions right out of the gate having been scooped up for being officially recognized as bilingual. Learn more here. Redeemer has a number of students who attend from the United States and may wish to offer Spanish studies to equip these students to demonstrate excellence in the USA.

• Accounting: So many people have no idea how to manage their finances so even if they get a great paying job they can still end up suffering from the outcomes of burdensome debt. Teach all students how to put their hard-earned incomes to good use. This is another opportunity for people to see that Redeemer graduates are successful on many levels!

10. The release of a public web link to documents updating the Strategic Plan for 2025 to include a conscious and intentional move towards Redeemer becoming a self-sustaining institution, able to earn the income necessary to stay open and therefore using donations to further its mission and reach goals faster rather than pay off debt resulting from business mismanagement. Redeemer values Learning Forward and this is a great opportunity to do it. The Strategic Plan would ideally include how alumni will be actively included in the ongoing process of helping Redeemer identify where its current resources have valuable earning potential. (Deadline December 31, 2021)

Alumni have a wealth of knowledge and experience having taken their Redeemer education around the world. We need a communications system that makes it possible for alumni to regularly inform the school of valuable income opportunities for consideration.

11. The release of a public web link to documents outlining a new and improved communications strategy. (Deadline December 31, 2021)

Much needed changes to consider include providing greater transparency, inviting more interaction, improving the governance communication system, clarifying the ongoing financial status, and confirming that robo-dialers will never be used again. As part of the improved communications, a simple summary of how the governance system works (ex. What is the structure of the Senate?) needs to be provided improving clarity about how to become a member with voting privileges and maintain that membership (the governance manual available online is rather convoluted). An email address for the Senate should also be available. No online searches at this time are turning up any signs of the Board email on Redeemer’s website and it was available before. If someone made the conscious decision to remove contact information that would allow concerned members to communicate with their elected representatives that is deeply concerning and should be reviewed and addressed right away. It should also be confirmed that students have clear and easy-to-find access to their representatives’ contact information.

I offer my sincere and deepest thanks for your time and consideration. I have provided you with my personal contact information in the email I sent informing you of the presence of this website. I look forward to any opportunity to work together empowering Redeemer and its community to thrive.

Wishing you all the best,

Lindsay Walton (Alumna, 2003)

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HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR CONCERNS

Having read what I’ve shared on this website, what do you want Redeemer to hear from you?

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If you have noted any part of the website is confusing, a link is not working correctly, or you are aware of a correction that should be considered please let me know at contact@firmaccountabilityforredeemeruniversity.ca.