What in the world does Camosun College mean when a college spokesperson is quoted in the July 10 issue of Nexus, talking about the recent incident with a Camosun instructor allegedly taking pictures of students in swimsuits, saying, “The investigation was completed, but, as it’s a personnel matter, we’re not disclosing any details”?
Who is Camosun College protecting? Why is it a “personnel” matter to the college, when the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) released its report disclosing details about the incident, which took place on a college field trip to the Philippines in 2016? What about the students? The parents of the students? All the other Camosun students, and their parents? The community? Don’t they deserve to know more?
If we are to believe the college that this is simply a “personnel matter” between the instructor and students involved, a disservice has been made to the rest of the college community and to the public at large.
The aforementioned Nexus article details the BCCNP report, which is the result of the investigation into complaints by Nursing students toward former Nursing instructor and department chair Stephen Bishop. There are complaints in the BCCNP report that Bishop took “several hundred” photos of Nursing students in bathing suits and made comments that were “inappropriately personal in nature” to these Nursing students while in the Philippines.
So the BCCNP will give details; why is the college tight-lipped about this matter? Why the secrecy? Why not make a statement and release details of the college’s investigation? Come on, Camosun: take a stand on this outrageous affair. Be clear on the steps that will be taken in the future so this doesn’t happen again. Since the investigation was concluded, it would be realistic to state the college’s findings. (Nexus is waiting on the results of a Freedom of Information request sent to the college to provide all information regarding the situation.)
This is not to say that issuing of details of an investigation in its early days is necessary, as it could do more harm than good. It would be prudent to be sure that no one can argue beyond any reasonable doubt any statement before its time. However, the vagueness of “it’s a personnel matter” leaves students wondering what the college is hiding. The expectation would be that the college concedes in a statement that the actions of this high-level instructor were inappropriate.
The college’s website states that “Camosun strives to provide clear, transparent, and easily accessible policies that exemplify the college’s commitment to life-changing learning.” How can we believe this when details of this investigation, which directly impacts students, are being kept hidden from students and the college is saying it’s just a personnel matter? How can the college, in its infinite wisdom, believe that this is justified? It is taking details of the investigation and sweeping them under the rug in the hopes that it will all go away. But no matter how clean and spotless everything looks afterwards, there is still dirt lurking, waiting to spill out from underneath.
The college community—including staff, students, and the public—deserve more than “it’s a personnel matter.”
Camosun, to protect its reputation, needs to lift the rug and sweep out the dirt before it causes irreversible damage.