In a story published September 29 in U of M's The Manitoban, Scott Lamont is quoted as saying of the lockout Lou and he had imposed that day:

"[It] is really better for students."

According to Lamont [the story continues], the lockout means all classes will be cancelled, so students will not have to worry about attending one out of five classes; the university will also not have to apply different standards to make up for class time lost in the strike.

Lamont also said that the lockout is better for relations with the faculty, as it avoids the choice of whether to cross the picket line. "We're a small school, and it's important that we retain a collegial environment here," he said.

Effective today, Education students have been directed by Education Dean Jerry Storie to cross the BUFA picket line and begin field experience, using Manitoba public school teachers as (reluctant) substitute supervisors (see http://www.bufa.org/strike-info/education.htm).

One of the many concerned students who have contacted BUFA expresses his/her concern this way:

If I were a Science student, say, how would I feel about a scenario where Education students are being told, effectively, they may now resume their classes and complete the semester as scheduled--while I am still locked out? The answer is that I would be furious. To be paying the same tuition at the same institution while being treated differentially is grossly unfair.

Another concerned student states,

Hopefully the BU administration [Mr. Storie] has a backup plan in place for students who choose to take the ethical route in the dilemma they've put us in.

We can't help wondering: Does the selective nature of Lou's lockout reflect a selective concern about differential standards? A selective concern about collegiality at Brandon University? A selective concern about "what's better for students"? A selective concern about "retain[ing] a collegial environment here"?

That's certainly one possible interpretation.

Are Storie's actions ethical? Are they conducive to collegiality? Do they teach future educators to exercise professional judgment? BUFA thinks the answers to those questions should be obvious to most people.