Goodbye Mr Mackenzie Members

[Ilario Grijalva]

Thegoodbye dinner was a moment of recognition of retired governors (those whose terms have ended on the board). Four former governors were present, Lindsay Gordon, Sandra Crawly, Jeannie Malone, and myself. Another handful were unable to attend. Each of us received a plaque of acknowledgement. But more importantly, it was a farewell diner for Santa Ono.

Gage Averill added a gentle roast, playfully highlighting past problems and predilections. He did so with aplomb and kindness. All gathered joined in gentle laughter, not at, but with Averill and Ono. It was the kindest form of roast I have ever witnessed.

UBC\u2019s board of governors\u2019 leadership past and present gathered at Sage Bistro last night to say goodbye to UBC\u2019s bowtie wearing, selfie taking, sports loving university president of the last six years. Soon to depart across the border to take on leadership of the University of Michigan, Ono was magnanimous, passionate, and emotional in his comments about UBC and his time in leadership here. Those speaking on behalf of UBC, Board Chair Nancy McKenzie, Provost pro tem Gage Averill, and Julie Wagemakers, Executive Director, President\u2019s Office, were equally effusive in their praise of Ono\u2019s leadership. \u201CYou helped to heal a community. \u2026 [You] redefined what UBC is and will be,\u201D McKenzie said.

The start of Ono\u2019s term was fractious. His immediate predecessor had been forced out in a palace coup and university donors were on a quiet strike. Faculty members had passed a vote of non-confidence in the university and were protesting outside the doors to the board chambers. Governors were hiding from the press, even trying to sneak out back doors unseen.

Ono\u2019s first few years were rocked with scandals from the Berhdahl academic freedom controversy to the firing of Steven Galloway. Then there was the John Furlong flip flop - first cancelled, then reinstated, as a speaker at a UBC Varsity fundraiser (a situation obliquely referenced in Wagemakers\u2019 remarks).

Ono started to pull things together, building the reputation that likely got him hired at Michigan (which itself has been undergoing disruptive upper level leadership issues). As an elected member of UBC\u2019s Board of Governors (2017-2020) I saw his approach first hand. Through various public roles (UNA Director, Faculty Association Executive) I had had the opportunity to meet the three previous UBC presidents. Each carried with them a particular approach and style and focus. Ono stood out by his presence on social media (which contrasted strongly with Stephen Toope\u2019s approach), a keen interest in varsity sports, and his ability to charm almost anyone. This quality, in particular, was evident last night as so many attending shared warm memories and thoughts about Ono in the casual conversations of the evening.

Early in January 2017 I had meet with Ono as a newly elected governor. As we settled into his office on the top floor of Koerner Library his cell phone rang. He glanced at it and said \u201CIt\u2019s the chair of the board, I have to take this. Hello Stewart [Belkin], I\u2019m just sitting down with Charles Menzies here, a new faculty board member.\u201D After a few pleasantries and a promise to dial the chair back, Ono ended the call and picked up our conversation.

Ono always makes an effort to ask people about their interests, and how he might help them. This was no exception. He asked about my work, asked about my hopes for the board, and shared that he wasn\u2019t in charge of the board, but rather Christy Clark\u2019s appointee Stuart Belkin was. I likely demurred.

Though out Ono\u2019s term I think my position could best be describe as one of critical support; being willing to articulate criticism of plans and proposals while supporting the person in the office. Other governors took the quiet approach, suggesting they were better able to share criticisms privately. In the absence of transparency it is never clear that so-called backroom lobbying really does more than inculcate the lobbyist into the circle of control and privilege.

Soon after taking the helm, Ono started the Blue and Gold fund raising campaign (announced on twitter). By the end of the campaign more than 200 million dollars had been raised (double the target). Ono also began an ambitious faculty hiring program to add \u2018net 100\u2019 new faculty positions: President\u2019s Academic Excellence Initiative. Within a few years Ono had cemented his reputation as a guru of smoothing troubled university waters.

Ono was not without his detractors, perhaps the most daring public expression was the Ubyssey\u2019s 2018 April Fool\u2019s edition, the Oh-No! Magazine. It was harsh, funny, daring, and even a bit over the line, but it nicely encompassed the early criticisms of Ono. He took it in stride, but I think it fair to say he felt hurt by it. At a BoG meeting following the spoof\u2019s publication he mentioned appreciating that all people in positions of leadership, even the prime minister, received similar types of criticism. It was evident he was upset by the spoof. For me that was a moment in which I was able to see past the performance of his leadership self to the man inside, the man who could be hurt by a juvenile prank, but at the same time saw himself in a national leadership domain and understood the necessity of tolerance of criticism.

Ono calls his approach to leadership servant leadership: \u201CAs President and Vice-Chancellor, I view myself as a servant leader. That is, I believe my job is to work on behalf of the entire UBC community\u201D (Santa Ono). He referenced this idea again in his own remarks last night: \u201CAs leaders we are only caretakers ... we only hope we leave [things] better than we found them.\u201D This form of leadership draws heavily from his conservative Christian faith. While he did not make a big deal about his religious faith in public, neither did he attempt to keep it quiet or behind a veil.

Nancy McKenzie opened the series of three statements of appreciation. Her remarks highlighted all the big accomplishments: Ono\u2019s stepping in to smooth the troubled waters at the start of his term, his fund raising initiatives, his work on strategic planning (in general and with the climate emergency), his role in pushing the agenda on reconciliation and apologies to First Nations, and his work more recently on anti-racism.

Julie Wagemakers\u2019 comments were more personal. Having worked so closely with Ono during his term she spoke with evident emotion and appreciation of Ono. Especially touching was her account of students camped out in the president\u2019s office around the climate emergency protests.

Ono was evidently moved by all the kind words. He acknowledged the things attributed to him by saying it was only possible because of the team and that every reference to him should really be heard as an \u2018us.\u2019 The memories, said Ono, that will stick with him are the \u201Cquirky things.\u201D Like agreeing to Kavie Toor\u2019s invitation to join a Storm the Wall Team.

It all circled back to his underlying approach: \u201CWe are here as servants of the community.\u201D In reference to the climate action plan, Ono said \u201Cit was their advocacy [the community] that gave us the responsibility\u201D to act. On the pandemic Ono said \u201Ceveryone of you deserve a thank you\u201D for making UBC a safe as it was. Ono closed his remarks by again expressing his heartfelt appreciation for his time at UBC telling us \u201Cyou always be welcome in my home.\u201D

On Wednesday, June 7th, the Class of 2023 graduated from Radnor High School. Every year, the Radnorite publishes an issue where the senior staff members have the opportunity to reflect on their experiences at Radnor and say their goodbyes.

Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who supported me and the entire Radnorite these past four years. My entire life I have been reserved, often nervous to raise my hand in class or to talk in front of a large group of people. Writing for the Radnorite gave me the opportunity to share my voice in a way that felt safe, and I will forever be grateful to all of you who created that space for me in this community.

I meditate often with friends about the strangeness of time. As I say goodbye to the Radnorite and Radnor High School, I find myself reflecting on my very first memories of 130 King of Prussia Road. Although it was over three years ago, the beginning of my journey at the Radnorite remains one of the most vivid moments from my high school career. Shaking and scared to raise my hand, I sat staring at the upperclassmen writers in awe. I spoke only once, but I remember many of the articles pitched that day. I remember which swivel chair I sat in. I remember walking out of that room excited.

When my friends and I discuss the concept of time, we often reflect on how it passes. We speak about weeks that feel as long as months and months that feel as short as weeks. I think about the strangeness of how clearly I remember being an anxious ninth-grader in that Radnorite meeting, excited to make my mark on the high school. I remember being the freshman girl who sat in her kitchen writing an article about the different kinds of nut milks. I remember being the sophomore girl whose heart raced as she walked onto Loop Field and immersed herself as a reporter for the first time. I remember being the junior girl who found out that she would get to lead the Radnorite alongside her best friends. Yet now, I am the senior girl who feels ready to leave the high school and who feels ready to say goodbye to this newspaper.

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