University hires new director of human rights

by Patty Pitts

A UVic alumna with 14 years of experience delivering human rights programs to universities has been appointed to the new position of director of human rights at UVic. Cindy Player assumes the new position effective May 1.

Creation of the new position within an amalgamated office of equity and human rights was a key initiative of the report of the external review on equity and fairness at UVic.

As human rights director, Player will provide leadership, in consultation with groups and representatives of UVic, in the development and co-ordination of discrimination and harassment plans, policies, and procedures.

"I'm delighted that Cindy is returning to UVic to fill this very important role," says UVic President Dr. David Turpin. "Cindy's appointment is the first significant step toward a new office structure that is better equipped to identify and address human rights and equity needs and priorities."

Player is currently a human rights consultant with the city of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to that, she was the sexual harassment/anti-discrimination officer at McMaster University for 11 years and a human rights educator in Carleton University's status of women office. She holds a BA in sociology from UVic and a master's in social work from Carleton.

Player will work with director of equity Linda Sproule-Jones to create a work and academic environment at UVic that affirms and promotes the dignity and diversity of everyone on campus.

"Cindy brings a strong consultative style and lots of ex-perience working collaboratively, which is so important in human rights and equity work," says Sproule-Jones. "The new office structure provides a much better opportunity for collaboration, particularly on systemic issues which will benefit from combined efforts and different perspectives. We'll also work jointly to provide more education and training on a number of mutual and overlapping issues."

Player will also work with Peter Sanderson, the executive director of human resources, on the resolution of workplace conflicts not within the jurisdiction of the office of equity and human rights and on the development of human rights policies and procedures.

"I'm looking forward to working with Cindy to develop a more proactive service to UVic employees and a more streamlined process for handling interpersonal conflict," says Sanderson. "In the past it's sometimes been confusing for people to know where to go initially. I'm optimistic that Cindy's expertise and experience will help us change that."

Player will promote her office's accessibility to employee and student groups while helping them employ best practices on human rights.

"I'm cautiously optimistic that the director of human rights will do the comprehensive outreach with students that is necessary to create a more inclusive campus community," says UVic Students' Society chairperson Jude Coates.

"I'm hopeful that Cindy Player will work extensively to bring to the surface many of the very serious inequity issues that the equity and fairness review has only begun to address."