In a recent article for University Affairs, Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d’université President Madeleine Pastinelli discusses how universities can keep tensions and conflicts from becoming destructive. Pastinelli writes that psychological harassment and mental health challenges are growing issues on campus, but that the nature of institutions, which are built upon debate, inherently leads to tensions between faculty members. The author argues that the line between harassment and necessary work must be drawn to protect individuals, and additionally calls for proper funding to support a healthy workplace by reducing competition for scarce resources. “It shouldn’t be a matter of choosing between psychological health and collegial governance, but rather of protecting the former without sacrificing the latter,” writes Pastinelli.
