Latest news with #Dysart
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Arizona faculty say administrator causing severe harm to Native students
Photo by University of Arizona After several Native students at the University of Arizona expressed their concerns about student safety regarding an assistant vice provost, multiple Native faculty members are calling for immediate action from university leadership to ensure that Indigenous students receive the support they need for success. The Native American Faculty Group wrote in a letter to UofA President Dr. Suresh Garimella and other top administrators that 'Tessa L. Dysart is actively causing and has caused severe harm to the UA Native American community' since she was appointed assistant vice provost for the Office of Native American Initiatives (NAI) in 2024. Six Native faculty members wrote that students have approached them since the fall of 2024 to voice their concerns about their safety on campus. 'In our culture, we allow our children to speak, and we listen,' the group wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The faculty members who signed and sent the letter include Karletta Chief (Diné), Andrew Curley (Diné), Stephanie Russo Carroll (Ahtna-Native Village of Kluti-Kaah), Jameson D. Lopez (Quechan), Sheilah E. Nicholas (Hopi) and Valerie Shirley (Diné). As professors, they said that they have witnessed 'disturbing events' that do not align with leading protocols to support Indigenous students in higher education. The letter outlines the concerns raised by students since Dysart took office, including her lack of support for student-led academic work on the Land Back movement, community panels and discussions, and her physical attempt to silence a student during the Tribal Leaders Summit. Nearly 100 people — some faculty, some students, some alumni — have signed onto the letter to back the faculty calling on the university to remove Dysart as assistant vice provost. 'We find Dysart's actions to be unprofessional, misaligned with the interests of students, and, at times, clear attempts at intimidation — behavior that is unbecoming of a senior administrator who claims to advocate for Native American students,' the letter states. Several Native students and staff have shared with the faculty group how Dysart is 'sowing harm, district and division within the UA Native community.' Dysart lacks the qualifications to be the assistant vice provost, according to the faculty group, because she has never worked with Native American student admissions, retention or service programs in higher education, nor has she published any work related to Native American student retention or advancement. During Dysart's interview process, the faculty group alleged that she claimed to have longstanding relationships with Native law students, but they had consistently heard otherwise from the Native law community. 'Dysart's portrayal of her experience is misleading,' they wrote, adding that she has worked at UofA since 2017 but only became involved with the Native Faculty Group within the past three years. Dysart has no prior connection with the Native American communities at UA, in Tucson, Arizona or the Southwest, according to the faculty group. The faculty group also expressed concerns about leaders in the Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement (NAATE) office, including Levi Esquerra and Kari McCormick. Due to the ongoing concerns involving NAI and NAATE leadership, the faculty group said they cannot in 'good faith' recommend UofA to Indigenous students. The group wrote that they would rather refer Indigenous students to Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University due to the well-qualified administrators running their Native American initiatives. Dysart lacks the stellar reputation and qualifications of the Native Higher Administrators at ASU or NAU, according to the faculty group, and she does not possess the qualifications of many researchers in Native American education. 'Dysart earns $167,116 per year, yet there is no accountability, review, or annual reports showing her performance serving Native American faculty and staff,' the letter states. 'We have no confidence in Tessa Dysart.' The Arizona Mirror reached out to UofA and Dysart for comment, but did not receive a response. As part of the letter, the faculty group shared their disappointment in the consolidation of the Native American Student Affairs cultural center and the termination of its director, Julian Juan. Under Juan's leadership, the faculty group said that the Indigenous community at the University of Arizona has had only positive experiences. 'As a tight-knit community, we have consistently witnessed Juan's advocacy in fostering a safe and supportive space at NASA even as Dysart, Esquerra and McCormick contribute to a climate of hostility,' the letter said, noting that Juan is one of only three Tohono O'odham directors in the history of Native American Student Affairs, which is commonly referred to as NASA. 'In contrast to Dysart, Juan has deep connections and experience with tribal leaders and the local community,' the faculty wrote. 'Juan understands the importance of creating culturally appropriate programs and activities that create a sense of belonging for Native American students struggling to find their place and belonging within the Wildcat community.' UofA fired Juan on May 27. The university wrote in his termination letter that he failed to fulfill his duties as director. The faculty group expressed appreciation that NASA will continue to exist, but they 'adamantly oppose' moving it under Dysart's supervision at NAI, citing students' consistent concerns about their safety around her and her limited experience in student affairs. The faculty group is calling on Patricia Prelock, the new provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at UofA, to return NASA under the office of the provost, remove Dysart, reinstate Juan, reopen the NAI assistant vice provost position, create a Native American Faculty Council and maintain the Native American Community Council. 'As members of sovereign tribal nations that have nation-to-nation relationships with the United States federal government, we ask you to respect our sovereignty and fulfill our requests,' they said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
BBC News
13-05-2025
- BBC News
Man critically injured after electric skateboard crash in Fife
A man is in a critical condition in hospital after a crash involving an electric skateboard in 25-year-old, who was riding the skateboard, was found with serious injuries on School Brae at the junction with Hill Street in Dysart at about 19:20 on was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment and police are appealing for information on what Mike Thomson said: "Our inquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing and I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or the rider prior to the crash to contact us."
CBC
10-04-2025
- CBC
Mother of slain woman ejected from court after voicing anguish at sentencing hearing
WARNING: This story contains strong language. A grieving mother was ejected from a Moncton courtroom Thursday shortly before a judge ruled a woman would serve no additional jail time for helping her daughter's killer get away. Megan Marten, 41, of Fredericton was being sentenced on a charge of being an accessory after the fact to manslaughter in the July 11, 2023, death of Kyla Cindy LaPointe. Marten admitted she stood over LaPointe's bleeding body for about two minutes after Dylan Jackson stabbed the 32-year-old in the back, didn't call for help, and then drove Jackson away from the scene. "Megan, I hate you with every fibre of my spirit, my core, everything," LaPointe's mother, Nicole Blanchard, yelled at Marten in the courtroom prisoner's box. As Justice Robert Dysart asked Blanchard to stick to her written victim impact statement, she continued. 'You took my first baby from me' "Your time is going to come. Karma will get you. You took my first baby from me. As much as I'm hurting, as much as I'm in pain, I wouldn't even wish that on you, a f---king monster like you….You will be out one day, and we will meet. You killed my daughter, you f--king b--h." Multiple court sheriffs approached Blanchard and began to removing her. "You were covered in her f--king blood and walked away as she was dying," Blanchard yelled while being escorted out of the courtroom, followed by several people in the courtroom gallery clapping. Another person walked out, calling the process a farce. Marten had faced a second-degree murder charge, but pleaded guilty in February to the accessory charge. Marten was given the chance to address the court, but said nothing. Her defence lawyer and the judge noted that she had expressed remorse during the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Crown and defence lawyers jointly recommended a sentence of almost 2½ years. Crown prosecutor Robert Johnston said sentences imposed for the crime range from 18 to 30 months. However, Marten was credited 1½ days for each day spent in custody since her arrest. As a result, the sentence was no further time in jail. Judge accepts sentence The Supreme Court of Canada has directed judges to generally follow joint recommendations. Dysart ruled the sentence was suitable after reviewing the circumstances of the case, sentences imposed in similar cases, Marten's Indigenous background, her guilty plea and lack of a prior criminal record. "She has served her sentence," Dysart said in his decision. Dysart described her actions as a "jarring, morally reprehensible act." Marten was ordered to submit a DNA sample and was prohibited from possessing firearms for 10 years. Dysart expressed condolences to LaPointe's family, saying no sentence would bring their loved one back but he hoped it would bring some closure. Family, friends voice grief Prior to the sentence being imposed, Dysart heard victim impact statements from four people and read several other written statements. The statement described LaPointe as struggling in her early life in the foster system, but using that experience to advocate for improvements to the system to help protect other children. She was described as a kind, loving mother of four. "She was grace, poise and patience," Sadie Sloan said of her friend. Laura Aubé, LaPointe's stepmother, spoke about how some of LaPointe's children would grow up without their own memories of their mother and how the children wouldn't get to experience life's firsts with LaPointe. "She was my girl, and she was not finished living her life," Aubé said. "I'm angry, and I hope the court knows how much she was loved and how much she loved." Blanchard said she had only begun to feel normal again after the death of another daughter in 2015. Then LaPointe was killed. She said after one difficult day in court, she considered taking her own life but didn't want to cause her family more pain. Blanchard said Marten didn't deserve to walk free after what happened. "My heart hurts to know how scared and confused my daughter must have been to be stabbed from behind and then … bleeding out and struggling to breath," Blanchard said through tears. "Did she ask you for help? Did she look at you with fear in her eyes?" Blanchard later began saying things that weren't in the written version of her victim impact statement, leading to her ejection from court. There were more sheriffs in the courtroom than normal for the sentencing, and two uniformed RCMP officers sat in the hall outside the courtroom. The facts Marten admitted to were outlined in a document when she pleaded guilty in February. Jackson and LaPointe were part of a group of five that travelled from Fredericton to Moncton to buy fentanyl. LaPointe and her boyfriend, Brody Leblanc, went to the drug dealer's apartment while Jackson and Megan Marten waited in a car with another man. The transaction took longer than expected, and LaPointe left and wandered around Moncton. Eventually, she walked past the car on Belleview Avenue where the three others, including Marten and Jackson, were waiting. What followed was captured on video. Jackson ran up behind her, stabbed her immediately, then went back to the car. Marten walked up to LaPointe, standing beside her for about two minutes as she bled on the street. Neither Jackson nor Marten provided care or called for help as LaPointe bled. A neighbour called 911. Marten drove the car up to LaPointe's body, Jackson retrieved the knife, and the three fled the scene. RCMP stopped the car moments later. Jackson was sentenced in March to 10 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter. It was a sentence Blanchard told reporters the family wasn't happy with, saying she would have preferred the case go to trial.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The play that changed my life: ‘Equus led me to train as a psychotherapist'
Psychotherapy is about storytelling, about roles that we assume, the veil between our truth and our invention. But for me, as a therapist, it is always a piece of theatre – a series of roles and characters that are played out. In 1986, I was just coming up to 14 with no thoughts of such things. Until I found acting I had lived quite an isolated, secluded little life, but theatre suddenly gave me opportunities to try on different lives – a bit like Mr Benn, really. And I felt as if I could take on the world. The drama department at my school was quite progressive and decided to put on Equus by Peter Shaffer, a deeply traumatic story about sexual fantasy. It is about the relationship between a psychiatrist, Dr Dysart, and a teenage boy, Alan Strang, and their wrestling over Alan's dangerous passion for horses and for God, which have become entangled in a way that leads him to acts of appalling violence. I was cast as Alan and it was pretty extreme. I remember rehearsing a scene in which he goes deeply into the beauty of the horses and the pleasure he derives from them. There was a kind of explosion, a firework display in my mind. I remember just breaking down and sobbing uncontrollably. But it left me wanting more theatre and I went on to drama school and ended up in the West End in roles including Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. I thought that would be my for ever. But in the end, after a stream of physical and psychological ill health, l felt quite ruptured by theatre. I needed to go and repair, to recover and heal. Dysart questions what the difference is between a psychological breakdown and a spiritual emergency. That came to be a compelling reason for me to train as a psychotherapist. It was also a foundation of my wanting to challenge the conventional model of therapy. That model no longer serves us. I think the play is really about what I call 'descent'. My book As the Kite Falls is about how to allow people to descend, as I did after being diagnosed with cancer expected to be terminal. Most of the time we are fixated on ascent. On betterment, improvement, advancing our lives. It is Dysart's conundrum that traditional therapy does not allow people to descend because there is a fear of what happens if we take that risk. That's what my book is about: how we can help people go through these crises. My disease is incurable but I'm in remission still and I do have some agency. The problem with mantle cell lymphoma is that it has high chances of relapse even after a stem cell transplant. But the prognosis was different a few years ago. They would have said three to five years but the odds are better now. I have a chance to rewrite it rather than attempt to swerve it. As a Kite Falls by Richard Tyler is published by Karnac.
CBC
10-02-2025
- CBC
Sentencing delayed for man guilty of murdering 18-year-old Joedin Leger of Moncton
A judge will decide in April how long a Moncton killer should serve in prison before becoming eligible for parole. A sentencing hearing began Monday for Riley Phillips, 20, who was found guilty by a jury last fall of second-degree murder. The jury ruled Phillips murdered Joedin Leger, 18, on April 25, 2022. The verdict means Phillips automatically be sentenced to life in prison, leaving Court of King's Bench Justice Robert Dysart to decide when Phillips may be able to seek parole. The Crown wants Phillips to serve 12 years before becoming eligible for parole, while the defence is seeking the minimum of 10 years. The jury had recommended 10 years. After hearing victim impact statements and arguments from Crown and defence lawyers, Dysart said he would need more time to prepare his sentencing decision. Because of other cases he is hearing and other cases the lawyers are involved in, that decision was scheduled for April 3. Dysart noted that no matter what he decides, it will ultimately be up to the Parole Board of Canada to decide if Phillips actually gets parole. "He may never get out," Dysart said. Phillips sat in the prisoner's box wearing a black Scarface T-shirt, a movie about a murderous drug lord. He didn't say anything during the hearing beyond confirming that he didn't want a pre-sentence report prepared. The report involves an offender being interviewed to gather information about their history that the judge can consider when deciding a sentence. Crown prosecutor Stephen Holt said that while the jury had to make certain decisions about what Phillips did that April morning, not all of what they determined is known. For instance, during the trial the Crown had argued Phillips went to Leger's Logan Lane home dressed in black, wearing a motorcycle helmet and carrying a loaded revolver because it was a planned home invasion and robbery. However, the defence argued it was about a dispute between Phillips's cousin and Leger over broken windows and that the shooting inside the duplex was in self-defence. Phillips was shot in the hand by Leger and the jury had to decide who may have shot first. The jury clearly rejected Phillips's claim of self-defence, Holt said, but it wasn't clear if they agreed it was a home invasion. He said that the judge would now have to decide that, as the Crown viewed it as an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes. Holt said normally a murder committed during a home invasion would result in a parole eligibility period starting at 15 years. Holt also argued that other factors the judge would need to consider are the age of the victim, that Phillips had a prior record, and that he violated several court orders, including a firearms prohibition. Brian Munro, the defence lawyer representing Phillips, pointed to his young age as mitigating factor that should be the primary thing the judge considers. Munro said there wasn't enough evidence for the judge to be able to conclude the killing happened during a home invasion, noting police testified there were no signs of forced entry, and that no one testified about hearing yelling or screaming from inside the home. Parents speak Three victim impact statements from Leger's mother, father and girlfriend were also read Monday. Dawnita Hanson said she continues to suffer nightmares and other effects from her son's murder. She said she feels guilty she wasn't there to protect her son and cries herself to sleep. "Joedin is home now. He'll be 18 forever, because he's in a box on my cabinet," she said. Hanson said the night before Leger's death, he had been with her talking about his plans for the future. "All my happiness was taken away the very next day," Hanson said. Rodney Leger also spoke about seeing his son April 24 followed the next morning by police coming to the door to tell them he had been killed. "I went from being a proud dad to a broken man in seconds," he said, saying he now won't see his son get his driver's licence, get a car, get married and start his own family. "He was not an angel, he was not a monster." Chantal Boudreau, Leger's girlfriend, also read her statement that recounts seeing him choking on blood in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. "The fear I saw in his eyes in that moment I will never be able to erase from my mind," Boudreau said. During the trial, the jury heard the two had only met a few weeks before Leger's death but had moved in together. Boudreau in her statement said her dreams of their future together, including getting married, were shattered that April morning. "I'm filled with anger and sadness," Boudreau said. Phillips was among six people charged in connection with Leger's death. Four others pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
