As was mentioned in Episode 1, two of the “examples” given in President Tim Rahilly’s termination letter were that Widdowson had “contributed significantly to a harassing and toxic workplace environment” (#7) and that “a number of [Widdowson’s] former colleagues have indicated that they have departed the University” because of her actions (#8).
One of the “actions” that was complained about by a second indigenous studies colleague who had “departed the university” concerned an event that Widdowson had participated in at the University of Calgary on September 25, 2019. The event featured the views of Dr. Gregory Cajete, a professor of Native American studies at the University of New Mexico.
In assessing the credibility of the complainant, the investigator hired by MRU did not mention the inaccurate testimony and instead stated that she found the complainant “to be forthright and expressing her honestly held beliefs and genuinely felt emotions.”
