This article describes the development of Murdoch's academic council (which resembles a faculty senate) from its creation to 2003, charting how it gained and later lost its legitimacy, and then rediscovered it. It draws on documentation, such as council minutes and legislation, as well as on interviews with twelve present and former council members (academics and administrators) who served at a time when the university was adopting the new organizational tenets and styles of management often called "managerialism." This history shows how collegiality can persist if a leader believes in shared governance and gains the trust of the university community. Correspondingly, it highlights the need for academics to be active participants in governance.