Πηγή:The Gazette
Largely neglected after the forced resignation of Concordia University president Judith Woodsworth and facing the possibility of exponential tuition-fee hikes, hundreds of Concordia students and faculty members will hold a day of action on Monday.
The inept handling of senior personnel decisions, under the guidance of university chairman Peter Kruyt and the executive committee, will cost the university millions of dollars. In spite of a call for his resignation by the university senate, our institution's highest academic body, the chairman refuses to step down and let the healing process begin.
But for many of us, the forced and secretive departure of president Woodsworth comes as no surprise. This academic year alone, we have witnessed a series of events that would not be tolerated elsewhere.
International students were treated with utter disrespect early this year. Without prior notice, many students saw their tuition rise by as much as $6,000. It was upsetting to see international students plead for fair and equal treatment. Our growing body of international students was exploited, plain and simple.
Then our former university president joined a chorus of leaders calling for Quebec tuition to increase by $500 per year over three years. The Charest Liberals will make their decision on the exact annual increase this March. Here, one point must be made absolutely clear: The notion that Quebec is a nanny state for students is fundamentally wrong.
Tuition fees in Quebec are slightly above the average of 34 developed countries, according to a recent report by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.
And if these proposed increases go forward, about 50,000 Quebec students would be deterred from attending university, according to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Education.
In purely economic terms, denying citizens the right to higher education is clearly unsound. Citizens with higher education usually pay more in income taxes and social contributions. In essence, supporters of increased tuition in Quebec are denying their province economic and social advancement.
What do we want our province to look like? Do we care if 50,000 citizens are denied a post-secondary education? Debate has been very shallow thus far, and student views are not treated with the respect they deserve.
This Monday, hundreds of Concordia students will celebrate Valentine's Day by echoing the views of our professors and friends: We strongly urge Peter Kruyt to step down immediately. Fundamental reform to our university's governing structure is necessary, and students must have a strong and meaningful representation during this reform.
On Monday, we will also have no love for Premier Jean Charest and opposition leader Pauline Marois. As the federal and provincial austerity budgets loom, the student voice must be at the forefront of debate over education. We have been cheated too much already. Enough is enough.
Matthew Brett, Irmak Bahar, Robert Sonin, George Alexander and Roddy Doucet are co-organizers of Concordia University's Day of Action.
The inept handling of senior personnel decisions, under the guidance of university chairman Peter Kruyt and the executive committee, will cost the university millions of dollars. In spite of a call for his resignation by the university senate, our institution's highest academic body, the chairman refuses to step down and let the healing process begin.
But for many of us, the forced and secretive departure of president Woodsworth comes as no surprise. This academic year alone, we have witnessed a series of events that would not be tolerated elsewhere.
International students were treated with utter disrespect early this year. Without prior notice, many students saw their tuition rise by as much as $6,000. It was upsetting to see international students plead for fair and equal treatment. Our growing body of international students was exploited, plain and simple.
Then our former university president joined a chorus of leaders calling for Quebec tuition to increase by $500 per year over three years. The Charest Liberals will make their decision on the exact annual increase this March. Here, one point must be made absolutely clear: The notion that Quebec is a nanny state for students is fundamentally wrong.
Tuition fees in Quebec are slightly above the average of 34 developed countries, according to a recent report by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.
And if these proposed increases go forward, about 50,000 Quebec students would be deterred from attending university, according to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Education.
In purely economic terms, denying citizens the right to higher education is clearly unsound. Citizens with higher education usually pay more in income taxes and social contributions. In essence, supporters of increased tuition in Quebec are denying their province economic and social advancement.
What do we want our province to look like? Do we care if 50,000 citizens are denied a post-secondary education? Debate has been very shallow thus far, and student views are not treated with the respect they deserve.
This Monday, hundreds of Concordia students will celebrate Valentine's Day by echoing the views of our professors and friends: We strongly urge Peter Kruyt to step down immediately. Fundamental reform to our university's governing structure is necessary, and students must have a strong and meaningful representation during this reform.
On Monday, we will also have no love for Premier Jean Charest and opposition leader Pauline Marois. As the federal and provincial austerity budgets loom, the student voice must be at the forefront of debate over education. We have been cheated too much already. Enough is enough.
Matthew Brett, Irmak Bahar, Robert Sonin, George Alexander and Roddy Doucet are co-organizers of Concordia University's Day of Action.
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