The Student Movement 1

THE STUDENT MOVEMENTApril 4th, 2011Issue 9 - tsmwindsor.ca Windsor’s Grassroots Student Newspaper

By Vajo Stajic

By Ian Clough

Apathy, that’s what I hear when organizing. Students are apathetic, students don’t care. It’s a line that politicians, the media, and even our own student government has used. Students don’t vote. They don’t participate. They don’t care.

But the truth is that students do care. Students do go to meetings and events when they see that the issues are important and their individual rights are neglected. Over 200 students marched in January protesting the lack of funding for graduate studies. The organizers sent out tons of emails and made the campus aware of what was happening so that everyone was talking about the issue. Local media covered the story and the students were able to speak directly to President Wildeman so their issues could be discussed.

When CUPE 4580—representing TAs and GAs at the University of Windsor—called a meeting on March 7th, everyone had already heard about the issues. Three hundred students showed up and participated in that meeting because it was an issue that was important to them and because everyone was already talking about it, including the media. Through this, the students were able to pass a strike vote with 77% in favour.

Graduate funding was not the only issue that students organized around this year. During the protest against The Lance in December, the organizers collected over 250 petition signatures in just two hours. Dozens of students attended Take Back The Lance meetings and are involved in the ongoing campaign.

These initiatives were successful because they highlighted issues important to students, there were dedicated organizers, and the media picked up the stories. In the case of graduate student funding and GA and TA issues, the students had the help of CUPE 4580 and the Graduate Student Society to spread the word, whereas Take Back The Lance was able to organize effectively with volunteers.

Despite what politicians say, students do get involved. With the federal elections looming, it is important to educate yourself so that you can make an informed decision at the polls. But the fact is that your democratic participation cannot end there. The best way for us to effect change is to come together on the issues that matter to us and continue to organize. It’s time to prove the politicians wrong.

Got something to say? Email us at movement@tsmwindsor.ca

Editorial: Students do care—and we’re organized!

2 The Student Movement

Students challenge The LanceBy Darryl Gallinger

This year, a new group called “Take Back The Lance” has formed on campus. Like many campus action groups, it has come together in response to a particular need or crisis. In this instance, students disturbed by The Lance’s content came together to push for writing that is more inclusive of the student body.

Since the campaign’s start, student interest has renewed the formerly defunct Lance Oversight Board—which has been re-established—and Lance editors are meeting with the Human Rights Office for the purpose of sensitivity training. Take Back the Lance has been successful in achieving two of its main goals. Unfortunately, despite all six positions on the Lance Oversight Board being filled during the election, the UWSA refused to ratify the election’s results.

Take Back The Lance members are calling upon students to attend the UWSA’s Annual General Meeting to push for the ratification of the Lance Oversight Board to bring accountability to The Lance.

The campaign started when Women’s Studies Student Association members reviewed content from “Campus Kiss,” a former section of the Lance. “It was very hetero-normative,” says Cassandra Thomas, a student at the University of Windsor and a member of the Take Back The Lance group. “We dug further, and found some other examples in other sections of The Lance.”

“In November, our 53-410 class had to do an end of the semester project. We ended up talking our class into finding out what was wrong with The Lance. They didn’t want to be paying for something that was discriminatory in nature,” Thomas says.

Once the class jumped on board with the campaign they began researching older issues of The Lance, created a one-shot feminist version called “The Glance,” and staged a protest. Group members met with The Lance, presenting a package with evidence detailing their concerns.

Continued on the next page.

Editorial: “Thinking Forward” means empowering the campus communityBy Enver Villamizar

Democracy and empowerment are issues being raised all over the world these days. Why shouldn’t this also be the case here at the University of Windsor? The Student Movement has raised the undemocratic nature of the way the university is being run, without the real involvement of the campus community in setting the direction of the school. Clearly, being a university, the members of the campus are well positioned to participate in deciding the overall direction for the university. We are, after all, an institution full of experts on every aspect of the natural and social sciences. Surely together we can run a school!

However, more and more the trend is for executive decision making and disempowerment of the members of the campus. The Strategic Priority Fund is a good example. The entire campus should be involved in deciding the strategic priorities of the university and how resources should be allocated to fill them. Instead, a public relations exercise was launched to impose a strategic plan on the campus and then hand over monies cut from other areas to the Provost to redistribute as he sees fit. Even the traditional decision making bodies like Senate and the Board of Governors are brushed aside in favour of one man. Handing over $1.8 million of our money over to one man to decide how it is allocated is ripe for creating disunity and corruption on campus.

Why such secrecy and exclusion in decision making? The only way to really get the campus on board with something is to have the campus decide what that “something” is. The strategic direction of the university is no different. Many departments on campus have submitted proposals to the Strategic Priority Fund in the hopes of seeing their project “selected” by the Provost. This process cannot truly set a direction for the university which serves the community, as it pits one faculty against another without anyone really knowing the criteria for what is funded and what isn’t.

Why don’t proposals for new directions and new projects get submitted to the entire campus through a democratic process where everyone interested can review the proposals and discuss the merits of each and the whole? Through this process a unifying sentiment can be built and a real sense of where the university should go and why will be developed. Of course, this doesn’t mean everyone deciding on every detail, rather that the direction and principles of the university are set together and a mandate is given for the implementation of details based on the guiding direction set democratically. This would be a process to “be proud” of.

UWSA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGApril 8th, 4pm CAW Commons

The UWSA is making decisions that affect you both financially and academically – demand explanations for those decisions! The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the last chance students have to get involved in the decision making process.

Some of the issues students want answers for: the dental plan, The Lance Oversight Board, and the $10,000 UWSA website.

Your fellow students need your support: attend the AGM on April 8that 4:00pm, in the CAW Commons (in front of Tim Hortons).

Inaction translates into complacency – don’t let a few people make decisions for thousands! This is your chance to have your voice and issues heard!

Visit uwsawatch.wordpress.com for info

The Student Movement 3

Cody Hall to be torn downBy Mohammad Akbar

Cody Hall—an old residence building that houses prayer halls and also hosts the International Student Centre—is slated to be torn down this summer. For many years the university has considered tearing down Cody Hall, but has not simply due to the cost.

While tearing down the building is inevitable, the primary concern here is what will happen to the International Student Centre and the prayer halls? The International Student Centre offers most of the services used exclusively by students from outside of Canada, including filing income tax returns. It also provides support to groups like Volunteer International Student Assistance. The International Student Centre offers help with English, several work study opportunities, and support necessary for international student retention.

If there are locations for these very necessary services, then tearing down Cody Hall would not be a problem. However, the prayer halls do not have another area on campus where they can move.

As of now, the Muslim Student Association is actively looking for an area to replace the prayer halls, but the question is will it be as central as Cody Hall?

If the International Student Centre is no longer situated close to the centre of campus, the ramifications on international students and the retention rate thereof would be unimaginable. This would go against the university’s goals of internationalization. A possible solution is incorporating an addition to Dr. Clayton Smith’s new office in the CAW Centre and creating a joint space where international students and Canadian students can intermingle, along with the Vice-Provost, whose goal is to reach as many students as possible.

However, unless there is a suitable location to house both the prayer halls, and the International Student Centre, Cody Hall should not be torn down.

May 2nd Federal ElectionsThe Federal Elections will take place just days after school officially finishes. Here some information about voting for students.

If you live in Windsor but are not registered here you can:• Register in advance• Bring proper ID to your poll on voting day.

If you want to vote in another riding where you live:• Vote before election day using advance polls• Use a mail-in ballot• Make sure you’re home by voting day!

To find out more about your options and to see a complete list of registered political parties visit Elections Canada at www.elections.ca or call 1-800-463-6868

Students meet to discuss Canada’s role in Middle East and North AfricaBy the Editorial Committee

On Wednesday, March 16th, The Student Movement, the Windsor Peace Coalition, the Organization of Part-time University Students (OPUS) and The ISSUE hosted a town hall to discuss Canada’s role in the Middle East and North Africa. In the international community, there has been much talk about no-fly zones, military intervention, and deployment of special forces, yet there had been no opportunity for the community at large to discuss the issues. At the town hall, students and community members came together to form a space where people could speak openly about their concerns, and it was a great success. Many people brought forward their experiences with similar conflicts, and several people updated the group on what has been happening in Egypt.

For video from the town hall, visit youtube.com/tsmwindsorFor more information, visit tsmwindsor.ca

Socialism in 21st Century Cuba In the face of the global financial crisis many are calling for economic reforms and austerity measures. Cuban Consul General, Mr. Jorge Soberon will discuss

the significance of recent economic reforms in Cuba.

Friday May 6, 2011 7 pm

Artcite Windsor (109 University Avenue West)

CCFA-Windsor and MayWorks 2011 Contact: ccfawindsor@gmail.com or (519) 991-4167

Continued from Take Back The Lance

The Lance did not acknowledge the campaign publicly until a couple of months later. “The first response from The Lance is a spoof of our protest,” Thomas says. One of the group members in particular is centred out with a photo of her on the front page of The Lance’s annual spoof edition, and the article jokes that the students’ protest is responsible for The Lance shutting down.

The Take Back The Lance group expanded as new students, troubled by the annual spoof edition’s content as well as The Lance’s response to student concerns, joined the campaign.

During the UWSA election debates, students dropped a banner to raise awareness and handed out spoof editions of The Lance with problematic sections highlighted to provide context.

For more info, visit takebackthelance.wordpress.comFor video footage of the banner drop, visit:

youtube.com/tsmwindsor

4 The Student Movement

BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD. - Mahatma Gandhi

UWINDSOR STUDENTS TAKE ON THE WORLD By: Katelyn Murray

For students at the University of Windsor, International Development isn’t just an area of study, it is a practice and a passion. Many students give up their summers and potential money-making job opportunities to unselfishly volunteer their time overseas, bringing back a plethora of cultural experiences to share with their peers. These students typically receive little recognition for their work; however, this spring The Student Movement would like to highlight the efforts some amazing students doing great work overseas. Be sure to check out their projects! Amber Pinsonneault Future of Africa, Smile Foundation Amber is a recent English graduate who, along with 7 other members of Future of Africa, will be travelling to Ghana this summer. They will spend 8 weeks on their Journey for Change to work on several projects including restoring the facilities of the Smile Foundation (Lollito, Volta-Region). Their projects are geared towards empowering children and youth and reducing the impact of poverty on their education. FOA believes in the collective responsibility children and youth have to make a difference. GET MORE INFO @ www.foafrica.org Adam Hummel Youth Ambassadors for Peace Adam is 3rd year Law student at the University of Windsor, and the founder of Ambassadors for Peace. Ambassadors for Peace aims to build peace in Kenyan communities through youth empowerment, the eradication of tribalism, and through engaging youth in sports activities. This summer, Adam will engage a group of students from both the Windsor and Toronto areas in work with his organization. CHECK IT OUT @ www.kenyapeaceproject.com Bill Fuerth & Tania Sanchez Engineers Without Borders Engineers Without Borders is a national NGO which aims to reduce poverty in rural Africa. The Windsor Chapter works towards these goals through Fundraising, Youth Engagement, and Public Outreach. This year, Tania and Bill will serve 4-month placements abroad as EWB Windsor’s Junior Fellows. Bill will be volunteering his engineering skills in Ghana, while Tania’s background in International Relations will be put to great use in Malawi. FOLLOW THEIR JOURNEYS @ http://uwindsor.ewb.ca/ Dane Macri Invisible Children, Teacher Exchange Program Dane is a recent graduate of the Faculty of Education, and will be headed to Northern Uganda this summer with the Invisible Children Teacher Exchange Program. Invisible Children is an organization which aims to support the DDR process for former child soldiers in Northern Uganda, and the Exchange was created to enhance present educational models, and to establish long-term learning opportunities for both international and Ugandan teachers.

The Golden Futures Team Golden Key International Honour Society The award-winning Golden Future is an outreach project aimed at improving the lives of youth and vulnerable communities in Cape Town, South Africa. The project is entering its fourth year, and team of students from various programs of life will be heading to Cape Town this summer. Student volunteers prepare materials and develop lesson plans for various health awareness, life skills, educational, and micro-entrepreneurial workshops. These workshops engage students in valuable discussions and create insight into some of the challenges faced within their communities. LEARN MORE @ http://www.thegoldenfuture.org/ Gayathri Sivakumar SOS, Raising Roofs Sivakumar is a recent Biology graduate and the president of SOS, an innovating initiative that offers tutoring services to university students and uses the revenue generated to work on development projects in impoverished areas of Peru. On April 23, Sivakumar along with a group of students from the University of Windsor will depart for a 2-week stay in the village of Pillap,

Peru where they will construct a school and food shelter thanks to sponsorship from the Peruvian NGO Awaiting Angels.

SEE MORE @ http://www.awaitingangels.org/ Katelyn Murray Kujali Congo/ Cross Cultural Solutions Kate is a student in the Social Justice program at UWindsor and is the fundraising director for the Windsor-based organization Kujali Congo, an organization which aims to support primary education in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This summer, she will spend two weeks in Lukanga, North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of Congo on a community needs assessment for Kujali. She will then spend 3 weeks in a volunteer placement with Cross Cultural Solutions in Moshi, Tanzania and a further 3 weeks with a group of Sisters in Moshi, observing their successful school. She will document her entire journey on her blog, and hopes many students will follow along! MORE INFO @ www.kujalicongo.wordpress.com FOLLOW MY JOURNEY @ www.inthemiddleofthemap.com

MORE INFO @ http://www.invisiblechildren.com/themissionteachersexchange