A look at student movement controversy
The CSA’s Pay More, Get Less campaign works to fight “against tuition fee increases and budget cuts at U of G,” according to Peter Miller, Academic and University Affairs Commissioner at the University of Guelph.
On Thursday, Feb. 26, the CSA hosted the “Stick it to the BOG” event, which Miller described as “action […] against budget cuts and tuition fee increases.” The event ran during a meeting of the Board of Governors Finance Committee, at which the 2015-16 budget – including “almost 10 million dollars in […] cuts” – was discussed, to highlight that “students are paying more and getting a lower quality of education.”
The CSA’s “Stick it to the BOG” event, part of the “Freeze the Fees” movement, was held Feb. 26, protesting program cuts and increased tuition.
In opposition to this “freeze the fees” movement stand organizations like Rise for Ryerson, which supports fee increases approved through student referendum. The Mattamy Athletic Centre, Student Learning Centre, and several student societies have all been partially funded by tuition increases after Ryerson student referendums with large turn out.
During the recent Ryerson Student Union (RSU) elections, Miller, who is “in contact with activists across Ontario and Canada fighting against budget cuts and tuition fee increases,” was quite active on the Facebook page of Transform RU – a slate supporting Rise for Ryerson.
Several Ryerson students expressed concern regarding Miller’s comments, which some felt “[trashed] those on the slate personally.” Others thought that Miller “interfered with Ryerson’s elections” and mis-represented the Guelph community.
Miller, when contacted for comment, stood by his involvement in the Transform RU Facebook debates.
“I wrote on their Facebook page because I feel connected to the Pan-Canadian Student Movement,” said Miller, further contending that, “if you are in a student union, you need to fight for free education and […] accessible education.”
Some students expressed particular concern, however, over Miller’s comments towards specific candidates – such as his direct comment to Cassandra Myers, who ran for the Board of Directors.
“I don’t give a shit about students in debt,” Miller wrote under Myers’s election material, “‘cause some day, I’m gonna be a rich vet.”
“That was a poem I wrote under […] Transform RU poetry,” Miller said in response. “It’s important for students to know when people running for elected positions will not be campaigning against tuition fee increases.”
Paulina Gusicora, a supporter of the Rise for Ryerson campaign and Secretary for the Ryerson Communication and Design Society – funded by fee increases following overwhelming student support – disagrees.
“Students at Ryerson value their educational experience outside of the classroom […] In experiencing the power and influence of choosing to actively support more student services, students understand why freezing tuition is so risky,” Gusicora noted. “It’s not [about] supporting a tuition raise; it’s about not supporting a decrease in the value of our education.”
Gusicora was also heavily involved in the Facebook debates with Miller, inviting – along with other Transform RU candidates and supporters – Miller to speak with them in person. Miller declined, writing that he would not speak in person “unless [they] believe in free education.”
“The Transform RU ran a campaign that [criticized] the Unite Ryerson campaign,” said Miller when asked to comment on these remarks. “I wanted them to [share online] for students to be able to see their views about tuition fees and budget cuts.”
Gusicora, however, highlighted a contentious Unite Ryerson history that served to divide, rather than unite, students.
“The current RSU party frankly thinks that a revolution is necessary […] to get the administration to cooperate,” Gusicora noted, concluding that the administration was already cooperating with students to improve the quality of education at Ryerson – in and out of the classroom.
Beyond any controversy, students can take comfort in knowing that no matter their view, every student can find support in educational movements at their institution.
Rise for Ryerson doesn’t just support tuition fee increases voted on democratically, they just support anything the administration says. Their latest campaign was about promoting the status quo, they had signs like “Students for Sheldon Levy” (Sheldon Levy is the president of the University).
They are rich, white kids in suits that are trying to show the administration as much a support as possible no matter the cost on the students. They are the low of the low when it comes to student organizing.