“Fight the Power”

After reading this article I felt both liberated and disappointed at the same time. I think its great that students across Canada are uniting to stand for a cause they believe in, no matter how small the issue. This movement shows that students cannot be pushed around into paying rising tuition fees without something in return. What disappointed me was to read of the division among The Association for Solidarity Among Student Unions (ASSE), quote “going on strike” is meant to give a sense of political weight, a sense of radicalism, and a sense that students who “strike” are somehow more committed to the cause than those who simply “protest.” And that is dishonest.” To Torontonians such as myself, the fact that Quebec’s tuition prices are well below 5000 dollars a year seems quite reasonable.
Including residence, meals and travel we’ve been trapped into years of debt, which is only getting larger and larger. It’s these protests that matter, whether its over a 50$ dollar increase or 5000 dollar increase, every penny counts. Students pay enough as it is for services that are far from necessary, such as a 150 pass selling during frosh week, to “introduce” you to university life. Or a 107$ dollar expense to the MSU Organization Fee, which registers you in several plans students are not even aware of. With the amount of OSAP being provided to residents only from Ontario, it seems we’ve taken money for granted because it’s simply given to us.
It’s a shame student union activists say the real problem is getting students out to the provincial legislature. If students want to be taken seriously by the government we need to start showing concern for our futures today. I believe that public protest is an important and integral part of any democracy. Personally, Quebec’s francophone students serve as an inspiration to me, that hopefully one day it won’t be a matter of financial wealth for one to pursue an education that will help build ones profession.