Category: letters to the editor

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Opinions

Letter to the Editor: BDS

I’m glad to see Concordia students like Bradley Martin standing up against the despicable BDS movement. BDS is nothing more than a vicious attempt by misguided Antisemites to discredit the only just democracy in the Middle East: Israel.

While I’ll agree that being opposed to Israel or having issues with its policies does not necessarily equal Antisemitism, the BDS movement is inherently Anti-Jewish. It’s about trying to deprive Jews of their livelihood, not oppose government policies. And it is a massive failure.

Regardless of the fact that BDS is laughable and will never succeed in its goal of erasing Jews from the Middle East, it still must be opposed. The sheer stupidity of the movement is well explained by Martin (will the CSU have all Intel chip removed from the university?). This movement intentionally ignores atrocities around the world and attacks Israel simply because it is a Jewish state.

As the students of Concordia did when I was there in the 2000-2004, I believe they will wake up to the absurdity of their student government’s support of Antisemitism and, if not topple the CSU as we did back then, at least prevent it from embarrassing our school any further.

It’s no secret that year after year the CSU is hijacked by the extreme left because the vast majority of students believe it’s a complete waste of time and energy and ignore it. Once in a while, however, the CSU becomes such an embarrassment that the general population has to get step up and take it down.

Seems like that time is coming again.

Noah Sidel
BA journalism ’04

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Opinions

Letter to the Editor: VOTE YES for Model UN

To all fee-levy groups, their employees and all student voters,

On the 25th, 26th and 27th of November, Concordia Model United Nations Education and Leadership Center will have a referendum question on the ballot during CSU by-elections. We are seeking the approval of a fee collection of $0.07 per credit per term. As you may or may not know, we have faced an uphill battle to have our question on the ballot. We faced intense criticism from external groups, and as we realize the importance of transparency and accountability, we want to dispel some of the misconceptions some may have regarding CONMUN becoming a fee-levy group.

NO, CONMUN will not use all your money to fund competitions and travelling. If that were the case, CONMUN would remain a club under the CSU. Yet, this is not what we have in mind. There are things we cannot easily do now as a CSU club, which we can do as a fee-levy group. We want to, as we have already done this year, bring in speakers specializing in human rights, UN Peacekeeping missions, and experts on international justice and law. Yet we want to give back even more to our community. We want to be able to afford to give even more free sessions and training to teach students who want to develop their skills in public speaking, negotiation, policy drafting, and conflict resolution. We are developing a leadership program, for you.

YES, CONMUN will use 40% of our fee-levy budget to develop our leadership program by funding our trainings and developing resources for you, 30% to organize more conferences and bring in more world leading guest speakers, and 20% to fund expenses for competition entry fees. The majority of these entry fees will be funded through fundraising events. In the name of transparency and accountability, as our motives have been previously questioned, the remaining 10% will be used to hire external auditors to review our finances, and make them publicly available to you.

We want to give back to you as much as we can, while strengthening Concordia University’s reputation through our skilled delegates. We want you, future Concordia alumni and global leaders, to have the chance to build your skills and confidence, and exploit your full potential.

VOTE YES for Model UN on the 25th, 26th and 27th of November. On Wednesday November 19th, we will be tabling in the Mezzanine of the Hall building. Please come see what we are about and what we want to be with the help of a fee-levy!

Sincerely,

CONMUN Executive
conmun@gmail.com

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Concordia Student Union Opinions

Letter to the Editor: On CSU Transparency

​After reading your editorial regarding transparency at the CSU, I felt the need to chime in regarding some of the assertions that have been made.

As the newly appointed council chairperson, my list of responsibilities is often a challenge, and can (occasionally) be nebulous as well. For instance, the responsibility of alerting student media about the locations and times of council meetings is indisputably mine. A moment before being made aware of your editorial, I had just finished spending over an hour with the CSU’s IT coordinator going over various email issues, including the group email for media which has been used for years now. A new email provider this year has meant quite a bit of transition, and although I have been using the same public media sendout list, it was revealed, upon examination, that a typo in the Concordian’s contact email upon transferring email addresses was the source of the problem. I can assure everyone that this has been rectified. Even councillors have had difficulty receiving emails promptly, but such is often the nature of an IT overhaul, which will greatly simplify communication once the hiccups are corrected.

On the subject of unposted minutes, I would like to begin by saying I have had the great fortune of beginning my stint as chairperson by receiving hands-on training and guidance from my predecessor, Nick Cuillerier. During his time as chairperson, Nick went above and beyond for the sake of councillors, executives and all students, by taking on the job rigorously with great professionalism. This has included, it seems, posting minutes to the CSU website, a task outlined by the CSU as reserved for the council secretary. I do not wish to point any fingers at anyone at all regarding roles in previous administrations, far from it. I simply wish to indicate that in this respect, the transition left it unclear to me that a change in traditionally allotted responsibilities had taken place, and that the chairperson has been the person overseeing the public availability of minutes. Regardless, I have already rectified the issue of minutes on the website, and will continue to ensure their availability.

I should also like to point out a factual error in your reporting. The claim that “The CSU has also not posted any minutes since 2012” is incorrect on a perplexing level, given how easily one can simply access all the 2012, 2013 and 2014 minutes of meetings, uploaded punctually by my predecessor, on the CSU website. For me to receive a dose of reality regarding the extent of my role is one thing, but Nick Cuillerier was nothing if not procedurally rigorous, which the history clearly demonstrates.

I have a great deal of empathy for those who may have felt excluded or incapable of fully participating in their university’s democratic process. The Concordian does the student population a service by pointing out where gaps in accountability present themselves, and these will continue to be addressed. However, I would like to end by saying that the blaming of these hiccups on an amorphous CSU entity left me troubled upon reading. As you pointed out, the reasons for these oversights could have been numerous, yet rather than contacting me or the secretary to clarify what may have been (and, in fact, are) minor oversights, the entirety of the CSU has been painted as neglectful and opaque. I find this problematic, and say this as someone who sought the position of chairperson in order to contribute to a team of executives and councillors that have been putting forth excellent initiatives. From defending students’ rights on a variety of fronts, to launching student run co-op cafés (actually reviving the Hive in the process!) to an excellent orientation and engaging guest speakers, and the many great things to come, this year’s CSU deserves praise for its dynamism and dedication at the very least, and certainly not blame for bureaucratic inconsistencies outside of their purview.

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Opinions

Letters to the Editor

To Council members,

Conservative Concordia is one of the eighty recognized clubs under the Concordia Student Union. Our mission is to be home for conservative students from Canada and abroad to discuss current affairs and promote a balance between fiscal accountability, progressive social policy and individual rights and responsibilities.

We became aware of two referendum questions that will be discussed at the October 22 Council meeting on October 19 that will directly affect Conservative Concordia. The first one is concerning budget cuts and the second one is concerning the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

Firstly, the proposed referendum question concerning budget cuts goes as following: “Do you want the CSU to take the following position: That the CSU officially oppose the budget cuts to the education sector specifically, and the public sector in general, in favor of working with other organizations with comparable positions in order to seek alternate sources of public revenues as facilitated through the provincial, and/or federal government”. The portion “seek alternate sources of public revenues” means one thing only: increasing taxes of Canadians. This would undermine the standard of living of Canadians and prevent many companies from investing in Canada, which means less employment opportunities after we graduate. Also, the question suggests that the federal government made cuts to the education sector, which could not be further from the truth. The Conservative government has invested $12 million in aboriginal business studies, $40 million for internships in high-demand fields, $123 million to modernize the Canada Student Loan program, $800 million to the Canada Social Transfer for post-secondary education, $1.8 billion to support research in Canadian universities and introduced the Canada Student Loan forgiveness program for medical and nursing graduates who practice in rural and underserved communities, among others.

Secondly, in terms of the BDS referendum question, we denounce that the petitioners did not provide the full story, once again. We wonder why they always forget to mention that the greatest enemy of the Palestinian people is armed groups such as Hamas, who use funding from international aid to attack innocent Israeli civilians, including children. We strongly believe in the right of the State of Israel to exist and defend itself from these terrorist organizations, and find it shameful that the petitioners refuse to acknowledge that international humanitarian aid (our tax dollars) is going towards building terror tunnels and rockets instead of feeding the general population. We stand behind our Leader and Prime Minister who said in the Knesset that denying the right of Israel to exist is the new form of anti-Semitism. We denounce the fact that this type of rhetoric is still tolerated at Concordia University, in 2014, in our modern multicultural environment. We also do not understand why the CSU feels the need to interject in international matters they have no influence over, as well as how this resolution will contribute to the betterment of the Concordia student body.

Finally, we would like to say that the current executive does not speak in our name and we denounce their partisan attitude to govern only for those who elected them.

Michael Eugenio

President of Conservative Concordia

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Opinions

Letter to the Editor

To the council members of the Concordia Student Union,

Israel on Campus: Concordia University is an initiative geared to educate others on Israel’s commitment to democracy in the Middle East, Israel’s humanitarian efforts, demographics, history, culture, and environmental initiatives. We strive to create a platform where students can discuss, debate, and work together to understand the challenges and accomplishments of peaceful progress in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Oct. 15 it was brought to the attention of IOC that a meeting was called for Friday, Oct. 17 in order to discuss and vote upon the possibility of holding a referendum regarding the BDS movement at Concordia in the upcoming General Elections.

The members of the student club Israel on Campus: Concordia University would like to express their feelings of discontent with the CSU’s choice to conduct a council meeting regarding a referendum of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement) on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 at 6 p.m. Please note that this last-minute meeting was called on the day of Simchat Torah, a Jewish Holiday, and at the time when the Sabbath begins—an interesting coincidence. The chosen timing for this meeting conflicts with the ability for Jewish students on Campus to attend, given the restrictions of a religious Jewish holiday and of the observance of the Sabbath.

The sponsors who brought forward this motion, namely Rami Yahia, Lucinda Marshall-Kiparissis and John Talbot, and Charles Bourassa (VP of Student life) were notified about Israel on Campus’ concerns of being misrepresented. After politely reaching out to the sponsors, expressing our concern and asking them to move the council meeting to a later time — given that Jewish students would not be able to represent themselves due to their religious convictions, the councillors ignored this fair and reasonable request.

The purpose of this statement is to point out the disrespect with which a sensitive and important issue was approached, especially since the group of students that would be directly affected by this motion could not come to defend themselves and to have their voice heard on the matter.

Please try to understand the reason of our unhappiness towards the CSU council. These kinds of  unacceptable behaviours should not be tolerated on campus, especially since the principle goal of the student union is to represent all of the students of Concordia University.

 

Regards,

Israel on Campus: Concordia University

Letters to the editor

Recommendation to take Concordia University Security Department training

 

I would highly recommend that all students invest in themselves and attend the training workshop organized by the Concordia University Security Department.

I sincerely hope that no students will ever have to use the skills learned in the trainings, but having these tools at your disposal can come in handy

Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training, is only for women. The instructors are Lyne Denis and Valerie Bolduc, and they are phenomenal women with a wealth of knowledge and experience. The instructors are also very considerate of any existing personal physical injuries that the participants have, and you will be well taken care of. Although the training is called Rape Aggression Defense, the tools learned in the training can be used in other situations that women will face. The training lasts between 9-12 hours, and only costs $20. It is very important to note that it is a very reasonable cost considering the duration of the training, and that once you finish the RAD training, there is a lifetime practice policy. This policy allows any person to attend any RAD training workshop around North America free of charge! It is a very good investment in not only yourself, but your future, and I highly recommend it.

The training is an amazing opportunity to meet other people from around the university. I would highly recommend that everyone learn more about the trainings, and register for whichever training suits your needs.

The link to have more information on the training session can be found online at: http://security.concordia.ca/prevention/training/rad/

-Melissa Lemieux

 

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Chuck Wilson for three years now, and he has my complete endorsement for the job of CSU President.

Chuck actually cares about each and every student on this campus and has often gone out of his way to help whole faculties, often with little to no credit. I first met Chuck when he was the chair of the Fine Arts Student Alliance (FASA) in 2011 and in often-tenuous meetings during the Maple Spring, Chuck kept a level head and helped us ensure that our conversations were productive, even in such a high-stress environment.

When a delay in counting absences by last year’s CSU chair meant that it was too late for Fine Arts candidates to run in the 2012-2013 CSU by-election, Chuck was the person who informed me about it and looked over my petition. With his help, I was able to assemble a team of students that worked as ex-officio officers on Council. This year, there are three Fine Arts candidates running and I think that in large part, that has to do with Chuck. It may have taken a gap year to get the ball rolling, but we did it. Chuck made me care, I made others care, and here were are today.

He is the only candidate, in my opinion, who has laid out a plan with realistic outcomes that focuses on academics—and isn’t that why we’re here, ultimately—and empowers the many student groups on campus so that they can take on social activist roles, instead of making that the job of the CSU. We have such great resources on campus, and Chuck wants to help you find them! Remember, just because your friend is running for another slate doesn’t mean that their presidential candidate is the best fit. No matter who gets voted into office, Chuck will work with them and be the leader that the CSU needs at this pivotal moment in its history.

Chuck does things (dot com), and that’s why you should vote for him for CSU President.

Erika Couto

BFA Art History & Film Studies ’13

Current MA Art History student

VP Clubs & Services FASA (2012-2013)

Ex-Officio officer CSU (2012-2013)

 

Letter of Endorsement

Chuck Wilson is the epitome of “qualified” when it comes to the position of Presidency of the Concordia Student Union. I have had the privilege of working with Chuck for over a year now within the Engineering Faculty, and I can attest that there is no better person suited to be the driving force of such an encompassing student association. Chuck has this incredibly rare ability to see any and all projects to total completion, thereby actually accomplishing the things that he sets out to do. In terms of his endeavors, Chuck is hyper aware of all of the ongoings at Concordia, across all departments, and therefore pursues the things that matter most to students.

As an involved student, I have consulted Chuck on probably every important matter related to my co-curricular involvement that I have ever encountered. Whether it has to do with trying to incorporate an association, or the specifics about booking an event, he just has this super solid understanding of how systems function at Concordia. Chuck has spent his academic career striving for improvement within Concordia, seeking solutions and alternatives to everything from an individual’s mundane questions to our university’s vision of its future.

He is already a driving, inspirational force within the Engineering Faculty, and I would love nothing more than to see what he will accomplish as President of the CSU.

See what he plans to do for you at chuckdoesthings.com. Vote for Chuck Wilson, because he actually does things.

Andrea Cartile

B.Sc. Biology Specialization 2009-2012

Current B. Eng. (Mech) Expected 2016

VP External CSCE 2012-2013

VP Marketing SAE 2013-2014

Vote Melissa Payette for CSU President

My name is Bianca Bertoia and I am the President of the John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition (JMUCC). JMUCC is not only the largest international undergraduate case competition in the world, but also one of the most prestigious. As JMUCC hosts students from 24 of the best universities around the world, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of the world’s most talented students and our future business leaders. There is no question in my mind that Melissa Payette, Experience CSU’s Presidential Candidate, is one such student.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Melissa in two separate environments. I first met her when working at Chapters Pointe-Claire. Melissa had already been working there for a year when I started, and she was the most welcoming person on staff. Her passion for books and knowledge and her helpful disposition stood out immediately.

In Melissa’s role as the President of CASA Cares—CASA’s non-profit wing—I’ve seen the extent of her compassion and her greatness as a leader. She manages a team of almost 20 executives and does it flawlessly. The respect that Melissa’s team has for her is clear, and the events they execute are successful in both raising money for charity and uniting students from all faculties.

This year, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Melissa on CASA’s Board of Directors (BOD) as well as on CASA’s Special Projects Committee. In both circumstances, Melissa has been an amazing person to work with. She is unafraid to voice her opinions, but always in a way that is respectful of others. Oftentimes at BOD, she will step in and mediate between two opposing parties to help them better understand one another. Mel is a problem solver who is always full of great ideas and suggestions.

On CASA’s Board of Directors, I’ve also been able to work with Scott Carr and Maylen Cytryn, Experience CSU’s VP Finance and VP Clubs & Internal candidates respectively. I’m amazed by Scott’s passion for policy, constitutional knowledge and number-crunching abilities on a daily basis. As a newcomer to the board, Maylen has been an excellent chairperson who’s demonstrated how quickly she can master unfamiliar surroundings. I am confident that Melissa has pulled together a unified team of dedicated students to form the Experience CSU team.

There is no doubt in my mind that Melissa Payette is the right candidate to lead the CSU forward. She is both a powerful and compassionate leader and the perfect person to bridge the gap between faculties. Melissa will stand up for students’ rights and deliver what they believe in. Concordia students would be lucky to have her lead their union forward.

Bianca Bertoia

President

John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition (JMUCC)

 

Vote for Melissa Payette for CSU President

My name is Jessica Viscosi and I am the Vice-President of Finance and Vice-President of Events for CASA Cares. CASA Cares is the non-profit segment of the John Molson School of Business. The goal of CASA Cares is to promote social awareness and responsibility at the school and encourage all students to get involved within the community.

I have been lucky enough to be part of many student-run associations throughout my education and worked alongside great student leaders. One of those outstanding student leaders that I have had the privilege to work with is Melissa Payette. For that reason, it is my pleasure to endorse Melissa Payette as president of the Experience CSU team.

Working closely with Melissa for the past two years on CASA Cares has been a truly rewarding experience. Her dedication to the entire team has been admirable. Throughout her presidency at CASA Cares she has managed to lead the CASA Cares team to having the most successful year to date.

Melissa is hard working, passionate about her work and goes above and beyond all expectations. However, her strongest asset is how approachable she is. This I believe is a very important quality in a leader who will be representing the entire student body. Having a leader who is approachable will allow students to feel comfortable voicing their thoughts and opinions. This in turn will allow students to feel as if the university truly is working with their best interests in mind.

With Melissa’s experience, there is no doubt that she will be able to lead the Experience CSU team to success. I strongly believe that Melissa has surrounded herself with a cross-faculty team that will work tirelessly for the best interest of the students at Concordia University.

Jessica Viscosi

 

It’s not often in student politics that one comes across a person as dedicated to the union, and with such a good sense of ethics and values, as Chuck Wilson.

Chuck has worked for years now developing and strengthening fair and just policies across several student groups. He understands rules and regulations, and he understands not bending them for himself or his friends’ personal benefit. Chuck is the guy who doesn’t forget the rules when they’re complicated or inconvenient to apply, and he isn’t afraid to make the hard decisions.

Chuck is the kind of guy who will work with anyone and everyone, and I know this because he has already worked with anyone and everyone, from all sides of the political spectrum. He just wants to get the job done. It takes a special kind of person to buck the system and stay dedicated to the concept of abolishing executive slates and run independently for the office of president. That kind of person is a leader, and there is no better one available in this union right now than Chuck Wilson.

I was lucky enough to work with Chuck on Senate in the 2012-2013 year. It is hard to find anyone more dedicated than Chuck. Because Chuck does things, you should vote for him for President of the CSU!

He has done so much for the CSU on Council this year, and I have complete faith he is the best fit for president. Please vote for him during the elections to get our union some strong, competent, qualified, and most importantly, independent leadership.

-Melissa Lemieux

Vote for Chuck, Chuck does things!

I have repeated this numerous times randomly throughout this week to anyone I met.

I have been a big supporter of Chuck since the beginning and my support has grown even more after watching the debates.

First, he has demonstrated that he has the most experience and a deep understanding of legal affairs, and Concordia policies out of all the presidential candidates. CSU needs someone at the head who knows how the system works to be able to use it to their advantage. Out of all the candidates, he was the most eloquent and demonstrated that he has given a great deal of thought to the subjects that were brought up and even if he didn’t, his extensive knowledge of how CSU works and the different entities within helped him give clear responses showing that he knows what he’s doing.

Chuck takes action; we need a man of action, especially when they have a beard.

Second, he wants to revamp the horrible grey tunnel!!!

Third, he has a beard, enough said.

Check out his website chuckdoesthings.com to get an insight on his platform and find out how awesome Chuck is!

-Daniella Tran Van

 

To the readers of The Concordian,

I won’t go on with drivel about why any of the given teams is the best, nor will I explain why I’ve had “the pleasure” of working with someone. These are all formalities that will dismiss a message.

I will speak to what I believe it takes to have an excellent team, and that is a great balance of thinkers, doers, opinionated people and compromisers. Personally, I have worked to some measure with Scott, Maylen and Melissa—all of which are running for the Experience CSU team. Maylen is the person I worked with directly for the past year on the John Molson Marketing Association (JMMA). Maylen is meticulously detail oriented and very competent with dealing with stressful and uncomfortable conflicts in a workplace. I say this because our goal with JMMA was to change everything the previous year and she was a perfect partner in dealing with all the tribulations that come with delivering real, meaningful change. I want you to think about how hard it is to deal with failures and how to convert them into successes, and how the ideal person would deal with it. Now I invite you to talk to Maylen about those things.

For the other two, I have never worked directly with any of them but I’ve sat in boardrooms with them and been to many social gatherings where they were present. Melissa led CASA Cares this year, which is the charitable wing of the Commerce and Administration Students’ Association. Again, I won’t pretend to know how it was to work with her, but I’ll just tell you that she convinced her team of 14 that meeting on Friday nights is a great idea. Combine this demonstration of charisma along with the fact that she donated her time to the only philanthropic branch of the John Molson Business School and I think you would reconsider whatever prejudice you may have about what business students in general stand for.

Scott was previously involved with Enactus Concordia, again a branch that deals with entrepreneurship and social change. He’s been a massive advocator of transparent workings in the CASAJMSB Board of Directors and has never missed a beat when it comes to proper conduct.

I want you to consider what it means to allow proper business representation on the CSU and that it’s not some fantasy about suits and ties that want to grab your money. Yes, there are student who think this way, but these three individuals are not conventional business students, because conventional business students would not have the chops to run for the CSU to begin with.

Charles Gedeon

Outgoing President of JMMA and ex-sociology student

 

Vote Chuck for CSU President

If you vote for one person in this CSU election, let it be Chuck Wilson for president. When I sat on CSU council last year, Chuck was in his second year of his work on Senate. He came to almost every council meeting, so I got to know him in a working dynamic quite quickly. Chuck was a constant resource; he always had detailed information, a near-encyclopedic knowledge of our union’s rules, workings and by-laws and those of other organizations, sophisticated insight into controversial issues, and he often assumed positions of authority very naturally. It was very common at these meetings that someone would end up appealing to Chuck for an answer to a question or for resources. In fact, those in Concordia’s student political community recognize his website, www.chuckdoesthings.com, as the unofficial guide to our student union—before it was used for his campaigning, it hosted valuable resources, documents, and information essentials for us to do our jobs. Even our chairperson would occasionally reference the meeting agenda or amended by-laws and standing regulations that he maintained meticulously in and outside of meetings. If you were to approach them and ask, people across Concordia’s community—staff, administration, political leaders, members of Space Concordia, and so on—would you identify Chuck as a highly competent, brilliant, capable leader? Many, many people at Concordia would say they are excited to see what this person can do for our union. Please, please vote for him so we can find out.

Hannah Hackney

 

Experience CSU will make a difference for Concordia

My name is Chris Carpini and I am the President of the John Molson Competition Committee (JMCC). The past three years of my undergraduate career have been dedicated to working on JMSB’s competition program. During my time here, the program has become the world’s largest undergraduate competition program as we close a record-breaking year with nearly 40 podium finishes and countless gold medals.

I’ve travelled around the world to attend over a dozen competitions and over 10 inter-university conferences, meeting tons of students in the process. I know strong student leaders when I see them. As such, it is with pleasure that I endorse Melissa Payette and her entire Experience CSU team for the executive of the Concordia Student Union.

I’ve worked closely with Melissa on CASA’s Board of Directors. As the President of CASA Cares, Melissa is a compassionate leader—what stands out most when talking to her is that she truly cares for what others have to say. My colleagues and I have spent many nights venting to her about problems and roadblocks within our committees. The outcome is always consistent: next day, well-educated and researched opinions that truly help to move our organizations forward.

Moreover, I know how easily student organizations can be seen as unapproachable amongst the greater student body. Melissa is the type of person who breaks down these barriers. I strongly believe that Melissa will care for the unique needs of Concordia students and will go out of her way to make sure everyone’s voice is heard—she is a go-to person and knows how to get things done.

Backing her is a stacked team on Experience CSU—individuals who will absolutely work well together. Both Scott Carr and Maylen Cytryn have been involved in JMSB’s competition program. Scott is a gold-medal winning competitor who is always open to a new challenge and whose unique solutions leave judging panels speechless. Maylen is an up-and-coming star in the program whose infectiously bubbly personality is combined with a hard-working attitude. The competition program has trained these individuals to recognize real problems within organizations and come up with the most creative and feasible ways to solve them.

I am confident that these three individuals have surrounded themselves with a team that will make for an incredibly hard-working CSU. Undoubtedly, this is what Concordia students need—strong, dedicated, compassionate leaders who will work sleepless nights for us.

        Chris Carpini, JMCC President

 

Support Community Matters and Ben Prunty for CSU President

I give my full support to Ben Prunty as president of the CSU and his dynamic team Community Matters.

Last semester, I had the pleasure of working with Ben during my internship with the Concordia Food Coalition—a community service-learning component in Professor Satoshi Ikeda’s course, The Political Economy of Food. Ben led our team of five interns in developing his brainchild—a conference on sustainable food systems. To our team’s delight, the Concordia Transitions Conference was a huge success—approximately 150 community members attended the event throughout the day.

Thanks to Ben’s exceptional leadership skills, our team never felt like the conference was solely his “baby.” On the contrary, Ben has an ability to inspire other people and mobilize them to accomplish a common goal. He also has a talent for identifying the skills that his team members can bring to the table and incorporating those strengths in the larger picture.

More than anything, Ben knows how to create a sense of community among his fellow team members. Not only did the Concordia Transitions Conference create dialogue surrounding food initiatives on campus, but it also created this same sense of community among its guests—a feeling that together we could accomplish great things for our university.

As project coordinator of one of the many wonderful fee levy groups on campus and a proud supporter of the “No” Campaign against the per-faculty fee levy referendum question, there is no doubt in my mind that Concordia’s vibrant community is one of the university’s greatest assets. If you want a Concordia with a sustainable student-run food system, support for student-led projects and most of all, a community that “matters”, vote for Ben Prunty and the rest of his team next week!

Megan Michaud

 

SAY YES to supporting education, awareness, solidarity and empowerment!

Dear editor,

I want to encourage all Concordia students (especially those opposing fee levy groups) to check out some really amazing resources they have on campus such as the Center for Gender Advocacy (CGA).

Here are just some of their more recent accomplishments:

– Successfully lobbied the Concordia administration for a sexual assault centre, which opened its doors in November 2013

– Was apart of the coalition of groups that forced Quebec’s decision to modify the civil code to give trans people the right to change their gender legally without having to undergo surgery and forced sterilization

– Walked with over 1,000 people at the March for Missing and Murdered women

—organized by Missing Justice (one of their campaigns)—on Feb. 14 to raise awareness about gendered and racialized violence in Quebec and Canada

– Increased sexual assault awareness and consent workshops and trainings, which are given on and off campus and free of charge

– Expanded a programming with a new speaker series called, Thick Skin: Reflections on race, gender and political resistance

– Has a second space (located at 2110 De Maisonneuve W.) which is increasingly utilized by students and activists (including new autonomous action groups) to hold meetings and events

 

I want to emphasize that the CGA is an inclusive space with open-minded, generous and super hard working staff—they really do a lot with a little, especially given the centre’s very broad mandate. They offer various activities (speakers, workshops, film screenings) on a very wide-range of issues related to gender—I mean, gender touches all aspects of our lives, whether we realize it or not, but I think it is fantastic that they cover so much!

I encourage you to help keep this awesome place going by voting ‘Yes’ to fee levy groups (increasing their 29 cent per credit to 37 cents). Even if you think that you may not use their services, you just might need (or want) to someday, and also just know that you are also helping to create a safer, fairer and hopefully a more open-minded campus and city by supporting organizations such as the CGA. So, all this to say is that paying your extra eight cents is well-worth it for you and for others!

Annette Kassaye MacDonald, B.A Political Science/Human Rights Studies 2013

Former Board Member at the Centre For Gender Advocacy (2011)

Community matters.

But what does that mean? An executive team that acknowledges academics can not be disconnected from university and government policies, these being inextricably related to having sufficient desks in a classroom, not having to work more than study, and eating healthy affordable food, all of which is in turn connected to your academic experience. This team understands that, and has the capacity to work for students’ interests at all levels. Speaking of levels, the VP-Academic/Advocacy candidate recently initiated the first Concordia Student Congress directly connecting the CSU to your student departmental associations so that you can have a voice at many levels of student democracy. As former VP-External of the Concordia Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), I have worked with almost every person on this team and I know they will guide the CSU to make this campus a community of communities in which democracy is not just a gift to those elected, but something all students can participate in through clear democratic mechanisms (including a VP-Finance who vows to make budget stuff fun—you can’t pass up the possibility of seeing this happen). It means a team of students whose experience stands out: a bilingual VP-External/Mobilization candidate whose health campaign got students jogging at 8 a.m. and represented his department many times at the provincial level; a VP-Academic/Advocacy candidate who knows how to defend students from his work with CSU Advocacy Centre; a VP-Loyola candidate who has volunteered on both campuses for years; a VP-Sustainability candidate who attended provincial student meetings in her free time; a Presidential candidate who already made substantial gains for our food systems as CSU VP-Sustainability, and who have proven with their past actions their commitment to students’ academic fulfillment, future, and rights. Don’t give up the opportunity to have them live up to their potential, and most importantly that of our students’ and community’s. Vote Community Matters.

Nadia Hausfather

Humanities PhD program

 

FOR ONLINE PUBLICATION ONLY

 

My name is Alexandre Tomovic, and I am the current President of Colors of Concordia and Vice-President of Casa Cares, the charity wing of JMSB.  Being a part of Colors of Concordia has taught me the value of cultural diversity within the Concordia community and the importance of having well-rounded associations.  Team Experience CSU encompasses a variety of executives who deliver specific strengths from different areas; this would be the first major point where Experience CSU has irrevocably gained my trust and support.

Over two years with CASA Cares, I have had the pleasure of working with Melissa Payette, particularly under her presidency this year. I cannot stress enough the degree of fairness and professionalism that Melissa brings towards any matter. The amount that she has grown is beyond astonishing; Melissa has not only presided over many successful fundraising events, but has also gained trust and respect from her team and other students alike.  Managing a team of 17 executives requires patience and the ability to keep tasks on track.  In the fall semester alone, under Melissa’s guidance, CASA Cares raised over $14,000 for great causes including  the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Movember, and Concordia’s Volunteer Abroad Program.  This semester, Melissa has helped coordinate our biggest event – the CASA Cares Fashion Show benefitting the Montreal Children’s Hospital, which in its 11th year, will bring the total proceeds raised to over $100,000.  Suffice to say, there is no one better suited for the position of CSU President; the entire school will benefit from a fair leader who will strive to place the needs of students before her own.

Forming the 2013-2014 CASA Cares team was not an easy task, as we had over 50 applicants.  One applicant that immediately stood out was Sabrina Jorrin; she has since fulfilled her mandate above all expectations as VP External.  Always sporting a smile, Sabrina’s good mood is contagious and her motivation to exceed is second to none.  She quickly gained our trust and is extremely devoted in accomplishing her tasks within any role she takes on.  I truly believe that the entire student community of Concordia would be in the best possible hands with Sabrina.

I could elaborate furthermore on them, as well as Maylen, Scott, and Toshimi, however the fact is that the CSU will grow the most under Experience CSU, and they will all accomplish great things for Concordia University.

 

VOTE NO to the Per Faculty Fee Levy Referendum Question:

 

There have been many editorials in recent weeks concerning fee-levy groups and who should be paying for these groups and services. The fee levy groups here at Concordia enrich the community providing services such as; a daily free vegan lunch, a beautiful greenhouse where students can enjoy a hot cup of tea to relax, they provide an outlet for student news, advocacy for gender and queer issues, and the list goes on. All of these fee levy groups, 17 in total, provide free services to all undergrad students regardless of their faculty. Together we create a diverse community and we want to see this community continue together, with the support of all faculties, instead of student segregation as a result of faculty opt-outs. Each one of these groups has been voted into existence with a majority vote of the undergraduate population. While we may not benefit directly from every one of these services, if we can make a difference to even one students experience then I believe it is worthwhile. It is for this reason that I invite you all to come out and VOTE NO to the per faculty fee levy referendum question this week during the CSU elections and to let your voice be heard. Together we can keep the fee levy community alive and keep cross faculty interactions between students.

Chloe Williams

 

I Support Experience CSU

Dear Concordians,

As president-elect of Casa Cares, I am writing to express my support for Experience CSU. Having worked with Melissa Payette (running President) and Sabrina Jorrin (running VP Student Life) at Casa Cares for almost a year now, I am confident that both will do an excellent job in representing the student body and better our University experience.

Since I joined Casa Cares in May 2013, I witnessed the consistent hard work of both Melissa and Sabrina throughout their mandate. Having Melissa as my president was a truly rewarding experience; her dedication, integrity and perseverance were a source of inspiration for our team and kept us striving for more.  I believe that her determination and strong desire to have a positive impact on the community make her the most suitable candidate to represent the Concordia student body, act as a leader and work in collaboration with a team to achieve visionary goals that will improve student life.

I had the pleasure to work with Sabrina over the past few months, and I was astonished by her creativity, ardour and enthusiasm. Not only was she approachable at all times, but she also managed to use all the resources that were available to her to contribute to the success of all our events. Her passion and commitment show a keen desire to build relationships with others and make their university experience memorable.

I am therefore confident that Experience CSU will do a remarkable job at making Concordia a distinct and unique university where life goes beyond the classroom.

Frédérique Bouchard

VP Communications of Casa Cares

President-elect of Casa Cares

Categories
Opinions

Letters to the Editor

Concordia is a remarkable school, beyond the classrooms, because we have such a strong sense of community. The vibrancy of campus life here is apparent in ways I have not seen at any other school. A central component of the unique nature of Concordia, is our relationship to fee levy groups. These groups bind us together, support us, and enrich our education and experience at university. However, they are under threat by the per-faculty fee levy referendum question.

By treating fee levies as a faculty issue, we ignore the fact that people benefit from these groups regardless of their faculty. Currently, we vote yearly as a school on whether we will support fee levy increases. If people want to opt out of these fees, they are free to do so. However, if a faculty were to opt out, they would switch the orientation to an opt-in system, where people must be individually solicited for their donations. These fee levy groups would no longer be just student funded service, interest, and advocacy groups. They would be charities.

Further, one could ask, would these organizations stop providing services to faculties that opt out? Would Gender Advocacy stop providing support for assault victims of those student bodies? Would People’s Potato or the Greenhouse start demanding transcripts proving what department we belong to? Would CUTV, The Link, CJLO, or The Concordian refuse news and entertainment to those students? No, because that isn’t how these groups work. However, they would be pushed to divert funds and resources away from providing services that make Concordia such a fantastic place, to ensure their now precarious survival.

Andrew Weizman

Per-Faculty Fee Levy No Campaign

Undergrad at School of Community and Public Affairs

 

Vote ‘No’ to Per-Faculty Fee Levy Referendums in Upcoming Election

In the upcoming CSU elections, students will be asked to vote on a proposal for per-faculty fee levy referendums. As a Concordia student who has gained so much from fee levy groups over the years, I am very concerned by the devastating effect this proposal will have on the vibrancy of our university. Fee levy groups like the People’s Potato, QPIRG Concordia, Le Frigo Vert, and many more, play an essential role in creating an environment where students can become engaged in their campus and in the greater Montreal community. These groups are run by and for students. They provide a host of services, events, and campaigns that directly benefit students of all faculties, who both access the groups’ services and participate in their events, while gaining invaluable learning experiences as volunteers, board members, and employees at these organizations.

Of course, not every student will access the services of every fee levy group while at Concordia – some people will get involved with the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program, but may never access the peer support service offered by the Center for Gender Advocacy. They may want to get their hands dirty at the Concordia Greenhouse or listen to CJLO radio, but they might never take in a free documentary on Monday night at Cinema Politica or participate in QPIRG’s community-university research exchange project. It is this diversity of interest, however, that makes Concordia an exciting place to study – and the support we give to this diversity is what makes our community strong.

The proposed per-faculty fee levy referendums will put the strength of our community and the stability of fee levy groups at stake. By allowing per-faculty referendums instead of united student referendums, fee levy group funding will be compromised and students will be falsely divided and prevented from accessing these amazing organizations. I urge Concordia students to support a united and vibrant campus community and to vote ‘NO’ to the per-faculty fee levy referendums on March 25, 26, and 27.

Fiona Ainsworth studies chemistry at Concordia and is a collective member at Le Frigo Vert.

 

For the past four years I have had the pleasure of getting to know Chuck Wilson as a mentor, a colleague, and a friend. Since the day we met, I have had the utmost respect for his knowledge, work ethic and passion. I wholeheartedly believe there could not be a better candidate for CSU President.

The one thing that unites all Concordia students is our desire for a great education. Chuck was a Senator for two years, has been a department student representative and has sat on a variety of academic committees. He takes it upon himself to listen to students, identify their concerns then find the most effective way to make a positive impact on our programs, spaces, and resources. Chuck knows how to improve our academic curriculum, rights and experience because he’s been doing it for years.

I worked alongside Chuck as an Engineering and Computer Science Association (ECA) executive last year. In his role as VP Finance, Chuck was determined to make sure every single penny was accounted for. His work was the foundation for a complete overhaul in the ECA’s financial structure. Once his mandate was over he stuck around to oversee the changes the whole way through. Because of his work, the ECA’s finances will be easier to manage and thus spent more effectively for years to come.

Chuck cares about the things that matter. Our executive team decided that it was critical for the ECA to become legally accredited in an effort to secure its future. Chuck was key in creating and executing the ‘VOTE YES’ campaign. This campaign saw 1,675 of our approximately 3,400 student members voting in favour of the referendum. There was a 50 per cent voter turnout and 96 per cent of those ballots were in favour. The results speak for themselves.

Sometimes it seems like Chuck knows everything. You need a robot? Chuck will build one. You have a technical issue? Chuck will fix it. You need a balanced budget? Call on Chuck. You need a drummer? Chuck can rock out. An updated policy, a website, help understanding circuit systems? Chuck’s your man. But, the really awesome thing about Chuck is when he doesn’t know something he tackles the challenge head on and doesn’t quit until an acceptable solution is reached. All the while, keeping a beard-framed smile.

It’s easy to make promises, but it’s a lot harder to fulfill them. Chuck doesn’t talk about doing things. #chuckdoesthings

– Allison Hipgrave

 

Dear Editor:

As a fellow student I would like to reach out to all Concordia students, but particularly students in Fine Arts.

In the upcoming CSU elections there will be a question that asks whether or not you agree with per-faculty fee levy referendums. It’s important for people to know the full impact of this question, and why voting ‘NO’ is so important.

For those that don’t know, the Art Matters Festival is a fee levy group. We couldn’t do what we do without the stability and funding provided by a stable fee levy. With it, Art Matters has become a renowned and unique arts festival in North America.

Fine Arts students should know that the exact same people who were pushing for the current per-faculty fee levy referendum also tried to push for an immediate 20 per cent cut to Art Matters funding (as well as five other fee levy groups) by asking for John Molson School of Business students to opt-out en masse. This was done without any consultation or discussion with the people directly concerned.

Per-faculty fee levy referendums have the potential to destroy the sense of community at Concordia that fee levy groups and related projects cultivate. Art Matters is not exclusive to the Fine Arts, it is for the Concordia community at large, just like the Sustainable Business Conference is something Fine Arts students and all students can attend and learn from. After all, Art Matters is called “Art Matters” because it is not solely for other artists, but for everyone.

I feel Fine Arts students in particular should be coming out in large numbers in the upcoming CSU elections, to defend Art Matters, to defend fee levy groups, and to defend the values of a Concordia community. Please visit www.ConcordiaCommunity.org for more information.

Thank you,

Coey Kerr

Faculty of Fine Arts, BFA

 

A Better Loyola

In the past two years my frustration with the limited food options on the Loyola campus has been increasing exponentially. If I wasn’t able to bring a lunch to school, I was forced with the daunting decision of purchasing a salty, frozen soup, a heavily processed and pre-packaged sugar laden muffin form Chartwells, or possibly a flavourless, vegetable-less helping of lentils or pasta from the free lunch. Having daydreamed of fresh, home-cooked, sustainable food options in a welcoming, comfortable space I decided I needed to find an answer to my dilemma. I heard of the Concordia Food Coalition (CFC) conference and Transitions, and decided to venture to the downtown campus with the hope of meeting like-minded people, people who cared about healthy, sustainable food. That day changed the rest of my student life at Concordia. That was the day I met Gabriel Velasco (as well as many other wonderful new friends). I immediately became involved with the CFC, and along with Gabriel, decided to start meeting at the Loyola campus to assemble a crew that would try to change the current food system situation.

Gabriel is a passionate, level-headed, easygoing guy, who truly wants to make a substantial (and sustainable) difference in our Concordia community. Learning how much headway had already been made with the Hive Café, I was impressed to say the least. Loyola is a barren food wasteland, and he and the rest of the Community Matters team intend to change that. In the short time I’ve come to know some of the members of this team, my faith in sustainable food options at a university has been renewed. The Hive café project this team will make happen is just a small piece of the puzzle they intend to construct over the next year. With plans for a greenhouse and another café in the hall building, they have their work cut out for them. I have complete faith that these changes will be made and that the progress this team will incur will bring Concordia back to the community it has strayed from in the past couple of years. Gabriel, and the rest of the team, has a deep understanding of how important community and solidarity are to making these projects realities. I implore you to go out and vote for Gabriel for VP Loyola (and the rest of the Community matters team) his focus and drive will not wane, changes will be made, and Concordia will be one giant step closer to a healthier, richer student body.

– Paige Hilderman

 

I started an undergrad in accountancy this January, and I already love being a John Molson School of Business (JMSB) student. I’m also voting ‘NO’ to per-faculty fee levy referendums in the upcoming CSU elections (March 25-27).

When I learned that the referendum was happening, and that some students in my faculty pushed for it at the last minute, I was quite shocked. Never did any of the proponents of this issue make the case properly to JMSB students about why this was so urgent.

I would like to state for the record that JMSB students are not united on this issue. Many of us are glad that fee levy groups exist and we access their services regularly, whether that be the Concordia Volunteers Abroad Program or the People’s Potato. These groups are part of what makes Concordia so great and I’m proud to support them. Plus, groups like Le Frigo Vert, CJLO and the Sustainability Action Fund have a positive impact on the Montreal community at large, and build the reputation of our university as vibrant and dynamic. Fee levy groups offer all students volunteer, internship and job opportunities, as well as the experience of running a not-for-profit corporation. The years of work that have gone into building these resources will be undermined with per-faculty fee levy referendums. We all could lose so much.

Community means supporting things even if you don’t always directly benefit from it. We do so because we know that building community support systems build better societies. Per-faculty fee levy referendums destroy this idea in favour of a cold ideological vision that says, “If I don’t directly benefit, I don’t care.” The existence of projects like CASA Cares and the Sustainable Business Group’s, Business Beyond Tomorrow Conference, which are fundamentally premised on the idea of social responsibility, prove that JMSB embraces an ideology in support of community.

I’m glad that within JMSB there’s a sense that we are part of a larger community and contribute to it. CASA Cares, JMSB cares, and I feel the overwhelming majority of Concordia students care as well. We should stay united as students in defense of services that mutually benefit us all, and make Concordia an interesting place to learn. I encourage my fellow JMSB students, and all students at Concordia, to vote ‘NO’ to per-faculty fee levy referendums and to visit ConcordiaCommunity.org for more information on this important issue.

Laura Macdonald, Accountancy, John Molson School of Business (JMSB)

 

I’m writing to my fellow students in all faculties to strongly urge all Concordia undergrads to vote ‘NO’ to per-faculty fee levy referendums during the CSU elections on March 25-27. I don’t usually get involved with elections so directly, or even write letters like this, but the specific ballot question about fee levy groups is an unfair attack on the integrity of some incredible organizations that I know well like the Center for Gender Advocacy and QPIRG Concordia that, along with other fee levy groups, are very accountable to students while doing great campus and community organizing work.

I even joined the “Vote No” committee last week, and it’s been great to work with students from all faculties. Our committee includes the active participation of students from Arts & Science, Fine Arts, the John Molson School of Business and Engineering and Computer Science. In other words, our committee represents student unity, not the divisions that happen with per-faculty referendums. I feel our committee represents the potential of what students from all faculties can accomplish when we work together.

Students should check out ConcordiaCommunity.org, the website of the “Vote No” campaign for more details. Maintaining student unity when it comes to fee levy groups is an important way to maintain the strength of Concordia’s student community as a whole.

Thien Viet Quan

Fine Arts

 

All students benefit from Fee-Levy groups: Vote ‘No’ for the Per-Faculty Fee Levy Referendum Question

After reading last week’s issue of The Link about the upcoming vote on having per-faculty fee levy referendums (Vol. 34, Issue 23: “Stronger Together” and “No Remuneration Without Representation”), it only confirms my thoughts.

The articles were written by a John Molson School of Business (JMSB) and Arts & Science student, showing that these fee levy groups are available for everyone, no matter one’s degree or faculty. In the article in favour of fee levy groups, I thought the following quote was pertinent: “Fee levy groups also provide benefits to all students outside of the diverse services, events and campaigns they already offer in the way of volunteer, internship, job and mentorship opportunities. Participation in a fee levy group means hands-on experience in running a not-for-profit corporation, which is an immensely valuable experience for any student to have.” This is especially true for me being an international student at Concordia in the Geography, Planning & Environment department for the past three years and now working as the CURE Coordinator for the Winter 2014 term. I’ve had many opportunities to volunteer with several on-campus organizations, whether it’s helping do bake sales for Sustainable Concordia or getting signatures for the Concordia Food Coalition’s (CFC) fee levy question, and now have the chance to actually be paid by Concordia University under the Work-Study Program grant.

Its article shows that students from all faculties do actually work together – for example, JMSB students have been board members or staffers at Art Matters, the Centre for Gender Advocacy, CUTV, the Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore, Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program, The Concordian, QPIRG Concordia, the Sustainability Action Fund and Sustainable Concordia.

Supporting fee levy groups is agreeing with the idea that we, students of Concordia University, are part of a larger community. In any community, individuals might not use all of the services that are offered; not everyone watches CUTV or a Cinema Politica film on Mondays, listens to CJLO, volunteers abroad with CVAP, or uses the Centre for Gender Advocacy, however, that doesn’t mean these are not important resources to have. We should still support all the 17 different fee levy groups and the various services they provide since these last improve the lives of not only students but also the lives of other members of the community.

Hopefully you will all agree with me on this point. Students should get informed before signing or voting for things, and make sure they realise the consequences these decisions engender – remember, vote ‘NO’ at the upcoming per-faculty fee levy referendum between the 25-27 of March.

William Butcher

The Community-University Research Exchange (CURE) Coordinator (as of Winter 2014)

Letter of Endorsement for Benjamin Prunty for The Link and The Concordian

I fully support Benjamin Prunty and his team, Community Matters, for CSU executive next year. Having worked with him recently as a main organizer for the Concordia Transitions conference, I know that he is the best candidate for the job. Last October, Benjamin proposed an idea for a student conference that would build momentum towards change in the food system at Concordia. With Benjamin as our leader, we were an incredibly effective team. Concordia Transitions – building a food system from farm to plate – was a huge success because of Benjamin’s leadership, hard work, and dedication.

Student government should not only initiate change, but finish what they start. It’s not an easy task but Benjamin has proven that he is very much capable of doing so. This is really why my vote is going to Community Matters. Above all, I want a student government that follows through with projects, ideas and represents what students want and need. I believe Benjamin Prunty and his team are organized, well intentioned, incredibly smart and innovative. A qualified team with a leader you can count on.

– Alix Tabet

It is with pleasure that I write to express my political support of the Community Matters team running in the CSU Elections. My experience with three specific representatives exemplifies why this team has the skills to deliver their promises:

Benjamin Prunty was a spectacular asset to ASFA in 2012-2013. His commitment to transparency and ability to ask challenging questions made him a strong voice for all students. As a member of CSU Sustainability Committee, I see Benjamin as an inspiring leader, presenting interesting projects through passionate communication. He democratically utilizes the committee by allowing us to express opinions and concerns. Having attended many events where Benjamin has publicly spoken on important issues, I can attest that he is a talented orator and informed on many scales. I believe Benjamin’s valuable experience paired with humble presidential qualities resonate with what the Concordia student body deserves for the upcoming year.

Charles Bourassa demonstrates exceptional initiative on ASFA Council, being enthusiastic and motivated even when facing majority opposition. He has exemplified fortitude in thinking outside the box and persevering important topics – even forming and chairing ad-hoc committees to deal with contentious issues. Charles also sits on the CSU Sustainability Committee. Through this I learned of his strong values in education as academics and student engagement experiences. Charles possesses the unique quality of seeing the big picture and recognizing smaller flaws within the overall structure – this type of intuition is integral as a leader.

Jessica Cabana is a kind, well-rounded student. Representing LCSA on ASFA Council, she takes it upon herself to pursue individual projects performing research, later presenting her findings to council – this type of drive has the capacity to make major contributions in student-government. Outside of politics, Jessica is a Coordinator at Sustainable Concordia where I am actively involved as an intern. She maintains excellent relationships with peers and supervisors due to her outstanding level of professionalism which has gained her respect and admiration. Jessica has a wealth of knowledge and large sustainable networking base.

I admire all team members’ sustainable profiles and accomplished reputations: the aptitudes of these students shine brightly individually, and I can only anxiously anticipate their intellectual capacities as a team. Concordia is a community that needs capable leaders to ensure all needs are heard, therefore, I formally endorse Community Matters as I wholly believe this team has the strength to unwaveringly serve our student body.

Meghan Lamb

ASFA Chairperson

 

Why Community Matters

Community Matters. Let’s stop and think about these words for a minute. These are some pretty important buzzworthy words that are being tossed around by almost every platform. So, you have to ask yourself, which team actually has the ability to represent a community you want Concordia to look like? For me, the answer is glaring. We should be represented by a team that understands what it takes to implement, and has had experience in leading, community movements and making concrete steps in bettering the lives of students on campus.

Through their tireless efforts, the members of Community Matters have made everlasting contributions to the structure of student life on both campuses already. In my view, it only makes sense to see them continue this amazing work to make our university a space that represents who we are. They have all, in one way or another, contributed (and, in many cases, founded) very important work at People’s Potato, Divest Concordia, Concordia Food Coalition, Sustainable Concordia, The Hive Café, as well as a number of other amazing groups that fill the pages of this teams impressive CV. We are hearing a lot about what other candidates plan to do for our community once elected, but the Community Matters team has already planted the seeds of their platform and it will be exciting to see these initiatives grow and mature.

As you may have heard, there is also a referendum question put to ballot during these elections. A question asking whether you would like to see the decisions surrounding fee levy group funding be changed from its current state to a per-faculty vote was presented to the union for consideration. If passed, this decision will have profoundly negative effects on the way these student organizations operate, and in some cases, they may cease to exist entirely. Community Matters envisions a strong student community that is collaborative and gives each student the autonomy to engage in whichever way they wish. This includes having the opportunity to join any group or activity no matter what faculty you are in. So, instead of playing into these divisive politics they are even more motivated to work with fee levy groups in order to make sure every student on campus has the same enjoyable experience. This is the definition of leading. This is the result of experience, and this is why the decision is simple. Vote Community Matters!

Mark Underwood

 

Upcoming referendum on per-faculty fee levies: A call to vote “NO”

I am sympathetic to students who may have found themselves discovering a host of fees for initiatives that they have not had the fortune of learning about beforehand. However, this does not mean that the work that these groups are doing is not worth supporting. It is ironic that one complaint about fee levy groups is the lack of outreach, yet if this question passes, groups will have to consider limiting access to and/or flat out exclude certain students from partaking in their services and activities. The upcoming referendum question on per-faculty fee levies is not the way to address concerns about fee levies, because the work that these groups do is invaluable to the Concordia experience for many students. Many people come to this university because of the wide range of opportunities and experiences that fee levies provide, and I urge students to recognize how this contributes to the strength and vibrancy of Concordia’s campus.

The opportunity to volunteer and work at the Concordia Greenhouse is the reason I chose to remain at Concordia when I transferred from Studio Arts to Environmental Science. Since my arrival at the university in 2007, my student experience has been tremendously enriched with experiential learning, in such fields as horticulture and urban agriculture, collective management, and popular education. I have also been able to host hundreds of volunteers from all faculties, provide internship opportunities, and learn to host workshops to share what I had learned. This is all thanks to the Greenhouse. But last year, due to lack of funding, the Greenhouse was on the verge of closing down. Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to obtain funding through a fee levy, making it possible for us to not only continue offering amazing and unique opportunities to Concordia students, but to consistently plan and develop towards an even more exciting future. This would not be possible without the security that fee levy funding provides.

It is this consideration for the future that is absent from the vision of those who would divide fee levies per faculty. Consequently, I would urge students to vote down this referendum question so that we may have the opportunity to thoughtfully work together in addressing the concerns that you may have about fee levy groups. This is the vision that we propose: working together to forge a thriving student community full of diverse and thrilling growing opportunities.

– Stefanie Dimitrovas

Categories
Concordia Student Union

EXPERIENCE CSU Official Statement Concerning the Fee-Levy Referendum

To all fee-levy groups, their employees, and all voters,

 Over the past few days, the one question we have received more than any other is; “What is your team’s stance on the fee-levy referendum question?”

 We at EXPERIENCE CSU would like to publicly announce that our team does not have an official stance on the fee-levy question, and chooses to remain neutral.

Sure, each one of us has our own opinion on the matter. Each one of us will have our say at the ballot box, just like you. Nevertheless, we feel that as executive candidates for the CSU, it is inappropriate for us to collectively endorse a political position that will alienate a large number of students.

 It is our belief that CSU executives should spend more time listening to what students have to say, rather than telling them what they should think.

Currently, there are a number of groups advocating for one side of this question or the other. We urge all voters to listen to these debates, and to carefully consider these arguments. Students should be fully informed of the ramifications of their vote.

Our primary intention next year is to focus on strategies that can actually solve some of the issues that have come up in the past few weeks. We intend to work towards assisting and empowering the fee-levy groups in communicating with undergraduate students. It is our goal to cooperate hand-in-hand with the fee-levy groups by developing a clear online community where students can access information about all the services that are provided by the fee-levy groups, other student groups, the CSU, and the university. Our team has the experience to clearly disseminate this information, and to impartiality to work with all parties in a neutral and respectful manner.  

Regardless of the outcome of this referendum, EXPERIENCE CSU is committed to supporting fee-levy groups, which provide invaluable services to our community. A number of our running executives have either worked directly alongside these groups or benefited from their services. Our team recognizes how important they are to our Concordia community. We remain equally as respectful to individuals who wish to opt-out of their fee-levies, as is their right.

In sum, we are committed to listening to what students tell us, and we are setting that trend right now. At the end of the day, our voices shouldn’t be heard any louder than yours, because our team’s collective opinion is worth exactly eight votes.

A vote for EXPERIENCE CSU is a vote for a team that actually listens to what students have to tell them,

 A vote for us is a vote for neutrality, reason, and respect.

Your team,

EXPERIENCE CSU

Recommendation to take Concordia University Security Department training

I would highly recommend that all students invest in themselves and attend the training workshop organized by the Concordia University Security Department. The link to have more information on the training session can be found online at: http://security.concordia.ca/prevention/training/rad/

I sincerely hope that no students will ever have to use the skills learned in the trainings, but having these tools at your disposal can come in handy.

Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training, is only for women. The instructors are Lyne Denis and Valerie Bolduc, and they are phenomenal women with a wealth of knowledge and experience. The instructors are also VERY considerate of any existing personal physical injuries that the participants have, and you will be well taken care of. Although the training is called Rape Aggression Defense, the tools learned in the training can be used in other situations that women will face. This training lasts between 9-12 hours long, and only costs $20. It is very important to note that it is a very reasonable cost considering the duration of the training, and that once you finish the RAD training, there is a lifetime practice policy. This policy allows any person to attend any RAD training workshop around North America free of charge! It is a very good investment in not only yourself, but your future, and I highly recommend it.

The training is an amazing opportunity to meet other people from around the University. I would highly recommend that everyone learn more about the trainings, and register for whichever training suits your needs.

-Melissa Lemieux

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Opinions

Letter to the Editor: Re: “A culture of misunderstanding, miscommunication, and misogyny”

Last week, I read an opinions article talking about the undermining of the feminist movement by men’s rights activists. The writer made an excellent point: “They [men’s rights activists] ignore the fact that feminist discourse shows an understanding that these issues do not only affect women.”

The article received some strong criticism, and, true to Lewis’ Law, “the comments on any article about feminism justify feminism.” For people to say that the advancement of the women’s rights movement somehow limits or impedes on men’s rights shows that people don’t understand how feminist issues, while centered on women, apply across a broad spectrum and better the lives of more than just women.

Before we get to how feminism helps more than just women, let’s take a look at some statistics to help contextualize the importance of the feminist movement. Women, who make up just short of 50 per cent of the world’s population and 50.4 per cent of Canada’s population, are greatly underrepresented on the political stage.  In Canada, only 24 per cent of members in the House of Commons are women. While this is a record number in this country, it is still not close to representing the actual population of women present in the country. Anyone who says this lack of representation is irrelevant is highly in denial of the lack of a voice women have in their government.

One of the most outrageous crimes against women, sexual assault, occurs at such a high frequency and yet is still blown off. The Globe and Mail reported that almost a quarter of university women have been the victim of rape or attempted rape . Stats Canada also reported that women are five times more likely to be the victim of a sexual assault .

While people may take these statistics to undermine the credibility of men’s rights and claim that men are being marginalized, it actually shows issues that disproportionately affect women more than men. This doesn’t mean that the issue in respect to men is being minimized, or that it shouldn’t be discussed, but rather that women are facing these issues in higher numbers, which justifies the reason these issues are pushed in an angle that primarily focuses on women.

The driving force behind feminism, while it places its core values in the advancement of women, serves to challenge traditional patriarchal values. They are helping more than just themselves and making this world a greater place for everyone.

Feminism does not equal women over men – it means taking the steps necessary to equalize the rights of women, and it’s such an uphill battle, it’s easy for anyone who doesn’t look closely enough at the issue to claim that it’s a movement to bring men down. Anyone who denies the value of feminism obviously does not understand the basics of feminism.

-Gregory Todaro

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