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Open letter to students and the CSU

Open letter to students and the CSU

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Started by Anonymous 15 years, 8 months ago
Open letter to students and the CSU

We, the undersigned, call for a university-wide General Assembly to rebuild Concordia's student movement in the immediate future.

The economy faces a shaky recovery after the most significant economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Budget cuts to health care and education are being implemented here in Quebec, and the Canadian government is set to impose significant financial austerity measures well into 2014.

In reaction to these measures, francophone universities and CEGEPs here in Quebec are currently engaged in general assemblies, strikes, sit-ins and other forms of action. It’s working.

Students are converging in Quebec City this December 6, when the provincial government is scheduled to introduce a province-wide tuition hike.

But the Concordia Student Union remains largely absent from the scene. Here at Concordia, the CSU has not issued a single statement regarding the provincial budget or the financial crisis. There is something wrong with this picture.

And while our frustrations are clear, we truly desire to work together with the CSU to build a stronger student movement. It is a shame that Concordia has no visible presence in the midst of widespread social unrest.

In Britain last week, students arranged a national walk-out and protest with some 130,000 people in attendance. Academic Saskia Sassen recently praised student efforts in California, Iran, Greece and Puerto Rico.

Students there, she wrote, “are doing urban agriculture, collective cooking, environmentally sustainable practices, art, music... in brief, they are striving to build the elements of a different society.”

Concordia students and organizations are actively building upon this new society, but continued support and collaboration from the CSU is absolutely essential.

Struggles against tuition increases and the recently signed contract with Pepsi are necessary, but just the tip of the iceberg.

Concordia’s student movement needs to come together and take measured actions if it is to have any impact at the provincial, federal and international level. It is time we work together.

We, the undersigned, therefore call on the Concordia Student Union to organize a university-wide General Assembly during the week of February 14. We also call on faculty and staff, graduate, international and long-distance students to take part in this process. Enough is enough.
VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE write your department or organizational affiliation NEXT TO your name. Thank you.

Updates

November 27, 2010

im getting so many messages from people who feel just as ignored by the csu as i do and its clear we are all tired of the silence. im looking into how we can get a formal meeting to put these demands directly in front of them.

November 27, 2010

the momentum building behind this is honestly wild. i didnt think we would get this much traction so fast but im glad everyone cares enough to act.

Reached 100 supporters

November 27, 2010

6 Comments

S
Sarah Lund
15 years ago Featured

Concordia needs to wake up! Tuition is going up and we are just sitting here doing absolutely nothing. embarrassing.

C
Chloe Olsen
15 years ago Featured

SO TIRED of the silence. we should be out there with the rest of the students in the province.

J
Jason Abbott
15 years ago Featured

The student union is supposed to represent us and right now they are doing a terrible job of it. Get moving.

M
Marc Cunningham
15 years ago Featured

Finally someone said it. The CSU has been dead silent for way too long while everyone else is actually fighting for our future.

D
David Gray
15 years ago Featured

What is the point of a student union that ignores tuition hikes? Needs to change asap.

E
Elena Gupta
15 years ago Featured

Really hopinh we can get a general assembly going. enough is enough.

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