Letters to the editor

Send your letters to tobancomment@umanitoba.ca or drop them off at 105 University Centre

Sexual stereotyping offensive

I am writing to express my thoughts about the graphic that was used in the February 8 edition of the Manitoban, featured along with the editorial “College Crush.” I am a second-year student in the faculty of nursing and learned pretty quickly to see humour in jokes about bed pans and other trials and tribulations that come with being a nurse. I have yet to think there is anything amusing about sexual stereotyping of my chosen profession or anyone else’s, though.
I found this graphic to be particularly offensive because in my experience so far, studying at the U of M has radically changed some of my own biases and misconceptions about nursing. The faculty members are to be specifically commended as excellent role models and advocates for a profession I am proud to be involved in. To be confronted with outdated stereotypes in this academic environment, especially in a student-run newspaper, was offensive and disrespectful.

Michelle Klimczak

CIBC monopoly penalizes students

Recently, I received a very lovely, though generic, e-mail from the administrative heavens above. As I dutifully read text, which my computer (perhaps not so incorrectly) had classified as junk mail, I was slightly perturbed to learn that CIBC had renewed its automated banking machine monopoly. With my feathers already ruffled from Aramark’s recent boastful announcements that they had received a contract extension, I read on. I’m afraid mild discontent turned to anger as the email went on to inform me that CIBC would not only dominate our campus, but would be charging the “industry standard” $1.50 fee for non-CIBC members.
When I enrolled in post secondary education, I found that it was not the CIBC that could provide me with the best option for academic funds. This leaves me wondering why, then, the CIBC feels it necessary to punish me for the fact that when shopping for a bank, they could not provide for my needs.
I can deal with an exclusively Pepsi school. I can handle Aramark’s questionable food services. However, what I cannot do is passively allow a bank monopoly by an institution that decides it must financially penalize me for its own shortcomings.

Andrew Greaves