Letters to the editor

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The Manitoban’s frustrating editorials

I have become increasingly frustrated with the editorial slant of the Manitoban towards both the University of Manitoba Students’ Union and the Canadian Federation of Students. The student newspaper seems to have become a haven for irrelevant and petty criticisms of UMSU.

I know that it’s the student newspaper’s job to be a sort of campus watchdog, but I’d say that Carson Jerema and the other holier-thanthou editorialists at the paper are more like lapdogs to the university brass. They seem uninterested in exposing the double-speak of the university administrators when it comes to funding versus spending priorities and management of the institution.

The Winnipeg Free Press reported that the faculty of engineering is proposing a vote on a huge tuition fee increase in March. And yet where were the Manitoban’s investigative journalists? They are too busy harping on about conspiracy theories relating to how much UMSU is spending. Even a casual read of the research on various web sites, especially www.cfsfcee.ca, shows that the mainstream media do not give students’ unions a fair chance — UMSU’s position on reducing tuition fees is wellresearched and complex, and goes way beyond sloganeering.

Anyway, I appreciate the advocacy and services provided by UMSU, and I know that students need to get involved for the students’ union to be effective. I think it’s up to students to hold their student organizations accountable, and there doesn’t seem to be any scandalous issues right now — unless you consider students campaigning for education funding and affordability to be out of line. Sorry to disappoint the pundits at the paper, but after years of controversy under folks like Steven Fletcher, UMSU is finally doing its job.

In the name of journalistic integrity the Manitoban should fulfill their job as community watchdog and inform us, the student body, of more then just their personal ill-informed vendettas. One suggestion for the Manitoban to act before the school year is up. Why not do a “Top 10 Stories We Missed in 2006-2007?” What editor-in-chief Carson Jerema doesn’t know could fill a book, or at least one issue of the Manitoban.

Bronwyn Guard

Drop the charges!

The snowy coniferous forest that encircles the North, the boreal, is the lung of the planet Earth. The Earth depends on the boreal forest to capture carbon and provide habitat and biodiversity. The Earth needs biodiversity to be able to stay in balance and survive climatic crises. The boreal forest is the most precious jewel in Canada. We ought to defend and protect the boreal, for the continued practice of environmentally sustainable and traditional livelihoods, and the wellbeing of us all.

David Sone, Leah Henderson, Chrissy Swain, Bonny Swain, and Adrienne Swain have been protecting the boreal forest. It is a travesty that they are now facing charges of mischief. It is only by their excellent work that any awareness of the sanctity of the land has been communicated to the average Canadian. They have fought for the land around Grassy Narrows to be preserved. They have asked the government to put an end to the decadent and wasteful clear-cutting industry that encroaches, unwelcome, upon Grassy Narrows land.

Historically, the Government of Canada has made the people of Grassy Narrows move long distances for no good reason. The government has allowed mercury poisoning without meaningful compensation. The government only further insults and defiles any kind of respectful or friendly relationship with Grassy Narrows by allowing industrial clear-cutting in the area.

The medicinal herbs and plants that grow in the forest immediately around Grassy Narrows provide the people with healing and a sustainable way of life. The animals that inhabit that forest can also provide Grassy Narrows’ people with livelihoods. The clear-cutting must stop.

All charges against David Sone, Leah Henderson, Chrissy Swain, Bonny Swain, and Adrienne Swain ought to be dropped immediately. They have been doing what every person in Canada ought to have been doing, if we only were so fearless. If only we were all people of integrity.

Timothy Schwinghamer





Volume 94 Issue 21	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	Febuary 21, 2007

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly Letters to the editor Send your letters to editor@themanitoban.com or drop them off at 105 University Centre *The Manitoban’s frustrating editorials* I have become increasingly frustrated with the editorial slant of the Manitoban towards both the University of Manitoba Students’ Union and the Canadian Federation of Students. The student newspaper seems to have become a haven for irrelevant and petty criticisms of UMSU. I know that it’s the student newspaper’s job to be a sort of campus watchdog, but I’d say that Carson Jerema and the other holier-thanthou editorialists at the paper are more like lapdogs to the university brass. They seem uninterested in exposing the double-speak of the university administrators when it comes to funding versus spending priorities and management of the institution. The Winnipeg Free Press reported that the faculty of engineering is proposing a vote on a huge tuition fee increase in March. And yet where were the Manitoban’s investigative journalists? They are too busy harping on about conspiracy theories relating to how much UMSU is spending. Even a casual read of the research on various web sites, especially www.cfsfcee.ca, shows that the mainstream media do not give students’ unions a fair chance — UMSU’s position on reducing tuition fees is wellresearched and complex, and goes way beyond sloganeering. Anyway, I appreciate the advocacy and services provided by UMSU, and I know that students need to get involved for the students’ union to be effective. I think it’s up to students to hold their student organizations accountable, and there doesn’t seem to be any scandalous issues right now — unless you consider students campaigning for education funding and affordability to be out of line. Sorry to disappoint the pundits at the paper, but after years of controversy under folks like Steven Fletcher, UMSU is finally doing its job. In the name of journalistic integrity the Manitoban should fulfill their job as community watchdog and inform us, the student body, of more then just their personal ill-informed vendettas. One suggestion for the Manitoban to act before the school year is up. Why not do a “Top 10 Stories We Missed in 2006-2007?” What editor-in-chief Carson Jerema doesn’t know could fill a book, or at least one issue of the Manitoban. Bronwyn Guard Drop the charges! The snowy coniferous forest that encircles the North, the boreal, is the lung of the planet Earth. The Earth depends on the boreal forest to capture carbon and provide habitat and biodiversity. The Earth needs biodiversity to be able to stay in balance and survive climatic crises. The boreal forest is the most precious jewel in Canada. We ought to defend and protect the boreal, for the continued practice of environmentally sustainable and traditional livelihoods, and the wellbeing of us all. David Sone, Leah Henderson, Chrissy Swain, Bonny Swain, and Adrienne Swain have been protecting the boreal forest. It is a travesty that they are now facing charges of mischief. It is only by their excellent work that any awareness of the sanctity of the land has been communicated to the average Canadian. They have fought for the land around Grassy Narrows to be preserved. They have asked the government to put an end to the decadent and wasteful clear-cutting industry that encroaches, unwelcome, upon Grassy Narrows land. Historically, the Government of Canada has made the people of Grassy Narrows move long distances for no good reason. The government has allowed mercury poisoning without meaningful compensation. The government only further insults and defiles any kind of respectful or friendly relationship with Grassy Narrows by allowing industrial clear-cutting in the area. The medicinal herbs and plants that grow in the forest immediately around Grassy Narrows provide the people with healing and a sustainable way of life. The animals that inhabit that forest can also provide Grassy Narrows’ people with livelihoods. The clear-cutting must stop. All charges against David Sone, Leah Henderson, Chrissy Swain, Bonny Swain, and Adrienne Swain ought to be dropped immediately. They have been doing what every person in Canada ought to have been doing, if we only were so fearless. If only we were all people of integrity. Timothy Schwinghamer


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