Letters to the editor

Send your letters to editor@themanitoban.com or drop them off at 105 University Centre

Emöke Szathmáry needs to get informed

Since when does the administration feel like they need to be involved with the decisions students make with our own representation? I fi nd it laughable that the university president takes time from her day to think of ways to undermine UMSU and other democratic structures students have set up. Saying that she doesn't hear from U of M students anymore since we went over to CFS is an interesting comment. I am a student who voted to join the CFS and I'm glad that we had the opportunity to exercise our democratic rights. If I recall correctly, there was a large voter turnout and a lot of support by U of M students to join the CFS. If she wants to hear from us, start by looking at the fact that we have decided to be a part of the CFS. It's no surprise that she doesn't like students' organizations; she clearly does not want to work with UMSU because she doesn't want to even consider opinions other than her own. If Szathmáry wants to listen to students, she could start by being respectful of our decisions; students spoke loudly and in favour of joining the CFS . . . and that's our voice!

Edwardo (Bode) Famakin Third- year Commerce

Still on Szathmáry interview

In reading your piece “Governing Your University,” an interview with Emöke Szathmáry, I fi nd her comments regarding international student fees not being a cash grab laughable. Not having enough money to balance the budget, and then targeting a group of students who are more vulnerable than Canadian students to pay more is nothing but a cash grab. It’s unfortunate that with all the government money and tuition fees that the U of M receives, she is not able to keep our university open to all students. Shame on her for her disrespectful comments and cheap shot at international students!

Nathan Heinrichs

Campus parking

I was disappointed with your story on parking at the University of Manitoba. Individuals should be considering alternatives to driving, not just because of parking congestion problems (as implied in the article) — but because driving heats up the planet, pollutes the air and perpetuates our dependence on fossil fuels. Future stories related to parking and commuting to campus should not focus on more and cheaper parking spaces but on improved transit service, U-passes, cycling infrastructure, and how single-occupancy vehicles contribute to climate change!

M.McDermott