Letters to the Editor

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An education worth paying for

Where does Rachel Henreichs, Garry Sran, and the rest of UMSU get off rejecting support from the province for tuition funding rebates? In a recent article in the Winnipeg Free Press, UMSU president Garry Sran chastised the Doer government and their tuition rebate, calling the CGA’s conclusion that tuition could be free, “laughable, at best.” Given that the CGAs did not take into account all non-tuition costs, how is free money still laughable? It seems no matter what, UMSU will shut down any efforts made to help students fund their education. With the exception of the tuition freeze, which is acutally driving down the quality of education and facilities that we as students are paying so much for. Why are so many people opposed to spending money on improving their education? Let me remind you that this education is the take-off of your career and future income.

If all students took pride in their university degrees, we would all be willing to pay the extra amount. Faculties such as engineering and business recognize a good thing when they see it. The engineering faculty voted 71% in favour of increasing fees to avoid letting the quality of their education and reputation of their degrees slip. The Asper School of Business has been lucky enough to gain generous donations from their alum, but obviously they are providing respected degrees to their graduates in order to receive the assistance for their current students. There is a positive cycle of appreciation that can start without the tuition freeze so the university can continually improve over the long-run.

UMSU needs to reevaluate their priorities when it comes to student representation. I’m sick of a student association that jumps on whatever bandwagon they can gain support from. Remember that UMSU pushed support for the CAW strike last fall while refusing to pay overtime to the student employees who were working in the few places that were actually open. Which students did that benefit? Now they want to keep the tuition freeze that is hindering the education of U of M students. What students really need is budgeting help, more scholarship opportunities, and an education worth paying for. Way to stand up for students’ interests UMSU.

Sarah Bockstael

Mo money mo problems

I cannot help but think that renaming the Asper Centre for Entrepreneurship after Mr. Stu Clark in light of his recent generous donation is in extremely bad taste.  I cannot believe that a bigger or more recent donation trumps the philanthropy of those who have given in the past.  If someone gives the Centre six million dollars next year will the Centre be renamed again? What must the Asper family be thinking?  Isn’t there some other wing, hallway, wall, room, lab, position, tree, etc. that could be named after Mr. Stu Clark?

Amber Lutz
Faculty of Management

LOL!

I thought Mr. Okurrley’s article “Down with scientology! Wait, can we really say that?” was pretty good, until I got to this part:

“Most people at the protest admitted they were ‘70 per cent there strictly for the lulz’ (for the fun of it)”

I was at both protests, so I take a risk sending you this note with my own name not knowing who will read this.  Please do not publish my name.

I can say that I was absolutely not there for the lulz.  I can also say that the protesters I’ve spoken with there were informed about scientology’s many abuses and their subsequent outrage is what brought them out to protest, not the “lulz”.

It’s insulting to read such a thing after having spent time becoming informed and taking the personal risk of being harassed by Scientology (as many protesters have been) by attending what is certainly an important event to increase public awareness.

Mr. Okurley also claims that Anonymous is “a collective of online message board members and irc users”.  He is wrong in my case, and I’m not alone.  It’s a media misconception that “Anonymous” is now what it was before this began.  Everyone who attends a protest and protects their identity is a member, by default, and many of those attending were simply youtube video watchers who gained an interest in scientology and decided it’s critics needed help.

I encourage Mr. Okurley to to to xenutv.com and click on the “interviews”.  Make some popcorn, and spend 30 or 40 hours watching the heart-breaking testimony by the victims of scientology.  Then write an apology for your false claim that we’re all there for the “lulz”.  Who the H did you talk to, anyway?

Re: Canadian Blood Services Master Debate

I am writing in response to Jesse Beach’s article “A Matter of Public Safety,” published in the most recent edition of The Manitoban. I would like to begin by clarifying my position on the CBS issue. At no point has anyone at the Students’ Union (that I know of) stated that we wanted the offending question removed from the questionnaire. My position is that the question should be altered to be based on high-risk sexual behavior and not on a demographic factor such as men who have sex with men. The question as it stands forces men in the LGBTT community to identify as having had sex with another male in a situation in which they may not feel safe.  I fully acknowledge that blood donations and the CBS are vital parts of our health care system and would never suggest that blood donations should cease on our campus.

I take specific exception to the statement that UMSU and my community has ruled that CBS are “a group of homophobic, gender-exclusive and discriminatory bastards.” As I have stated before, I have nothing but the greatest respect for the work of the Canadian Blood Services and for its employees and volunteers. What many members of community object to are the two questions on the questionnaire mandated by Health Canada (not the CBS) that we see as discriminatory. The author attempts several times to make it look that I, as well as my community, are leading an attack on the Canadian Blood Services. We are not. The revised policy makes reference to the questions being discriminatory, not the organization.

On March 20th, I met with members of CBS, UWSA and UMSU to discuss the question.  This meeting cannot be described as anything but congenial and both sides were satisfied with the sharing of information. We were certainly not hostile towards CBS.

Finally, I am fully aware of the window period in which HIV cannot be detected. When stating that I disagree with the indefinite deferral period, I am not advocating for the elimination of that window period entirely ? that would be completely irresponsible of me, CBS and Health Canada. I am arguing for a uniform deferral period for all those engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors and their partners.

In the future, I would encourage the author to engage in research befitting an Arts student before making such blatantly erroneous and offensive comments.

Daniel Draper is the LGBTT* Community Representative for the University of Manitoba Students’ Union