by Lex Gill, Concordia Student Union president

missvoltairine:

erm, edited for proper link.

English translation via Concordia Students For The Strike:

Sunday evening, the Minister of Education publicly announced an invitation to the Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ) to meet and discuss the question of university management, and specifically the proposal announced earlier this week by the FEUQ for the implementation of a permanent and independent university oversight commission.

The FEUQ is open to the invitation of the Minister and is receptive to the fact that the government has finally recognized the serious problems surrounding financial management in universities.

However, the FEUQ requires that Minister request the presence of all national student associations in this discussion, so that the demands of all students on strike are represented. To this end, the FEUQ demands that the FECQ and the CLASSE have the right to a voice and to be present at the table.

Moreover, the FEUQ has every intention of addressing the issue of the tuition fee increase at the table, given that any negotiation regarding the financial management of universities necessarily leads to a discussion about the cost of post-secondary education, given the inseparability of the two subjects. The FEUQ has also previously demonstrated that it is possible to generate more funding simply through effective university management, rather than by increasing tuition fees.

The FEUQ equally states to the Minister that at the table it intends to address any subject relevant to the accessibility of university studies and the sound management of fees paid by students. Topics include, among others, the tuition fee increase, student financial aid, university governance, university financing, and so on.

Finally, the FEUQ urges and encourages students to continue to mobilize. Student pressure helped open a door to establish a negotiation table. In the coming general assemblies, the Federation invites students to reaffirm their strike mandates until such time as the conflict is resolved.

———————
In brief:
The FEUQ accepts the Minister’s invitation.
The FEUQ requires that the Minister request the presence of the FECQ and the CLASSE at the discussion table.
The FEUQ intends, at this table, to address the question of the tuition fee increase with the Minister.
The FEUQ furthermore intends to address all other relevant issues regarding accessibility of post-secondary education and sound financial management, including student financial aid and university budgets.

I just tweeted: Most of the learning I feel like I need seems to be happening outside of the classroom. Doubting my university education entirely.

I have been fantasizing about dropping out of school, becoming a clown, and working in hospitals (maybe prisons too) for more than 6 months.

I think that I will keep doubting and thinking about my degree, get top surgery, and see how I feel then.

A friend just tweeted at me: “Need” is the key word there. What are your educational needs? How can you best meet them?

shayrhymeswithgay:

Just found out that I’ve been conditionally accepted to the Ryerson School of Social Work …and mildly freaking out.

I need to process some shit with y’all (and it’s not even about gender). I’ve been meaning to write about this for a long time, and I seriously need help/guidance/input.

Life…

YES. All the feelings.

I don’t know what I want to do with my life. Social work seems like you’re just perpetuating the oppressive system you live in. You’re also probably dealing with a white saviour complex.

And university is just… inaccessible, elitest, classist, and and and UGH.

A lot of what you said, Shay, really resonates with me.

missvoltairine:

With final exams going on it’s SUPER important that the pickets be stronger than ever, despite the University’s scare tactics - striking students are counting on their fellow strikers to help prevent their profs from failing them, a pressure we’re all feeling intensely on campus right now.

So A…

Dude, honestly, this is how I dream of academia working. That’s what school would be. Writing papers that you care about. Or not writing papers at all.

I would write about how poetry is revolutionary (I’m pretentious and conceited don’t mind me), how Severus Snape is a BAMF and the real hero of the Harry Potter series, and cultural appropriation in paganism. I would also probably write about self care, like the sensitive sniffling little boy I am.

Why didn’t I ever clue in to bell hooks being influenced by Paulo Freire?

I got so excited in my Women’s Studies class when I found that out, yo.

“That’s so cool!”

My prof grinned at me and the class giggled a bit.

Learning is fun!

An aside: I came at this essay from the perspective of a politicized white queer transgender man, who has the financial means and physical ability to access university education. If I lean towards any sort of politics, I’d be spotted with the radical feminists who hang out with anarchists.

Should I add anything else?

missvoltairine:

Folks. Tomorrow there’s a student strike. It is important that you go.

If you’re at Concordia, you probably already know this, but for those of you outside of Concordia: tution at Concordia, and throughout Quebec, is set to be increased by 75% in the next few years. Think about that. 75%….