Fresh off one attempted ousting of a tuition fee-fighting elected student union leader, another attempt is underway, this time at the University of British Columbia’s student union (Alma Mater Society–AMS). Both the UBC-AMS President, Blake Frederick, and VP-External, Tim Chu are the targets of this new attack.
Frederick and Chu, spearheaded a legal initiative to pressure Canada to hold to former commitments to the UN (and to Canadians) to progressively reduce tuition fees until they were eliminated. Canada was signatory to a UN resolution (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) to this effect in the 1976. As with other international treaties (the Kyoto Protocol, for example) Canada has walked away from its commitment on this. Tuition fees have spiked and continue to climb.
This challenge from the UBC AMS was an interesting and creative initiative that could result in real pressure on Canada to reverse the trend of increasing tuition fees. At the very least it is attention grabbing. In fact, apparently it got the attention of some people in high places. As a result, there is yet another professional smear campaign, followed by another attempted ousting. (Is this the 1990’s all over again?) As usual, Maclean’s was among the first to set the tone for the reactionary backlash.
Embattled Frederick and Chu are not backing down and will contest this move against them. A Facebook group has also sprung up in their defense. Also Resource Groups (read Public Interest Research Groups, we believe) who are also under attack on that campus have unified around Frederick and Chu.
The meeting where this issue will be decided is being held today at the 6:00 pm in the SUB council chambers.
2 responses so far ↓
Working Students United // December 2, 2009 at 4:44 pm |
This is a shameful attempt at punishing students for fighting back against high tuition fees. The AMS Council should be uniting around Blake and Tim and making the most of the media buzz their challenge created!
Gitty May // December 2, 2009 at 9:14 pm |
Boo. This is a terrible turn of events. I wish I were on that campus to help these guys out. Sounds like there up against a right-wing juggernaut.