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The Bull & Bear A publication of the
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April 2012 • Volume 9 • Issue 8
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Student Fees Appropriated to Fight Tuition Increases An investigation into SSMU’s role in the anti-tutition hike movement Cirilo Marinkovic and Dan A. Novick Staff Writers
T
he SSMU Executive has played an active role this year in opposing the Quebec government’s planned tuition hike increases of $1,625 over five years. What follows is an examination of that role, as well as that of its most visible supporter, VP External Joël Pedneault. SSMU Finances Anti-Hike Movement As a result of a policy on accessible education adopted in 2007 and a more recent extension thereof adopted in September 2011, SSMU has had an official mandate to oppose any and all tuition hikes. Beyond mere vocal condemnation, however, this stance has been translated into a number of financial actions. A review of SSMU’s expenditures indicates that $3,246.87 was spent between November 8th and November 11th, 2011 for full-page ads in the McGill Daily and the McGill Tribune for “Tuition Protest”. Another $430.56 was spent between February 7th and February 28th, 2012 on “Strike Posters, Flyers, Stickers”. This last sum was paid in three separate installments to three McGill students, at least
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two of which were involved in a week-long February occupation of the 6th floor of the James Administration Building on campus. In addition, $1000 was donated by SSMU to the Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale Étudiante (ASSÉ), which was to be allocated to ASSÉ’s legal aid fund. The purpose of this fund is to assist those who have faced legal difficulties related to their participation in protests. Any expense $1000 or over must be approved by all the SSMU Executives by vote. This amount was approved on November 22nd and detailed in a December 1st Report of the Executive Committee to Council. Contributions to ASSÉ ASSÉ acts as a union for students against the tuition hikes. Members of ASSÉ must be student associations that have agreed to join the movement and demonstrate against the hikes. On ASSÉ’s website, the organization asserts that “Since it is impossible to depend on governments and administrations for the upkeep of our right to education, we need to establish a balance of power, a counter authority. To this end, L’ASSÉ works relentlessly to systematically provide information for student rallies.” Member associations must pay a membership fee that Continued on Page 4
Jean Moirez
On March 22nd, protestors against tuition hikes embellished the statue of Queen Victoria with symbols of their resistance
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