McNie . and the fee
seems only fair to raise tuition.“’ Another student asked, that in light of the Wright Commission and treasury board documents, what was the Davis government’s philosophy on education. The question was answered with the old political manoeuvre of trying to return the question to the inquisitor. When this failed, MC Nie was accused of playing ‘fucking little political games’. McNie was clearly apprehensive .and unwilling to accept the validity of student’s claims and criticism, often trying to stress that “the people of Ontario are paying too much money on education.” Thirty-nine per cent of the provincial budget is allotted to education. The students agreed while pointing out that the money was spent in the wrong places: ‘high salaries, excessive and alienating bureaucracies, phallic symbols like the John Robarts library, etc.‘. A student suggested that instead of taxing the people of Ontario so much, that the corporations who reap the benefits of an educated professional class should shoulder “the burden. McNie accused the student of going on a ‘political tirade’ which brought a severe and critical response from many of the students present. “McNie, you’re there to represent us and don’t you forget it ! ” After a series of well taken points by the grad students, which McNie again feebly replied to, it became clear that no satisfaction was to be had by either cathartically discharging or reasonably debating the issue. McNie was a washout. One last important point was made. “Our bitching is not simply a self-interested matter of $100.00. In fact, if you closed down the university and put the money from the fee increase into improving the living conditions of the people of this province, chances are you wouldn’t get a debate here.” But needless to say, that isn’t where the money is going.
the-
University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario volume 13, number 22 friday, 3 november, 1972 -.
OFS going down
Jack McNie, Ontario minister of colleges and universities, was on campus last friday to formally open the new $2.8 million chemistry building. President Matthews, followed by a retinue of The possibilities for effective the vice-president finances, the concerted action on the fees issue dean of science, the chairman of by post-secondary students under chemistry, the contractors, the the banner of the Ontario Jack McNie, the architect, Federation of Students is dwinpresident of the Graduate Student dling. Student council waffling, the Union and the President of the possibility of an administrative Science Society, walked up on backlash against students, and stage to an all but empty government indifference to the _ humanities theatre to proceed with student position all are steadily the ceremony. eating away at whatever student A small group of students there solidarity and enthusiasm there to discuss the fee hike, hissed their may have been for protest action. disapproval and waved placards 4ave robertson photo by gord moore demanding that the fee increase be rescinded. After a few blase and mythological short speeches about the university of Waterloo., president Matthews introduced Jack McNie who was to pull the ribbons unveiling a plaque for the new building. Mr. McNie promptly began a rhetorical speech on how “some universities are being faced with the necessity of cutting back on building projects as well as paring academic budgets.” It was not long before a stu_dent in the audience stood up to criticize the university officialdom and McNie for “participating in such a pompous ritual when there is a much more important issue to discuss. ” The only salient effect of the disruption was a cold stare\ from president Matthews. After the ceremony was completed and the contractors had padded their wallets, and chemistry got a new home, president Matthews announced that McNie would be available for discussion in the graduate lounge. Confronting about 50 students in the lounge, McNie attempted to start with a joke but failed miserably. The student audience was not very sympathetic. The debate started with a demand for an explanation of the recent fee increases and OSAP cutbacks. The explanation was not forthcoming. The perma!ence of this year’s fee hike was confirmed by ]ackMcNie The same unanswered question building exwas asked again and again, with -last friday at the grand opening of the new chemistry tension. The poor turnout for the debate with NcNie validates the MC Nie finally explaining that-“the OFS referendum results at this university. cost of living has gone up so it recent disappointing
Last friday, University of Western Ontario administration president Carleton Williams announced to a senate meeting that students withholding fees in january-as proposed by the OFS and approved in a province-wide referendum last month-would suffer “academic penalty”. Western’s vice-president, A.K. Adlington stated sanctions against students participating in a fees boycott would go only as far as withholding transcripts. However, OFS supporters fear the psychological effect on students may seriously affect support for a possible strike, Williams, 31~0 chairman of the Council of Ontario Universities The campus centre board may receive severe budget cuts unless. (COU) tuesday denied rumours it can quickly justify the need for that the COU planned to advocate projected expenditures sufficiently withholding the second installment to sway the administration. of students’ OSAP cheques until The official projected budget for fees are paid in full. Such a move was determined to the campus centre for may 1973 to be technically illegal by OFS in- april 1974 reduced funds for salaries, supplies, repairs and vestigation early in the .year. Now replacement, it seems, the student awards building and maintenance, %and program. The people are under pressure. Recent only area not cut was janitorial OFS inquiries found a distinct services, which in fact realized an decrease in co-operation fromlocal officials. A source in the increase of 10.2 per cent. Financial services represenstudent awards office of the provincial government said the tative, S.S. Farrell, in translating the budget committee’s proposals, decision was up to the universities to a meeting of the campus centre after all. board Wednesday said that all nonIndications are that a struggle academic departments are having within the COU is afoot, the results their budgets cut and that the of which may be a determining proposed budget was only a 1.9 per factor in whether or not financial from the past. sanctions are imposed on cent reduction ‘Which compared favourably with boycotting students. If such a debate over ad- other departments. At first glance this is true, but a ministrative-governmental rescloser look reveals certain ponse to the student boycott threat problems with the argument. Of actually comes off, it is expected compared, such that representatives from the U of the departments as the cultural services program T and Western will be squaring off counselling services; as chief protagonists. The U of T and janitorial services are not included brass have taken the opposite the operating budgets. position from that of Western in in the janitoral services assuring students that there will be Removing expenses from the campus centre no sanctions against students for compossible boycott committments. A budget for a more realistic parison leaves the budget cut by COU executive meeting was slated 15.3 per cent. j for this week. At U of T, -despite the soft-core Farrell said that if the proposed attitude taken by the adbudget is unacceptable, the board ministration, the student council must submit an alternate proposal and give on tuesday almost scuttled the to the budget committee, OFS’ planned mass demonstration *good reason for all centre on Queen’s Park by voting nonoperations. He noted that a good support for the action. Like the deal of money could be saved by Western council which played it closing the building at night. If the safe by simply deciding to en- campus centre is to stay open, courage students to write in comprehensive information will be complaint letters to universities needed to convince the budget minister Jack McNie; U of T committee to continue to subsidize backed off from the student %-hour ’ operation. mandate for action on the fees In justifying cuts in repairs, strike. Western and U of T, as two replacement, building and of the largest campuses maintenance, -Farrell said funds represented by OFS, showed the supplied in the past have often not strongest been utilized. He failed to take into support for OFS demands in the October referenaccount that it has been at least dum both in terms of percentage two years since there has been an turnouts and percentage in favor of operative campus centre board to the proposed boycott. implement the use of such monies. However, individual college He also ignored the greater need student councils on the mamoth for such budgets with the present U of T campus, spearheaded by board trying to compensate for that of Victoria College, have in- lack of proper maintenance in the -. dicated to the OFS executive that past.
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