Science Editor is a hot head Farmer’s Market still on Find out how he copes with anger on page 6
The Inside!
the newspaper
University of Toronto’s Independent Weekly
Vol. XXXII N0.
EFUT may just get its Joyeux Noël EFUT’s funding issues are being resolved this week, as the UTSU Board of Directors meets Thursday, December 3, to review the French Club’s funding request. Funding for the club has been held up over its application, which omitted required information. Concerns were raised by the club over confidentiality issues, especially about the policy that clubs provide the UTSU with the names, student numbers, and email addresses of its members. Antonin Mongeau, EFUT Alumni Chair and last year’s President, says UTSU’s decision to postpone funding was not legitimate. Mongeau, who has had disputes with UTSU in the past, stated his involvement with the club might have been a reason that the original application was rejected. “Either the UTSU is discriminating against a minority language community, or it is exercising political revenge on me
personally by attacking EFUT for my connection to it,” Mongeau says. Danielle Sandhu, UTSU VP Campus Life, rejects Mongeau’s accusations, and says that the funding problems were caused by an incomplete application, not revenge. “All rules are applied across the aboard to all clubs,” she added. Sandhu managed to assure Sitelle Cheskey, EFUT president, that strict privacy policies will protect student information. EFUT has since complied with the UTSU’s requirements. Sandhu then called a meeting this past Monday to address the issue. On Wednesday it was agreed to bring the budgeting subject in front of the Board of Directors, and the matter now appears to be heading towards a resolution. As to the club’s Christmas party, there is still hope it can be held in December. Cheskey will be meeting with EFUT’s executives to see if it can be held before the holidays.
GREEN MOVEMENT HEATS UP!
GLENN MACINTOSH / VIDEO STILL
tom buGaJski
YOWZERS, IT IS GETTING HOT IN HERE! The U of T green movement is gaining momentum in anticipation of next week’s UN climate change talks in Copenhagen. Students from the Climate Crew Monday campaign (pictured above) stripped off their clothes in Sid Smith last Monday while chanting “Ooh, it’s hot in here, there’s too much carbon in the atmosphere.” “The Global Carbon Project just released a report saying that six de-
SALAH ABDELHADI
grees warming is now likely without urgent action,” said organizer Joanna Dafoe. “I was so disheartened by that news and the lack of action on my campus community when I know this is the an important political crisis, that I wanted to create a fun event that would capture people’s attention.” Twelve U of T student delegates are headed to Copenhagen to pressure the government to lower emissions. “We will be there to let the world know that Stephen Harper’s Conservative gov-
ernment does not reflect the views of the Canadian people or even the House of Parliament,” said climate activist Brett Rhyno. “I’m optimistic that a deal can be reached if world leaders can muster the political will to cooperate with each other and act in the interest of all the world’s people rather than a select few.” You can follow the U of T students’ progress in Copenhagen at http://www.uoftcop15.ca/.
St. George Round Table gets official dan craiG
The highly popular EFUT club rocks around the Christmas tree at its annual halal Christmas dinner.
December 3, 2009
On November 26, the St. George Round Table (SGRT) convened to ratify their new constitution. Presidents from nine undergraduate student societies attended the meeting and formalized what has been an informal group of college council presidents for decades. Members of the Round Table in-
clude the leaders of the seven college student associations as well as the president of the Engineering Society and the president of the Physical Health and Education Undergraduate Association. There are plans to extend membership to other faculties in the future. The constitution outlines the rules of conduct and the guiding principles of the SGRT. Principle number one
is “to act as the premiere forum for communication and sharing of best practices between divisions represented.” In effect, and according to the minutes from their last few meetings, the Round Table primarily facilitates the planning of intercollegiate social events, like barbeques or pub nights, as well as intramural sporting events.
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