the newspaper
www.thenewspaper.ca
toronto’s student community paper
Naylor Gets Hammered by Students By Ryan Hayes On October 18, UofT President David Naylor began a town hall meeting to discuss Towards 2030 – his plan to set “long-term strategic directions” and reach “new levels of excellence” – by trying to convince his audience that he had no secret agenda. It was surreal to see Naylor stand at a podium in Innis Town Hall with the backdrop of a 15.5 ft. high image of himself on a poster created by the Arts and Science Students’ Union (ASSU). Naylor displayed the poster with the added caption “Secret Agenda Exposed!” in an attempt to mock his critics. While the poster made no claims about “secret” agendas, it points out clear and disturb-
ing trends toward the deregulation of tuition fees and the commercialization of research, which are strong themes in the Towards 2030 document available at http://www.towards2030. utoronto.ca. Despite expressing his willingness to openly engage the audience in dialogue, Naylor spent the next hour dodging students’ pointed questions, pleading ignorance, or giving long and underwhelming responses consistently absent of any new information or commitments. Criticizing increasing corporatization on campus, a student spoke about how Second Cup was permitted to takeover student outreach space in Sidney Smith Hall without
October 25 2007 Vol. XXX No. VIII
any consultation with students. Naylor responded that he himself had no knowledge of these plans until after the fact. When students raised concerns about the subtle influence of corporate donors and corporate research contracts on academic freedom in fields as diverse as Fine Art and Medicine, Naylor avoided addressing specific issues by citing a recent tightening of donation guidelines. Members of the African Studies Initiative (ASI) discussed the severe marginalization of African Studies at UofT. After being told by Naylor that their issue was not within his jurisdiction, a member of the ASI noted that this was the response See Naylor cont. pg. 2
the inside: the newspaper Reveals Some Hot Spots to Study (or Do It)
pg. 4 & 5 Interview with She Wants Revenge
pg. 3 Wanna Know What’s Wrong With Diversity?
pg. 2 Photo by Evan Jordan
Accountability: The University of Toronto By Rehaana Manek An institution such as a university should have mechanisms in place to ensure accountability at every level. When a student’s rights are violated on campus, we call the Ombudsperson; if they are in physical danger we call campus police. But what do we do when the university administration itself is not being held accountable? Who do we call? In cases like Adam Rogers’, students can be left with no one to turn to. Adam Rogers transferred from the University of Waterloo with his pregnant wife and three children in the hopes of getting an education that would better serve as a foundation for Law school at
the University of Toronto's Mississauga campus – at least he thought that's what he would get. “During the application process, UTM offered me a lease, so I think ‘great I must have been accepted,’” says Rogers, “because you have to be a full-time student to get a lease, so I signed the lease, we moved in, then a week later I got a letter denying me admission.” Who then is to be held accountable when the administration of the biggest university in Canada refuses to take responsibility for its actions? Rogers was offered a lease agreement in July and his family moved in on the 19th of August, he received his rejection on the 4th of September,
that he uprooted his entire family to come to UTM because the department of housing admitted him as a student was not even addressed. Currently the only aid Rogers and his family are receiving is from the UTM students Union. “The student’s union at UTM has been really, really good. They gave me an emergency loan of 1000 dollars just over a month ago, but that didn’t last with 6 people to feed, my wife is due in 2 months with a fourth, and they are trying to kick us out.” Legally, the offer of residence and legal signing of the lease should have been recognized by both the housing department and the registrar’s office. The lack of consistency in
with an eviction notice for the 15th of October. He appealed the decision based on the Housing Department's recognition of him as a student. He was quickly shut down and told he was being evicted. “You cannot offer housing unless it’s to a full-time student,” says Rogers, “they told me, ‘Well that’s not our responsibility.’” Rogers took his case all the way up to the dean and the chief administrative officer, who both sent him to the Dean of Student Affairs, Mark Overton. “His solution was to give me the number for social services, welfare and the food bank and said good luck as he
slammed the door after me.” The Dean offered Rogers the numbers for Ontario works and welfare, and also stated “He needs to consider Kitchener as an option and also maybe explore extended family, at least for his children.” In an email response to Rogers, Diane G Crocker, the Registrar and Director of Enrolment Management at UTM described how he was not up to academic standard, “Mr. Adams. When you applied for admission to University of Toronto Mississauga you were refused. At no time were you offered admission to the University of Toronto. Unfortunately you do not possess a basis for admission to the University of Toronto Mississauga.” The fact
contribute to. This mix made the entire event engaging for everyone and encouraged the participation of artists of any age. The stage and microphones were open to any performers who wanted to sing along or dance to the music. This allowed many talented young people a chance to show everyone what they’re made of. The AGO youth council put together a colourful evening of creative expression produced by the young artists themselves.
Possibly the happiest kids. We didn’t even pay them to smile like that.
See Accountability cont. pg. 3
By Rebecca Teare The Art Gallery of Ontario youth council held a zine mural party on Saturday evening to celebrate the release of their third issue of Seizure, which focused on the emotion “passion”. By exploring passion the council was able to develop several creative writing pieces similar to previous issues that focused on gratification and anticipation. The council has been working on this project
throughout the past month and they were able to produce some extremely evocative pieces. The young authors were encouraged to explore their inner creativity by writing poems relating to their names. They then read their poems, which are also published in this issue of seizure, aloud in front of a captive audience. The party doesn’t end there… The council included a live DJ, food and a mural that anyone and everyone could
Photo by Rebecca Treare
AGO Celebrates Youth