the newspaper
The University of Toronto’s Independent Weekly
UTSU takes step toward electoral reform You still don’t have to show up to vote Isaac Thornley The agenda for the next General Meeting was contested at the UTSU Board of Director’s meeting Monday. Two by-law amendments were proposed: an item to prohibit proxy voting was rejected, but decreasing the amount of signatures necessary for nomination as an executive candidate will be discussed at the February 5 meeting. Larger issues, namely electoral reform and online voting, were absent from Monday’s meeting, but Corey Scott, VP Internal assured the newspaper that electoral reform will be on the
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VOL XXXV Issue 17 • January 10, 2013
Why TDSB director Chris Spence wouldn’t survive U of T in the 21st century p3
GM’s agenda. The last GM came to an abrupt halt when the agenda was voted down within thirty minutes of the meeting’s commencement, prompting the unusual scenario of having a GM in February. Two motions submitted by Sam Greene, Head of Trinity College Meeting, sought to amend UTSU by-laws so as to prohibit proxy voting by its board members and to halve the number of nomination signatures required to run for executive positions, from 200 to 100. Proposals for by-law amendments must first
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It’s a no pants party, and you’re invited, U of T Sex Education Centre to hold Awareness event at local sex club Campus is abuzz regarding “Sexy Social”, the upcoming U of T Sexual Education Centre event on Monday, January 21. Clothing is optional and sex, while not explicitly encouraged, is openly welcomed. To debut its annual Sexual Awareness Week, the SEC has rented out Oasis Aqualounge, which bills itself as “an adventurous place to sun, soak and explore your sexuality.”
Located a stone’s throw from both Church and Wellesley and St. George campus, the SEC hopes students will “come out and enjoy all the amenities of Toronto’s best sex club.” Although the event starts at 11am, clothes must remain firmly affixed until seven pm. In response to a Toronto Star inquiry, external education and outreach coordinator Dylan Tower stated, “there is not any type of ‘you should be having sex when you’re here.’ It’s very
much, come and enjoy the space. There’s not prodding or pushing in that [sexual] direction.” As an affiliate of the U of T Student Union, the SEC commands a 25 cent levy from undergraduate student fees. The club delivers educational talks and provides workshops and counselling, in addition to free safesex supplies. According to their website, their principal mission is to provide a non-judgemental space in which positive sex conversations can be held.
Some conservative observers are beginning to question whether the Oasis event is taking a step too far in the SEC’s quest for de-stigmatization. National Post columnist Barbara Kay goes so far as to refer to the event as “tarted-up promotion of voyeurism.” Similar voices are wondering whether the groups official funding entails a duty to uphold some sort of social norm. Holding a nude event is one thing, but could permitting (and by extension, encouraging)
sex at the event cross the line? In response to a second question posed by the Star regarding U of T’s stance on the event, a spokesperson for the SEC responded “the University will not attempt to censor, control or interfere with any group on the basis of its philosophy, beliefs, interests or opinions expressed, unless and until these lead to activities which are illegal or BODI BOLD
Emerson Vandenberg
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