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Portrait of the artist
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He said, he said Read candidates’ Q&A on
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the newspaper University of Toronto’s Independent Weekly
March 18, 2010
Vol. XXXIII N0. 2
Opposition could rehaul GC Code
Fundamentals of Fundamentalism
MNRUPE VIRK & TEJAS PARASHER
VEENAY SEHDEV
Since the Governing Council Townhall on March 1st, U of T’s controversial Student Code of Conduct has become one of the most divisive topics on campus. On March 11th, the newspaper published an article in which GC Candidate Joeita Gupta criticized the administration for using the Code exclusively to stifle on-campus dissent. Gupta says the Code of Conduct is a “political tool” imposed on students without their consent, redundant because the university already has so many other behaviour laws and policies in place. This week, the newspaper’s Mnrupe Virk sat down with Jill Matus, U of T’s Vice Provost of Students, to shed some light on this controversy. the newspaper: At a recent Governing Council meeting, you suggested the possibility of abolishing the Code if opposition to it became widespread. Jill Matus: What I said was that broad consultations would be undertaken as part of the updating process, and that if it became apparent that views such as those expressed by the members were widely held, they would be taken under advisement. If there were sufficient expressions of interest in a full review of the Code, that could be an outcome. tn: The Student Code of Conduct was established in 1992. Why was there a sudden need for a Code at this time? Did any particular events spark its implementation? JM: This is a complex issue. However, the sixth paragraph in the preamble of the Code summarizes its need in the current climate: “The University must define standards of student behaviour and make provisions for student discipline with respect to conduct that jeopardizes the good order and proper functioning of the academic and nonacademic programs and activities of the University or its divisions, that endangers the health, safety, rights or property of its members or visitors, or that adversely affects the property of the University or bodies related to it, where such conduct is not, for the University’s defined
Fundamentalism is a term that has been misused into ambiguity. It is no surprise then that the questions What is fundamentalism and Who is a fundamentalist were the primary issues discussed at “The Raj of Religious Fundamentalism.” Misha Munim, founder and president of U of T’s South Asian Development Council, said “fundamentalism is a contentious issue right now.” Munim founded the club because she wanted students to become more aware of South Asian Continued on page 4
‘Harassing’ videos could mean 25 demerit points for Change campaign Masse publicly disassociates from Mongeau; Mongeau refuses to take down videos HELENE GODERIS As the elections for next year’s UTSU executives draw to a close, the number of demerits handed out by Chief Returning Officer David Blocker are piling up for the Change slate. Candidates can accrue a total of 35 demerits before being disqualified from the elections. On March 17, CRO David Blocker handed Change U of T presidential candidate Steve Masse 25 demerit points for videos shot and posted to YouTube by Antonin Mongeau that were deemed harassing to the Stronger Together campaign. The controversy is nothing new: Mongeau was a cause of demerits to the Change slate in the 2009 election. These demerits could prove detrimental to Masse, who only had 3 demerit points previously, while Stronger Together presidential candidate Adam Awad only has 5 demerits as at press time. Mongeau, Alumni Chair of EFUT, posted a video last week shot with his blackberry. In it, he alleges that RSU President-elect Toby Whitfield, while campaigning for the Stronger Together slate, tore down EFUT’s posters at Sid
Smith. While the video does not actually show Whitfield tearing down EFUT’s posters, Whitfield has not denied these charges. The second video is shot outside a meeting called by Stronger Together supporters; in it, the supporters continually state they feel harassed being filmed by Mongeau. Masse shows up outside the meeting, later stating he believed it was an open meeting held by the MSA, where Masse had planned to clarify misconceptions about his campaign. The CRO is penalizing Masse for interrupting the Stronger Together meeting, deeming it ‘general sabotage.’ CRO Ruling 18, found on UTSU’s website, concluded that “Mr. Mongeau is acting as a non-arms length third party campaigner for the Change U of T team.” CRO Ruling 21 goes on to address complaints by Stronger Together supporters who felt “intimidated, harassed, and badgered when being followed and filmed by Mr. Mongeau...that the harassment and filming was witnessed and condoned by Change U of T candidates and volunteers, and Varsity reporters.” Continued on page 5
Delia Massa chops her locks at U of T Cuts for Cancer which took place March 15-16. Donations were delivered to Angel Hair for Kids, Locks of Love and the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign.
HELENE GODERIS
Continued on page 4
The Lady Godiva band marches to Sid Smith to join the Change U of T rally. Two slates - Stronger Together and Change U of T - are vying for executive positions at UTSU. Elections run until 7pm on March 18.
HELENE GODERIS
Interview with viceprovost Jill Matus
U of T South Asian seminar explores religion’s role