the debate
the inside
LOVE@UT: Was it good for you?
De-criminalizing prostitution
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the newspaper University of Toronto’s Independent Weekly
October 7, 2010
Vol. XXXIII N0.
Hart House Debates Committee brings city council elections to U of T Just two days ago, David Miller declared to The Globe and Mail that he was “appalled” at the quality of debate in Toronto’s ongoing municipal elections. Almost as if in response, U of T’s Hart House Debates Committee chose to host city councillor hopefuls in an informal question-answer and debate session on October 6. Candidates from Ward 20 (Trinity-Spadina) and Ward 27 (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) were invited to ‘Who Wants to Be a City Councillor?’ at the Debates Room on Wednesday evening. The event was completely organized and hosted by the Hart House Debates Committee. It was the last instalment of the Committee’s four-part series of lectures and seminars on municipal elections. The last three, organized with UTSU, had been intended to inform students about what municipal elections actually entail. Yesterday’s event sought to bring people into direct contact with
MATT BRAGA
tEJas ParasHEr
Simon Wookey, a candidate for City Council from Toronto Centre-Rosedale, guesses the average four-year debt of an Ontario undergraduate student. candidates. Both the Debates Committee and UTSU representatives concurred that municipal elections are far from being the most im-
passioned issues on campus. Considering the direct effect that local councils go on to have on student life, though, the organizers seemed to consider the
lack of interest incredibly unfortunate. “To try and bring about change at City Hall,” said Debates Committee Program Director David
Pereira, “the first step has to be taken through your local councillor. Before anything, you have to make sure that councillors are in tune with their constituents.” There did indeed seem to be a genuine push towards establishing something of a connection between candidates and students on Wednesday. The Debates Committee had worked to get together every single candidate from wards neighbouring— or on—the St. George campus. To advertise the event, UTSU executives had distributed over 7,000 cards and posters at various orientation events around campus. The evening’s agenda was focused on issues which would have a direct bearing on student life—such as public transportation costs, bike lanes, and affordable housing. Organizers even attempted to make the milieu as informal and ‘relaxed’ as possible. Flamboyantly-dressed local comedian Evelyn Reese was brought on as emcee. The first part of the Continued on page 3
the blotters We present you with the scoundrelly deeds that kept campus cops busy over the past week
Continued on page 3
October 1 Occurrence type: Trespass Location: Front Campus (Exterior) Details: Campus Police responded to a call of golf carts being driven on the main campus grass.
October 3 Occurrence type: Mischief Location: Ramsay Wright Building Details: Campus Police received a report of a person who forcefully attempted to take another person’s cell phone. TPS was notified.
October 4
HELENE GODERIS
Occurrence type: Robbery Location: Queen’s Park Circle Details: Campus Police responded to a call of golf carts being driven on the main campus grass.
Students reacted against cuts made to A&S at two town halls held over the past week.
October 5 Occurrence type: Trespass Location: 255 McCaul Street Details: Campus Police investigated one person found sleeping inside a washroom.