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5 Monday, October 27, 2008
12 www.mediumonline.ca
Volume 35, Issue 8
Towards 2030 plan approved Students concerned the decision may lead to tuition fee increase. KAREN AKHTAR
On October 23, University of Toronto President David Naylor presented the Governing Council at Simcoe Hall with his vision for the University of Toronto’s future. Naylor sought approval of his 2007 publication Towards 2030: Planning for a Third Century of Excellence at the University of Toronto. Naylor expressed concern over a possible financial crisis at the University of Toronto, anticipating a decrease in funding for the coming school year. He cited a report from the Globe and Mail that ranked the University of Toronto 9th in terms of prestige, a sign of a perceived decline of the quality of student amenities and services. Naylor explained that the Towards 2030 was not intended to serve as a policy document, but a framework for longterm planning. Approval from the Governing Council indicated that the greater university community agreed with the principles outlined. The publication was meant to be used as a flexible guide to encourage debate and promote long-term thinking, rather than give decisive answers. He emphasized the
difference between increasing tuition fees and deregulation. Many students were dissatisfied with Naylor’s proposals. The Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students (APUS) VP External Jeff Peters pointed out that many students were uncomfortable with Towards 2030, and that they deserve another year to give input for the document. Concerns that students were not adequately consulted in the planning process, worries about corporate interference in the university’s research, and significant apprehension over the suggestion of deregulating tuition fees characterized much of the dissent. Graduate Student Union VP External Sara Sulaiman expressed concern over diminishing teaching opportunities for graduate students, and criticized the university’s policies in dealing with the current financial deficit. Sandy Hudson, the President of the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU), echoed many of Sulaiman’s sentiments, criticizing the lack of consultation with students for Beyond 2030, the increasing privatization of the university, and the lack of government funding available to students. APUS VP Internal Joeita Gupta was critical of the structure of the Governing Council itself, pointing out that only
eight out of fifty members are students, creating a lack of real student participation. She advocated for the recognition of part-time students and criticized the lack of financial aid available to them. Others were supportive of the changes recommended in Towards 2030. Professor Michael Marrus from the U of T’s Faculty of Law reiterated Naylor’s clarification that the document was intended to demonstrate long-term thinking. He was happy with the U of T’s international reputation and stressed the importance of student evaluation. He also acknowledged that there were problems meeting the needs of part-time students. UTM Principle Ian Orchard reassured those concerned that corporate funding might compromise the objectivity of university research. Others praised the measures included in the publication to increase accessibility to education through financial aid. UTM students, faculty, and staff voted in a plebiscite last week over the portion of the publication that implied an impending deregulation of fees. UTMSU VP External Dhananjai Kholi was disappointed with the Governing Council’s decision to support this recommendation in the publication. “I am very disappointed in and sad-
photo/Dan Epstein
University of Toronto President David Naylor. dened by the behaviour of the members of Governing Council. By passing the Towards 2030 document, the members of Governing Council have ignored their responsibility in representing the best interests of the shareholders of the university, 5,398 of whom came out and voted with a 93.3 per cent mandate against specific parts of the document,”
said Kholi. “The administration claims that extensive student outreach was done, yet nearly none of those who voted had even heard of the Towards 2030 plan. Also, it’s one thing to listen to the concerns of the shareholders, and an entirely different thing to actually address those concerns, and implement changes to the document.”
Students give blood, save lives MEREDITH LILLY NEWS EDITOR
Canadian Blood Services hosted a Blood Donor Clinic at the University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM) Student Centre October 20. Organizers were pleased with the turnout, which was estimated to be one of the most successful blood drives at UTM. Second-year Theatre and Drama Studies student Phil Stonhouse came out to donate, and was happy to see the important initiative available to students on campus. “This is my second time donating photo/Matthew Filipowich
blood. It’s kind of bad, the last time I donated was in highschool. I’m hoping to donate more often,” said Stonhouse. “It is such an easy way to help people out, maybe save some lives. You can donate every two months.” Anyone willing to spare an hour to donate can save up to three lives. Blood is normally replenished in the body within 24 hours. Recently, Canadian Blood Services launched the website www. thankyourdonor.ca to encourage recipients of blood, platelets, plasma or stem cell donations to share their stories, and thank those who give blood. The website publishes email submissions, and is a great resource to see the impact of giving blood. Anyone who missed last week’s clinic and are interested in donating can contact Canadian Blood Services at 1 888 236-6283.