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SINCE 1944
VOLUME 79 ISSUE 6
December 4th, 2023
Student run since 1944
Wrapping up the semester
Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican.
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3 Motionball 5 Embracing complexity
when talking about the war on Palestine
BU Dance: Meet us at the Barre
8 Experiential learning in Peru: The Green Program
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Indigenous musician, activist visits English ecocriticism class
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Beyond the Bubble: Navigating success beyond university walls
SRC statement on impact of IsraelPalestine conflict By Neleh Vigneau Sargeant advocating for better salaries and Contributor working conditions. Jacob Robbins- passes after extensive Kanter, a political studies professor at eachers and nurses from several Bishop’s University explained why these union coalitions took to the streets public sector unions have decided to discussion Unions take to the streets
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last week after rejecting the latest offer from the Quebec government. The striking unions include the Common Front of public-sector unions, whose 420,000 workers were on the picket lines from Nov. 21 to 23. Also on strike were the teachers represented by the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), whose 66,000 teachers went on strike on Nov. 23. Additionally, 80,000 nurses from the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec staged a two-day walkout on Nov. 23. to 24. Furthermore, 700 members of the Syndicat de professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec, who are employed in ten colleges, also began a two-day strike on Nov. 23. At the peak, nearly 600,000 disgruntled workers were picketing,
show a common front and strike together: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been increased activism from organized labor.” He attributes this to the government’s reluctance to recognize the often heroic efforts of teachers and nurses during the pandemic in material ways. The serious underfunding of the health care and education systems in Quebec along with the increases in the cost of living are causing financial hardships for many families. This reasoning aligns with the demands of union leaders who want more staff, higher salaries and better working conditions. They argue that nurses and teachers have been asked to do more with less for several years. The Quebec government made an offer at the end of October which Continued on page 2
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Content warning: Descriptions of the Israel-Palestine conflict, anti-semitism, Islamophobia By Micah Della Foresta - News Editor & Bishop’s campus. Complaints, calls for action Gabrielle Liu – Editor-in-Chief and support for Palestine laid across the railing over the Massawippi River. The Muslim Student ast Monday, Nov. 27, the Board Association has held a keffiyeh fundraiser and of Student Representatives (BSR) organized poster-making sessions for protests postponed their decision to adopt a since. Other students, as Monday discussions proposed statement addressing the impact show, question the role and scope of the SRC to of the Israel-Palestine conflict on students’ make a statement. Their bylaws state the “SRC wellbeing. The meeting, open to all students, may adopt a position on any issue that directly ran 15 minutes overtime after discussing the affects the wellbeing of the membership.” statement, an amendment and whether to move Equity representative Irma Susset submitted into a confidential discussion. A supplementary the proposed statement on the floor last Monday, Dec. 4 BSR meeting finalised and passed a Nov. 27. It stated: “In light of recent global statement that will be released on social media events, we are deeply troubled and saddened platforms. by the tragic and ongoing loss of civilian lives The delay comes after the Nov. 13 BSR in Palestine. Your BUSRC is concerned about meeting where a different statement failed students’ well-being and psychological health to pass, citing needing further time to consult and is committed to providing support to with student groups. Since then, on Nov. 22, students.” It followed with encouragement to an expansive string of posters and messages consult, generally, mental health resources on has stretched across the bridge approaching the Continued on page 2
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