March 18, 1997

-.--Letters to the editor

@° The Panther Prints

To the students of the Univer- sity of Prince Edward Island:

On behalf of the 110,000 members of the Canadian Fed- eration of Students Ontario Component, I am writing to express our solidarity and to encourage you to vote to reaf- firm your membership in Cana- da’s national student organi- zation.

This is a difficult time for students in Canada. Dur- ing the last decade, the quality and accessibility of our univer- sities and colleges has eroded as a result of unprecedented cutbacks by both federal and provincial governments. Stu- dents are finding it increas- ingly difficult to pursue postseconday education, for a variety of reasons. Finances, in particulars, are becoming an almost insurmountable barrier. Rising tuition and other educa- tion-related costs, crippling stu- dent debt loads, and diminish- ing opportunities for employ- ment are ‘creating a climate which forces students to make academic choices based on their financial situation. Shrink- ing budgets at institutions are leading to larger classes, course or program cancella- tions, and dwindling library re- source. Students at fairly iso- lated campuses, like UPEI or some of our universities in Northern Ontario, suffer in particular under these condi- tions.

All of this demonstrates the profound need for a strong, united student movement in Canada. Now, morethan ever, students must unite their voices and fight collectively to pro- tect our higher education sys- tem. The Canadian Federa- tion of Students is the only student organization that has

been actively lobbying against the cuts, the only student or- ganization that has been fight- ing to reduce student debt loads, and the only student organiza- tion that has been clearly ar- ticulation alternatives for fund- ing our postsecondary system and ensuring that it remains public, accessible, and of high ity.

Membership in the Ca- nadian Federation of Students ensures that you have a broad base of support for your pro- vincial struggle as well as hay- ing a voice in our priorities and strategies at the national level. This has been a tremendous asset for Ontario students this year, as we have been en- gaged inan incredibly difficult, exhausting, and ongoing cam- paign for a tuition freeze in our province. The support and assistance that we have re- ceived from members across the country, as well as from the National office, has been incredible--it has kept our en- ergies high and has allowed us to sustain an unprecedented level of activity in our cam-

paign. And despite the level of |

opposition that we encounter from our provincial govern- ment, students in Ontario have never been so active and so

“committed to the work of the

Federation and to their role in the student movement.

We look forward to con- tinuing to work with students at the University of Prince Edward Island. Together we will be successful.

Yours ina united student move- ment,

Vicky Smallman,

Ontario Chair

Canadian Federation of Stu- dents

CFS referendum

Dear Editor:

Iam writing this letter in support of the Canadian Fed- eration of Students. As you approacha referendumon CFS membership, please keep in mind that you are not alone in ee the Federation...

e strongest members of CFS are the ones who ask the most difficult and critical questions.

Two years in a row, Ryerson has held CFS mem- bership referendums; two years in a row, the students of Ryerson have heard the criti- cal questions asked of CFS; two years in a row, the stu- dents of Ryerson have voted remain members.

As a particular repre- sentative of Ryerson students, I have this year kept a critical

eye on CFS; the Federation - |

has never disappointed me. I have implicit confidence in the representation we receive through CFS, and implicit con- fidence in the democratic proc- ess through which the organi- zation is run. CFS is com- pletely membership driven, as members develop, vote on and run what the organization does. The particular unfaltering lead- ership of National Chair Brad Lavigne is something I hope you will witness during the ref- erendum campaign, so you will see with what strength, skill and professionalism CFS is moving ahead.

As a student associa- tion president, I can tell you how difficult it is to balance the internal and external responsi- bilities of my job. Knowing that CFS is there as an affec- tive watchdog for us gives me so much peace of mind. We receive of intricate informa- tion from CFS, which we do not have the resources to col- lect ourselves; this informa- tion is invaluable, and makes me more affective in the job I do for my students. I cannot stress to you enough the value of the network of communica-

tions that CFS provides... with- out them, the external work we do would be maybe 10% of what it is. CFS provides in- credible value-for-money.

I won’t talk in this letter about the affective lobbying and actions of CFS, as I’m sure letters from others will. I will say that I feel privileged to have been a part of the work CFS has done this year, and proud to stand in solidarity with them.

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