CFS avoids controversy

over women’s r

centre cuts

TAWA (CUP) — Wo- n’s centres are the topic of

' ted debate 'on at least two

nadian campuses but men student politicians ided confrontation over issue at a Nov. 4 meeting the country’s largest stu- tgroup.

he University of Saskat- wan student council sed its women’s Di- torate Sept. 28 and the rleton University student ncil has cut back the dget and restricted its ‘ onomy.

ut tempers remained cool the women-only caucus of A Canadian Federation of dents, where delegates in across Canada heard th sides to the stories. ey did not recommend ion over either situation.

I embers of the student

ociations that ., initiated” ' th reviews described the

dequacies of the women’s tres.

‘r “Their services were few

d decreasing,” said Beth ley, student association sident at the University of skatchewan, about the ill- ed women’s directorate. hey weren’t providing the vice aspect. They were bying hard on issues -— l n’t take away the im- rtance of doing that — but - reason why they’re given much money is for ser- es.” The student association ided Oct. 20 to consider ating a service-oriented men’s centre, plus an. ociation sub-committee to pose actions on political ues. , heri Spooner, vice presi- l t and the only person to e against the closure, told - meeting some good has ulted from the action. ecause the women’s di- torate isn’t there anymore, ncil has to deal with these es,” she said. “My lege council has set up! a men’s committee to deal hissues.” pooner said the directorate - an image problem and sn’t doing enough to nter rumours of being ical and pro-abortionist. ' ena Lafleur, a member of Carleton University - men’s Centre said centres 1 always have an"‘image blem.”‘ 3 " ‘ '

e \ M. , . 44" 1‘ v

“As long as feminism has an image problem in society, women’s centres will have an image. problem. The image problem is there and (we as women) have to deal with it. That’s no reason to axe the centre,” Lafleur said.

The Carleton University student association cited image problems last summer when it began a formal investigation of the women’s centre. Funding was frozen pending the review’s outcome.

An overwhelming number of submissions to three public forums supported the centre but Angela Soukeroff, vice president executive and a member of the review com— mission, said the “vocal minority” dominated the hearings.

“Just because it has

,‘women’s centre’ on it doesn’t

‘ association decided at

N99“ timember 17/83 _

mean "they can’t be cri— tized,” Soukeroff said.

The Carleton student its Nov. 5 meeting to accept the review committee recom— mendations, which included a $2,000 cut from the budget originally requested, greater accountability to the student association, and stricter membership criteria.

Olley agreed people are trying too much to tie cri- ticism of women’s centres into the feminist movement. “The whole question of image problem will have a

bearing on the way people

vote,” Olley said.

But she stressed services were the main issue in the council’s decision to kill the women’s directorate.

“Maybe in the final analysis we’ll get a women’s centre that will provide a lot of services,” she said, citing educational forums and pro- moting a rape crisis hotline and daycare facilities as important activities for the centre. ( "

The conferenceficontinued the next day, and the final plenary wrapped up Nov. 13. Nov. 14 was the national lobby, day for the federation.

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