“It’s all about inviting students” says Vanessa Hunt
Jacqueline Perlin
Assistant News Editor
The York Federation of Students (YFS) hosted their Annual General Meeting (AGM) November 17 with the YFS executive board, members of the general board, and around 150 students.
“It’s about inviting all students,” says Hunt, explaining the AGM is usually hosted for students to put forward motions they believe the YFS should endorse.
This year, such motions included endorsing a call to stand in solidarity with the Tamil community that has undergone recent attacks in Sri Lanka.
“It’s important that [the YFS] look at issues not just at a university level but on an international level,” explains Hunt, adding that a recent documentary titled Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields has brought further attention to the issues residing within the Tamil community.
When asked why the YFS felt it was important to focus on this specific issue while a number of other issues currently pervade the international community, Hunt emphasized that while the YFS has stood with solidarity movements of all sorts in the past, such as the uprisings in Syria and Egypt, this specific issue was brought forward by students.
“The [York University] Tamil Students Association has been approaching [the YFS] about this issue,” says Hunt, adding that although the motion has passed, the YFS has yet to have any specific events planned with this cause.
Another motion passed during the meeting included the approval of a “Day of Action” to be held February 1, to coincide with the Drop Fees campaign.
Hunt explains that while last year’s Drop Fees campaign focused on the accessibility to post-secondary education, this particular campaign is more focused on having the government drop tuition fees.
“[The McGuinty government] has fallen back on its promises,” says Hunt.
She says the provincial elections placed more restrictions on the 30 per cent tuition cut than what the Liberals initially promised, noting that the grant excludes graduate students and international students.
Hunt also expressed McGuinty’s promise to have the tuition cut program ready for students by January 1 is unrealistic, as the government does not currently have a method of distributing the grants.
“They don’t know how they’re going to implement it,” says Hunt, adding that while the initial plan was to give the grant to students who filled out the Ontario Students Assistance Plan (OSAP), it is clear not all students apply for OSAP.
Hunt also mentions that even if the grant system is implemented before the February 1 Day of Action, the message of the day will not change, explaining the overall goal of the event is to make tuition free since “education is a right.”
The right to education also resided with the YFS’ approval of a motion to stand in solidarity with students in Chile, who are combating for more affordable and higher quality education.
The meeting also approved motions endorsing the implementation of infant change tables in the washroom, as well as the approval to write letters to the federal and provincial governments opposing Bill C-10, also known as the omnibus crime bill—which is proposing to increase minimum sentences, and create tougher sentences for young offenders.
