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Volume 5, Number 2
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Published by the Students' Society of McGill University
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Tuesday, September 17 1985
Peel S tre e t H o u se s W ill by Jillian Cohen Four buildings on Peel Street near McGill will soon be demolished to make way for an 18-storey con dom iniu m , th e G a zette recen tly reported. What is more, some residents believe a-fire was set to encourage them to leave. Jim Randle, a pensioner who is superintendent of the buildings, said so m eone recently tried to set one of the buildings, 3440 Peel, on fire. Randle w ho has lived at 3428 Peel for eight years was issued a notice a month ago stating that he would have to leave his home. Another resident of the buildings, A n n e -M a r ie D u fo u r , c o n fir m e d Randle's claim. She believes the fire was set to force the tenants to leave. Rene Lepine Sr., the proprietor of the three greystones and on e 1940's building was originally denied a demoli tion permit but recently won an appeal before the city's planning committee. In an article in the G azette, September 5, 1985, Lepine stated he would offer tenants three months free rent and moving expenses. Lepine felt his project was "beneficial" because the buildings to be demolished were "old boarding houses." Dufour w^s depressed that she was being evicted and concluded "That man (Lepine Sr.) is too powerful." McGill Physical Planning officer, Charles Adler, stated that McGill had sold the buildings a few years ago in an effort to consolidate McGill buildings. However, he did not believe that the
sale had been a mistake. "I believe the long term residents of the buildings (to be demolished) are also the long-term losers. McGill will regard the construction of the con dominiums only as an interested neighbour," Adler said. Josée LaCoste of El-Pine Development Inc., the company that will construct the condominiums, felt "there is a need for condominiums in downtown Mon treal." "It is beyond the point of taking ac tion," John Gardner, a councillor of
Montreal's Citizens' Movement said. He added, however, that tenant Ian Bar rett has hired a lawyer to fight the nonappealable decision. Gardner is hoping for a legal technicality which will enable tenants to remain in their pre sent homes. He emphasized that the im pact of the new condominiums on the housing market will be negative. "The houses that are being torn down are a rarity and the project is a downright shame, " he said. Construction of the new buildings will begin in the spring of '86.
L ife B e y o n d T a x S h e l t e r s by Jeff Brock Despite an increasingly prevalent at titude in our society that a university education is nothing but trade school, a techno-bureaucratic passport to highincom e brackets, there does still exist in and around this institution a concern with a broader picture of life. University education can and should be an ex perience which serves to broaden and deepen one's understanding of the world which w e share. Such an increased understanding often leads to an urge to act upon one's new-found convictions. Happily, there are organizations already existing on campus which facilitate such active ex pression. Uhuru na Ufahamu and McGill's Central America Group are two clubs which work to provide all students with a means for acting upon
any range of issues in the "developing world". Uhuru na Ufahamu would like to put out a journal and a newsletter this year which could function as a muchneeded collective source for developing area studies. Any information concern ing the study of or participation in the cultures, econom ies, and politics of the societies of Latin America, Oceania, Asia, Africa as well as those of the "developed world's" native peoples. In addition, UNU will be putting together a weekly radio show on these and other issues in conjunction with McGill's cen tral America Group. The Central America Group is an um brella organization which ties together students working on any variety of issues concerning Central and Latin America. The sale of Nicaraguan coffee,
teaching English to refugees, human rights, wom en's rights and community awareness are just a few of the causes students have decided to take up under the general auspices of the McGill Cen tral America Group. Both Uhuru na Ufahamu and the C.A. Group are, of course, open to all McGill students. The issues mentioned above are just examples of the activities which these groups are, or could be, involved in. Both these groups are democratic: any and all ideas are w elcom e and will be discussed. W'e are having a joint meeting this Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 17:00 in Union 404. Or, if you can't make this meeting, w e will have a joint table at Activities Night (Thursday, Sept. 19 at 19:00 in the Union Ballroom and Cafeteria). Come, bring a friend and a few ideas, and put those ideas into ac tion.
Funds Sit Idle W hile G ym Crumbles by Alison Fripp As of August 3 1 ,1 9 8 5 , $935,279.46 of student money collected to go towards the construction of a new athletic com plex, is sitting idle in what is called a "Plant Fund" or a holding account. As it stands, the noney shall remain unused until McGill hears from the City of Mon treal concerning zoning issues. Based on the amount of progress in the previous three and a half years, McGill students graduating in June 1986 may not even see construction begin. In a referendum of March 1982, students voted in favour of an increase in their athletics fee of $7.50 per student per semester for 2 years and then $10.00 per student, per semester for another 10 years. A main concern is the part of the referendum that reads, "Should a deci sion to build new athletics facilities not be made by June 1984 ... funds col lected would be put towards renova tions of existing facilities." It seems that there is som e ambiguity as to whether or not there was a formal decision in June '84. James Green, President of Student Society said that he bad discussed the athletic complex among other things with the Director of Physical Resources and Business Operations, Sam Kingdon, and is "quite confident that McGill is proceeding with the Athletic facilities to the best of its ability." He added that "McGill is having great difficulty with the City of Montreal Plan ning Department" which has resulted in endless delays. Sam Kingdon, who is out of town for the week and is therefore unavailable for further comment, has told Green that he expects an answer from the city
by October 1985. Although last year, Green appeared somewhat disapointed with McGill's progress on the project, he would now like to give McGill the benefit of the doubt. However, he con cluded that nothing is done by November, he will "raise a ruckus." Gracy Mimran, VP University Affairs said in an interview she agreed that if nothing was done by November, she would like to see students help the University lobby against the city. She says "we would rather fight the city than the University." Bob Dubeau, Director of McGill Athletics, confirmed the feeling of frustration that has becom e prevalent in Students' Society and the Athletic Department. "It is ironic," he said, "that now that McGill has the money, w e can't get the go-ahead (from the city). Usually it's the other way around." His main concern is that the longer McGill delays construction, the more money they will need because of inflation in building costs. Stu Budden, Treasurer of McGill University reported that "contrary to popular belief all interest earned is add ed to the capital". Interest earned in 1984/85 was $73,509.00 and in 1983/84 it was $38,323.90. McGill students have achieved what no other Canadian university student population has done before. Fed up with inadequate athletic facilities, Students' Society in 1982 turned to its peers and initiated a fee hike. In three and a half years, McGill students have contributed nearly a million dollars. W e now need some action so that we'll know w e have not wasted our money.
T h e In sid e Story New Dean of Students Interviewed. Welcome Week W o u nd-u p ............. Join the Frat C raw l............................ U of T Game Report..........................
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