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“Opt-out OPIRG” founders and OPIRG rep. defend positions Colleen McDonell A student organization on campus, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG), is currently facing resistance against its use of student fees. Receiving $6.31 from each fulltime University of Guelph student each semester, OPIRG generates one of the larger revenues compared to other student-run clubs and groups. However, some students are coming forward saying that they disagree with how the organization operates. Established on campus in 1976, the OPIRG Guelph chapter is an orColleen McDonell ganization that, according to their website, strives to encourage and OPIRG is a student-run organization that helps students address environmental and social justice issues. facilitate U of G students to “work with the Guelph community to use OPIRG-Guelph” by students Mat- Pipeline, currently employs an they can do easily.” their skills and resources to work thew Rae and Kyle Reaburn to individual who has pled guilty to In itself, the Facebook page towards environmental and social bring this issue to the forefront. participating in the 2010 Toronto has sparked debate as many visjustice.” The organization hosts “This student organization G-20 protests, and has a histo- itors have questioned the site’s speaking and film events, skill- [OPIRG] uses your money to ry of financial mismanagement. sources as well as controverbuilding workshops, and project fund radical left-wing events “If you want to fund the programs sial statements such as claiming and workshops that very few that they do, then by all means, go that the Idle No More movement sponsorship. Some students on campus, in- students support, or have any ahead,” said Reaburn. “If you want is now “largely discredited.” cluding those of the Student knowledge about,” read the page. to fund Idle No More and Keystone, However, both Rae and ReaAccountability group, feel that stu- The group lists eight reasons there are [other] groups, and you burn stress that the main point dents are not aware of how OPIRG why students should opt-out of can donate. We don’t feel that stu- of the campaign is simply to operates and that they should be the fees going towards OPIRG, dents should automatically pay a raise awareness about the optmade aware of their ability to opt stating that the organization fee and then go and take it back, out opportunity available every out of those student fees. A Face- supports the “hateful anti-Is- because that is a one-sided ideol- semester. OPIRG Carleton adbook group was formed as part of rael week,” used student fees in ogy. We want students to choose vertises this option, and in the ...se e opi rg pag e 3 the campaign dubbed “Opt-Out 2012 to protest the Keystone XL what they want to support, which