Vol. CXXXV, No. 20
9 March, 2015
The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
Tuition set to soar Increases come amidst decreasing provincial support Tamim Mansour ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Little movement as strike passes one-week mark CUPE Local 3902 Unit 1 members call on university to return to bargaining table James Flynn and Salvatore Basilone VARSITY STAFF
As the cupe Local 3902 Unit 1 strike reaches the one-week mark, union members are calling on the University of Toronto to return to the bargaining table. Last Friday, members of cupe 3902 Unit 1, which represents some 6,000 teaching assistants and graduate course instructors, voted overwhelmingly to reject a last-minute deal that had been reached around 2:45 am that morning. “Our members are engaging in the purest form of democracy by coming out in full force picketing and demonstrating, calling on the University Administration to return to the bargaining table where our own representatives
are waiting,” said cupe 3902 chair Erin Black in a Huffington Post article on Wednesday. According to Black, the strike vote saw the largest voter turnout for contract academic locals in Canadian history. Members of cupe 3903, which represents some 3,700 contract faculty and teaching assistants at York University, have been on strike since Tuesday. The two parties reached a tentative agreement late Friday night.
BARGAINING According to U of T vice-president, human resources & equity, Angela Hildyard, the university remains in contact with the provincial mediator regarding cupe Unit 1, and has been advised that as soon as the mediator thinks there is a basis to return to the bargaining table, he will invite the parties to do so. “We
have indicated that we are, of course, prepared to accept that invitation,” Hildyard says. However, some cupe 3902 Unit 1 members, like Michael Collins, a PhD candidate in English, say they are frustrated by the administration’s apparent unwillingness to return to the bargaining table. “I don’t think many of us feel hopeful, let alone confident, that a deal will be reached soon. Every signal from the [university administration] thus far indicates that they are digging in their heels and are prepared to fight dirty,” Collins says. Collins also expressed concern over tactics university administration has used to attempt to sway public opinion. “I’d say it has damaged any sense of pride or belonging I might feel toward the University of Toronto as a
CONTINUED ON PG. 8
Tuition fees are set to rise for both international and domestic students. Next year, domestic students will see a average rise of three per cent for both incoming and continuing students, with Arts & Science programs seeing a three per cent increase and most professional programs seeing a five per cent increase. The increases are in line with the province’s tuition framework, which caps the annual overall increase at three per cent. Current international students will see an increase of five per cent to their current tuition, while incoming Arts & Science students will see an increase of nine per cent and applied science and engineering students will see an increase of 10 per cent. Unlike domestic students, the Provincial Tuition Framework does not regulate tuition fees for international students. The Tuition Fees Schedule for 2015-2016 was approved by the university’s Business Board during a meeting last Monday. Student governors Benjamin Coleman and Caitlin Campisi were the only governors to vote against the schedule.
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT Jane You, vice president, communications of the International Students Association (insa), feels that the increase in international tuition fees are not in line with the increase in international student support. “A lot of these students come here with the aim of living here and getting a job here. And for the amount of help the university provides international students, the tuition fee increases aren’t justified,” she says. Yeliz Beyo, iNSA vice-president, social, has previously applied to run for student governor, but was rejected as she was not a Canadian citizen. Beyo echoes Jane’s sentiments, saying that the increase in tuition fees is “out of proportion” with the support for international students. Beyo says that “it is important for international students to be involved” on Governing Council, given the fees they pay. The university maintains that tuition fees remain competitive with peer institutions. Using Arts & Science tuition and incidental fees for comparison, the schedule showed that while domestic tuition fees were slightly higher
CONTINUED ON PG. 9
INSIDE Comment Relative versus absolute progress
Features Different strokes
Arts Making an impression
Science Safest abortion method not in Canada
Sports Jill Stratton reflects on Varsity Blues career
On race relations in Canada
Exploring alternative spirtuality, Toronto retailers
Learning the art of letterpress printing
Government delays approval of mifepristone
Women’s basketball all-time scoring leader leaves U of T
PG. 10
PG. 14
PG. 16
PG. 21
PG. 26
EDITORIAL
Sexual assault survivors need resources now
PG. 13