Vol. CXXXV, No. 23
30 MARCH, 2015
The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
HOT JOCKS Varsity athletes reflect on their seasons PG. 14
Strike ends with Brighter UofT arbitration victorious CUPE 3902 Unit 1 members accept university’s offer; return to work Salvatore Basilone & Iris Robin ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITORS
One month after it began, the strike is over. On Thursday, March 26, the members of cupe 3902 Unit 1 voted to accept binding arbitration in their contract negotiations with the University of Toronto and return to work on Friday, March 27. “I’m happy to have classes back, the [teaching assistants] back, getting my work marked and tutorials back and running,” says Marcos Perez, a third-year student who had two of his classes affected by the strike. The final vote count was 942 in favour with 318 opposed, ending the strike by some 6,000 teaching assistants (tas), exam invigilators, and other university staff that began on February 27. “I think members are going back to work tomorrow with their heads held high,” says
Ryan Culpepper, one of the chief negotiators for Unit 1. “I think the vote count shows that members are very confident in our bargaining proposals, and confident we are going to win in arbitration.” “We are enormously relieved that the strike is over,” said U of T president Meric Gertler in a statement released Thursday. “A number of challenges remain, as we work together to return to regular functioning over the next few weeks.” By going to binding arbitration, both the university and the union have agreed ahead of time to accept the decision of a neutral third party. According to Culpepper, much work remains, with each side slated to submit a proposal and present oral arguments. The arbitrator can choose the proposal of one side or the other, or find a way to resolve the two.
CONTINUED ON PG 8
Unofficial UTSU election results set to be ratified Monday Alex McKeen ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Unofficial results for this year’s University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) elections indicate that the Brighter UofT slate has won all executive positions. According to the unofficial results, Ben Coleman was elected president by a margin of 3,630 to 3,147. Sania Khan was elected vice-president, equity by a margin of 3,518 to 2,812. Jasmine Denike was elected vice-president, external by a margin of 3,500 to 2,837. Ryan Gomes was elected vice-president, internal & services by a margin of 3,604 to 2,886. Vere-Marie Khan was elected vice-president, university affairs by a margin of 3,652 to 2,848. On the Change UofT slate, both presidential candidate Cameron Wathey and vicepresident, internal candidate Grayce Slobodian were incumbents.
Each executive candidate election had over 1,000 spoiled ballots with the exception of the presidential race, which had 988 spoiled ballots. Brighter UofT also won the majority of seats on the utsu Board of Directors. In last year’s race, team U of T Voice, the slate which included Wathey and Slobodian, won four of five executive seats by narrower margins. This year’s unofficial results show slightly higher voter turnout, with proportionally higher spoiled ballots.
SPATE OF DEMERIT POINTS ISSUED AT END OF ELECTION PERIOD At the end of a relatively tame University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) election period, the chief returning officer (cro) issued 92 demerit points — 87 of which were grouped in a single ruling.
CONTINUED ON PG 8
INSIDE Comment
Arts
UTSU advocacy
And we danced
Consulting with students should be the top priority
PG.10
EDITORIAL
Science Controversial U of T homeopathy study
Sports Blues name eight major award winners
U of T’s Festival of Dance makes its way to Hart House
Two students discuss the study’s scientific legitimacy
SASHA GOLLISH and ELI WALL win Athlete of the Year Awards
PG.16
PG.20
PG.23
U of T disappoints on leadership, academic integrity throughout labour disputes
PG.13