Students Occupy University of Ottawa Administrative Offices

Today, at approximately 1 p.m, students and concerned community members occupied the administrative offices at the University of Ottawa. Beginning at 1:30 p.m, a rally is also taking place in the building in support of this occupation. The action taken was in response to the decision made at the Board of Governors meeting held Monday evening. The University of Ottawa administration and its corporate appointees voted in favour of raising tuition fees, which will result in the following increases:
• 4% for returning undergraduate students and 4.5% for new undergraduate students
• 4% for returning graduate students and 8% for new graduate students
• 4% for returning international students and 8% for new international students.

We, the students, recognize that this vote is simply reflective of the progressing neoliberal agenda towards education being felt across the world. This office occupation and rally against tuition fee increases was also in solidarity with fellow students in the United Kingdom, who are participating in a National Day of Action for Education, students across Italy who are currently occupying their universities, and students in New Brunswick who are taking to the streets today as well.

As demonstrated at the Townhall on Tuition Fees last week, students across the board are demanding that post-secondary education become more accessible. It is both disgraceful and inappropriate that our administration could hold such a townhall, and yet disregard all input received from us, the students, who will now will suffer the consequences of further inaccessible education. As demonstrated by the already increasingly over-used and straining services of the uOttawa Food Bank, student poverty is increasing. Yet, the Board of Governors has hiked our tuition fees once again, leaving us wondering: did we ever have a chance, or was the decision made without a second thought?

The group occupying the administrative office has the following demands:

That the University of Ottawa administration and the Board of Governors reverse its decision on tuition fees increases, and instead freeze tuition fees at the current tuition fee rate until inflation makes it necessary (2052) to increase tuition fees
That the University of Ottawa administration formally sign an agreement and enact the necessary changes to allow a more representative amount of student seats upon the Board of Governors, in the area of 51%
A comprehensive study to be conducted in which a multitude to plans will be created that would be necessary for eliminating tuition fees

The action today was set out in retaliation to the lack of responsiveness within the University of Ottawa’s administration. Over the last few years, campaigns such as ‘Drop Fees’ and ‘Education is a Right’ have emerged in an attempt to change the flawed system and freeze tuition fees for the benefit of students, who should be the University’s first priority.
Yet, such campaigns and all their requests have been ignored time and time again. The occupation and rallies today show that students will not back down, be ignored or be silenced. We will continue the fight for accessible post-secondary education until we win!
The students, united, will never be defeated!!!

For more information, contact:
Amalia Savva (FR) 613.867.9182
Iain Brannigan (EN) 613.668. 7275

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Comments

Wed, 11/24/2010 - 17:38 — James (not verified)

"The students united will

"The students united will never be defeated"

Actually, I'm pretty sure that students will be defeated - either when the walk out, or are forced out by the police inspite of none of the 3 demands being implemented. You heard it hear first.

Wed, 11/24/2010 - 21:12 — Denis Rancourt

you gotta burn shit or don't bother

http://activistteacher.blogspot.com/2010/11/university-student-for-sale.html

If you don't impose parity of influence and you don't hurt them then by what mechanism can you have any leverage?

The SFUO student union has secret meetings with the admin, says they're a great bunch and that they work well together, and supports inefective rallies.

Be real.

Wed, 11/24/2010 - 21:31 — Hunter College Student (not verified)

"It is both disgraceful and

"It is both disgraceful and inappropriate that our administration could hold such a townhall, and yet disregard all input received from us, the students, who will now will suffer the consequences of further inaccessible education."

Administrators are using this technique EVERYWHERE. What a fabulous way to call them out on their crap!

Occupy to the end. Fight for more than 51% You peeps are the MAJORITY!

Solidarity from NYC

Wed, 11/24/2010 - 21:41 — Calgary Anonymous (not verified)

I'm with ya!!

Wed, 11/24/2010 - 23:00 — Anon-Ottawa (not verified)

Good

This is a long time coming. I've been waiting for this kind of thing to happen at Ottawa U.

Solidarity!!!!

Thu, 11/25/2010 - 00:26 — allan rock's new nemesis (not verified)

occupy EVERYTHING.

hey denis,

you do realize this is only the beginning right? stop belittling tactics and let's move towards what we are ALL trying to achieve. many of us who were there believe in a diversity of tactics.

it's easy to hate on the SFUO, but why not also aim some hate on GSEAD as well? neither are perfect, and soon enough the SFUO will have an exec that is entirely progressive and not half progressive like it is now.

get a-burning and we'll be right beside you roasting marshmellows.

in sol,

allan rock's new nemesis

Thu, 11/25/2010 - 20:56 — Greg Dean

UBC needs solidarity

Israeli Zionist organizations are trying to take-over or have the Social Justice Center, which is a significant progressive force in Western Canada.

Please visit the below FB group and do one of the things to stand in solidarity. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121407281255397 Here is the VMC's coverage of

the situation as of a few days ago: http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/story/galloway-talk-prompts-campus-campaign-against-pro-

Fri, 11/26/2010 - 11:21 — Vancouver Anonymous (not verified)

More CFS Bull-crap

The 'student movement' that touts that free education is a basic human right doesn't represent many students. I mean, sure students want more cash in their pocket, but if you actually sat them down and said "would you like to sacrafice quality of education to save on cost? or Would you like to devalue your degree by opening university admission to any who want to attend? or Would you like to have your university be overwhelmingly influenced by corporate influence to offset your costs? Most students would say "yeah, when you compare it to the world, university in Canada is cheap and its the best investment I can make."

Like all universities in Canada, uOttawa has to balance their budgets, so if they eliminate tuition, they would either have to have massive cut back and majorly effect the quality of education, lower admissions to cut costs, or find other funding sources to offset the lost tuition money. The other funding source could be through a major corporatization of the school or else appealing to the government. If it is appealing to the government, then I don't know how occupying the uOttawa is at all effective. I mean they're clearly not the ones who set the provinical budget.

From there the question continues, if students don't pay their small share of the cost of education where does that money come from? Cut quality, or get money from elsewhere. For the government it means, cutting healthcare, cutting social security, cutting infrastucture or raising taxes. I'm not sure that more money in my pocket is worth having a shittier society in those other ways. So raise taxes then... but doesn't that just mean taking money from tax payers and putting it into my pocket, like some half hatched idea about redistribution of wealth.

Frankly, quality higher education, free from corporate control is a privildige that I happily take on student debt to invest in.

Sat, 11/27/2010 - 14:32 — UK student (not verified)