Thanks for reinforcing the stereotypes
(Re: “‘I’ve never seen one as divisive as this,'” 25 March 2002)
I am personally offended by the implications of Liz Majic and others’ comments that women were excluded from the SAC AGM by the actions of a few men. The premise of this argument is that women don’t have the talents or skills to speak up for themselves. I can imagine that the atmosphere may have been intimidating to students of both genders unfamiliar with procedure. However, suggesting that women have less ability to learn the process and engage in debate is insulting.
The complaints also perpetuate dangerous stereotypes, such as the association between masculinity and aggression or femininity and timidity.
This kind of reflexive application of the “misogynist” label to any man with whom one disagrees is one of the tactics which has alienated many young women from the feminist cause and hurt the fight for equal rights for both genders.
I would like an apology from Ms. Majic for her hurtful and offensive comments. The SAC equity commissioner should know better than to underestimate the talents of women.
Theresa Robinson
You do not speak for me!
(Re: “‘I’ve never seen one as divisive as this,'” 25 March 2002)
I’d like other non-white women on campus to stop speaking on my behalf. I can listen, think and speak for myself. Loudly. Hear me as I ask you this: how does attempting to enforce democracy over dictatorship translate into racist chauvinism?
Tiffany Conroy
Native Canadian Female
Give me back my own vote
(Re: “‘I’ve never seen one as divisive as this,'” 25 March 2002)
I would just like to let your readers know the reality behind Alex Kerner et. al.’s proxy vote spectacle at the annual general meeting. While gathering proxy votes from unknowing students, our friendly neighbourhood socialists failed to inform these student supporters that they were using their proxy votes to triumphantly show up at the annual general meeting, undemocratically dominating all.
It is quite audacious of Kerner and Tabah to assert that every person that signed over a proxy vote to them was a willing partner in their ridiculous spectacle. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Sadly enough, I myself signed over a proxy vote to Alex Kerner a few months into the school year. He approached me, recognizing me from a few social activist meetings, and told me that if I signed the proxy form, it would help him in his fight for freezing tuition. Being a naive first-year student, willing to help with a seemingly reasonable cause, I signed the form.
Now, after seeing the wastefulness of the Optic party, and the wretched manipulation of the proxy voting system, I respectfully ask Alex Kerner to refrain from using my proxy vote for his political interests. Had I been properly informed of what he intended to use the proxy form for, I would never have signed it. I would have torn it to shreds.
Sidrah Ahmad
ednote: The Varsity newspaper also gathered proxy votes (though none were used at the AGM). These, however, included the stipulation that the vote would only be valid on Varsity agenda items.
A model of peaceful co-existence
(Re: “Let’s talk about Israel,” 28 March 2002)
I come from a Jewish family that has lived continuously in what is now Israel for seven generations. Hence, I am a descendant of the original Palestinian Jewish population. The family I come from was in Palestine before the Zionists set foot in the country. They lived in peace with their Arab neighbours until the Zionists invaded the country and turned it into a colony for foreign Jews. Now my family lives under constant threat of terrorism because of Zionist colonialism. It is no secret that the Zionists ignored the presence of Palestine’s majority Arab population, but they also ignored the wishes of the land’s Jewish population, none of whom wanted anything to do with Zionism.
Jason Shvili
Israel—the only democracy in the Middle East
(Re: Crisis in the middle east)
The issue of the Middle East needs to be discussed because it affects not only Israelis and Palestinians, but as we witnessed on September 11, 2001, us too. However, people who disagree have chosen not to debate me. Most of them ignored what I have said and instead tried to smear my name by saying that I’m justifying the terrorist attacks. That’s a lie.
As I have pointed out before, Israel forbids Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral lands. However, those living in Israel face intense discrimination. They are given citizenship cards that have no Israeli nationality designation, leading to discriminatory policies. In Israel there are whole cities and settlements in which it is illegal for Palestinians to live. There are segregated housing areas and complexes, schools and recreational facilities where Palestinians are not allowed. This segregation is official government policy. Palestinians are not permitted to serve in the military, and even though they make up around 17 percent of Israel’s population, there has never been one Palestinian in the Israeli cabinet.
Finally, the U.N. Relief and Works agency for Palestine Refugees indicates that at least 20,000 detainees are tortured every year during interrogation in the military detention centers. The support of the U.S. for Israel makes it an obvious target for Arab terrorists.
These are the facts that cause terrorism, not Islamic faith. If we want to avoid more terrorist attacks, we must address these issues, not ignore them.
Stan Deineka
President Birgeneau: we have a better plan for Varsity Centre
The Prolific Potters Project at U of T would like to let you know that hunger stalks the corridors of U of T, and that for the students who depend on free food, a Varsity Centre levy will be disastrous.
Every week, hungry families and individuals must line up for food donations at the New College Food Bank. Students are driven to desperation by the high costs of tuition, housing and food in Toronto.
This is no nightmarish fictive scenario in the university. This is the dreadful reality that many students live right now.
The Prolific Potters have been engaged in an uphill struggle. For three consecutive years, our dedicated volunteers, coordinated by Caroline Xia, Chikako Nagayama and Emily Sadowski, have exerted themselves to produce food for the hungry.
Every summer, we have grown organic vegetables right next to the Graduate Students’ Union for donation to the food bank. Hunger is so extensive that we cannot feed all the hungry people. Yet, we understand that U of T intends to impose additional fees on students to pay for a Varsity Stadium costing $50 million!
President Birgeneau and U of T administrators: students and non-students are suffering enough. We cannot pay any more! You are asking us to pay another $70 that with an annual 3 per cent increase will amount to hundreds in yearly mandatory athletic fees!
This demand is outrageous when we cannot buy food! The Prolific Potters object to the overall concept of an expensive new Varsity Stadium. We say no to the Stadium and propose that the area should be turned into an area of public recreation, including a community garden which will help to diminish instead of increase the cost of a university education.
Caroline Xia, Pearl Subhan, Lori Ander, Robin Haggerty, Ivona Vujica
