Give SAC the sack?
In the last few months, I have heard rumblings of discontent from many college groups regarding SAC’s effectiveness as a student government. Most recently, outrage has been expressed by UCLit against some of SAC’s election policies; specifically the race for VP Operations. The complaint was not well received by SAC, and UCLit was blown off in a rather condescending manner.
SAC has often been accused of a lack of accountability. Dismissing formal complaints lodged by other student bodies is a testament to this. Basically, SAC said “we don’t care what you think-go back to your constituent college, and we’ll continue to fight amongst ourselves with your money.”
It is obvious why colleges and suburban campuses strongly support opting-out of SAC. SAC has just proved that indeed, they do not care about the concerns of students.
Maybe SAC will act responsibly when a college or suburban campus actually does opt out. By then it may be too late to turn the tide of ensuing opt-outs, leaving SAC a desolate wasteland of (bad) student politics.
SAC was created to represent the students at U of T. Ignoring their will is not representing them. It is sad that we have responded to UCLit with a denigrating response; that we are too busy at playing politics and fighting petty wars to actually listen to a genuine student complaint.
Ari David Kopolovic
SAC Director, Vic
Back up off my homies, yo!
Re: Crabbin’ about scabbin’, June 25
The last edition of The Varsity featured an opinion piece by Alex Kerner that called former U of T governor Sean Mullin and current U of T governor Mike Foderick “Scabs.” Readers of The Varsity should be reminded of just who these two student representatives are:
Sean Mullin has served as SAC external commissioner and just completed a term as a student representative on the U of T Governing Council. When not in school he works for his local provincial MP. Sean has been active in student-administration efforts to reform OSAP and improve student housing on campus, and was a leader in the effort to stop the proposed increases in law tuition this year. Mr. Kerner’s accusations are completely false.
Mike Foderick just replaced Sean on Governing Council and was the architect of the discount TTC metropass. Last year he served as chair and CEO of The Varsity, and he is chair of the charitable Laidlaw Foundation’s youth engagement programme. He has also worked for several Toronto city councillors, sits on several city committees, and has written a number of motions that are now city by-laws. He has received many awards for community service and volunteerism including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. Mr. Kerner makes the ludicrous insinuation that Mike is in favour of deregulation-despite Mike’s own statement that “the deregulation of law and other professional programs must be stopped dead in its tracks.”
These two are model members of the U of T community and are among the most highly regarded students at this university. One wonders why Mr. Kerner chose to target them for his latest personal attack.
Benjamin Arye H Bach
Director, SAC
