Athletics good investment
Re: Faculty of Phys Ed gets fiscal, Feb. 12
I find myself in agreement with Chris Ramsaroop, in that the financing for university athletics and recreation should come from provincial sources. By funding athletic programs at U of T, in addition to other universities and public schools, the provincial government would benefit economically in the long run.
Numerous studies have cited physical inactivity as a major contributing factor in the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, obesity, cancer, and type II diabetes. Through promoting athletics and recreational programs, especially among lower class students, who may otherwise be discouraged to pursue sports and physical activity for financial reasons, the province can potentially save millions of dollars in healthcare costs by preventing the onset of disease.
Fahad Syed
Tuition freeze despite CFS
Re: CFS Speaks, CFS: Protests not useless, Feb. 23
How can you suggest that the CFS was responsible for the tuition freeze in Ontario, or anywhere else for that matter? A new provincial government was elected on the platform of a tuition freeze; and I should mention that it was a different government than the one that the CFS was blatantly endorsing.
Let me be clear on this: A fully-funded tuition freeze is a great thing, but the CFS was in no way responsible for a tuition freeze anywhere, and to suggest that it was is na ve and frankly, irresponsible. The tuition freeze came despite the antics of the CFS, certainly not because of them.
So you can call yourself “CFS Local 19,” but I’ll call myself U of T.
Ari Kopolovic
Governing Council Candidate
SAC Director
Chair, English Students Union
A voice for women
Re: Bad medicine, Feb. 23
I am writing to commend you on your article, Bad medicine. It is always so helpful when you can find a voice in what seems to be a forbidden subject.
I fully and completely support Ms. Benoit. The only way to right the injustices that she has been forced to endure is to unite voices and shed light on something that thrives in the darkness of secrecy.
More in-depth articles should be written. I am very saddened at the extent of the other students suffering-she has lost all she has worked so hard for, and now she has no voice. Imagine suffering such loss and humiliation just to find that you alone have no voice and no support from those who should be there to protect you.
I know only too well what it is like to fight the overwhelming odds, the David and Goliath battle, so to speak. Most times you are ridiculed and your voice is overshadowed by corporate corruption and bureaucratic greed. Policies are only as good as the paper they are written on because there is no body that bears the responsibility of enforcing the letters of policy. We have seen it time and again.
You should look into other places in which it appears and correlate them with your previous article-letting women know there is a voice for them. Then you may give some time to the Theresa Vince bill, which the honourable MPP Pat Hoy has brought before parliament. If passed, this bill will make it possible for sexual harassment to be covered under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety act, where it belongs.
There are no excuses for supporting offenders and the institutions that hide them, and they should be held responsible for their actions. Theresa Vince lost her life to her sexual harasser. Ms. Benoit and her fellow student lost their futures. When is enough enough? I truly hope you can take this issue and bring more light to it, for Ms. Benoit, for her unknown fellow student, and for the memory of Theresa Vince.
I thank you for your time and hope that in some way my support will spur the positive outcome I pray for.
Catherine Kedziora
