I speak for the Arbor!
Re: Arbor Room to close,
Jan. 24
It’s absurd that the Arbor Room could be closed, or turned into a franchised fast-food outlet. I am an alumna and someone who has worked on campus for almost six years. The Arbor Room is not just for undergraduate students, but also for the whole university and surrounding community.
At the Porter’s Desk, I was informed that the closures were all about the financial bottom line. Which begs the question: how has the best food and campus service facility on campus (reasonably priced, warm atmosphere, good-quality food, packed at peak hours, meeting place, workspace) not been supported and nurtured? How has this come to pass? What about all the people who are going to performances in the theatre? The best we can do in that venerable building is a Tim Horton’s, or yet another barely marginal Sodexho?!
There’s got to be a way to keep The Arbor Room alive. Put your heads together, folks! No talk of operating with minimal staff during low periods while still keeping the place open for simple stuff such as coffee/beverages, pre-packaged sandwiches, and salads? Then, instead of putting people out of a job completely, you just cut their hours in low periods. Don’t you think that would be better for the staff and the entire university community?
I think we need to start a petition, and I would be happy to assist.
Ruth Gillings
Administrator/Manager, Medical Alumni Association
Michael Moore, look out!
Re: ‘Reporter,’ really Liberal helper, tapes SAC office,
Jan.24
I’m frankly at a loss, at this point, as to where to begin. My name is David Chu; I have been a Liberal since I was recruited in 1972 by Pierre Elliot Trudeau. I didn’t think this would make my film project the target of yellow journalism, but alas it’s about politics and politicians, and this is a blood-sport.
I made a promise to a politican who I have known for twenty years that I would not air any of my footage during this election cycle. My intent was not to slag Olivia Chow, who was compared to a dog early in this campaign by a member of the exec board of my own party. It was a low point which we as decent Liberals will not abide with. You may chuckle but the fact is the core of the Liberal party is not corrupt, racist, or too arrogant to know that we have lost the confidence of some Canadian voters.
What I said on that day in question is on camera; my employment at CBC, ending last election, is well-documented.
I have been working on this issue of student voting on campus beginning in the summer of 2004, and I spent many hours interviewing SAC members past and present. I have been impressed by the passion and the hard work done by the youth not only on campus but all though the GTA. I am confident that this country has new and bright leaders that will change the political landscape of Canada.
As for me and the “another man” of the article, my cameraman Yoshi, we leave you for a two month shoot in Vietnam.
David Chu
Vert-ily, thou speakest true
Re: It ain’t easy being green, Jan. 24
Beautiful column. It infinitely sucks to have such a logical way of life not even considered in the least by all these idiots that make up the majority. Keep planting the seeds of hope for a better world.
Richard A.
Great balls of thunder
Re: More than a simple game, Jan 19
In a university that lacks school spirit and attendance at sporting events, we feel that it’s rather ridiculous to criticize a team whose goal is to promote participation at U of T. Is it not better to have a group of spirited individuals at the games to support the home team while promoting school spirit than nothing at all?
Regarding our choice of uniforms, a lot of thought and careful consideration was put into the selection of our dance wear. Our pants and athletic dance tops sport the U of T Varsity logo. They are neither low-cut nor midriff-bearing. One must recognize that we need to choose uniforms that are dance appropriate to give freedom of movement in executing our routines. In no way have the uniforms been chosen to sexually entertain our audiences or promote a “provocative” look. They are neither inappropriate nor distasteful.
The Thundersquad joins the author of the article in emphasizing the importance of male participation in cheerleading and dance teams. It is unfortunate that the male population at U of T does not share the enthusiasm for dance that we do. However, we hope that more male dancers come to our try-outs at the beginning of each school year.
The most important issue that the team would like to highlight is the author’s notion that we are exploiting ourselves or promoting the objectification of women or what “women [have] fought for decades against.”
Dancing is our sport, just as volleyball is a volleyball player’s sport. Dancers should not be penalized as females for making that choice. We pride ourselves in our abilities, not just in staying fit to perform the advanced skills that the squad demands, but also as a way to get involved in extra-curricular activities at the university. By stating that the media does not pay enough attention to female sports while discouraging the Thundersquad’s presence at sporting events, the author is simply contributing to what his article speaks so strongly against.
The University of Toronto Thundersquad
One mighty voice
Since the election results were unveiled I have been listening to newscasters, pundits, and politicians alike talk about how Canadians “decided” to elect another minority government, this time of a Conservative bent. They speak of how Canadians seem to have felt the need for a change in government, but not so sweeping a change as to hand the Conservatives a majority or to totally decimate the Liberals. Many even go so far as to deem the “decision” wise. While these observations reflect a certain intuitiveness into how riding results finally shook down in the country, they are totally preposterous.
These analysts seem to be under the impression that all Canadians share an all-encompassing cerebrum with which they seek the general will of the polity. 4.7 million individual Canadians did not cast their ballots with the intention of electing 124 Conservatives, 103 Liberals, 51 Bloc Quebecois, 29 NDPers and 1 independent. Each was, for the most part, unaware of how the rest of the country was going to vote and many I’m sure had very different hopes for final results.
Presumably, those who voted Liberal wanted the Liberals to win the election. Those who voted Bloc probably didn’t want to see their part lose three seats from their 2004 total. There’s no doubt that many who voted NDP would have liked to see even bigger gains and I’d bet that most of those who voted Conservative in Alberta (and elsewhere) were hoping for more than a minority.
Canadians did not intentionally “decide” to elect a Conservative minority?that’s just how it worked out in the end.
Chris Clark
