Pelting the seal argument
Re: “Get back, Paul!”
March 23
Cam Vidler’s derisive article about the seal hunt is one-sided, and, in his own words, is itself “simplistic and self-righteous”. He notes repeatedly that demand for seal pelts stimulates the seal hunt, as if demand alone justifies the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world. Demand for seal pelts-or, using his example, cocaine-does not mean that slaughtering seals or growing cocaine is condonable. He also conveniently forgets that because the E.U. and U.S. have banned our seal products, the government spends a great deal of money marketing seal products (pelts, oil, and meat) around the world.
Canada is known throughout the world for its progressive systems of health care, education and values, but the senseless cruelty, marginal economic benefits, and bad publicity of the seal hunt indeed makes “one huge stain” on Canada’s reputation.
Howard Choi
President, U of T Coalition for Animal Rights and the Environment
Free time?
Re: “Student strike last resort to protest tuition hike,” March 23
It would be all well and good for the executive of SAC to call for or organize a student strike in a “last ditch” attempt to stop tuition from rising. Let us all be reminded that, while the vast majority of us are here to go to school, the SAC execs have the luxury of taking a maximum of 1.0 credits during the school year. I’d like to see how many of the full-time students whom they claim to represent would be happy to blow off that final week of paper- and exam-laden classes. I, for one, would not
.
Aldous Cheung
Trinity College SAC Director
Kibria’s kudos
Re: “Students rally against racism,” March 23
I want to say thank you to the press for covering the stories on Islamophobia. It is imperitive that these stories are covered. I think it is from the coverage of these stories that an apology letter came to me in the form of an email by an egg thrower: I was egged, along with other women who were flyering for a Women’s Day Rally, and the egg thrower said that they did not mean to be Islamophobic, and sincerely apologized. This email brings comfort to me, as it is one less Islamophobic attack on campus, and possibly will make this person think twice before throwing another egg next time.
This does not undermine the fact that Islamophobia occured on campus, and that the University still does have to make a public statement, as they have in the past for other faith groups who were attacked.
I would like to thank President Naylor for coming to the Muslim prayers on Friday to address the fears and concerns of Muslims on the campus. But I would like the rest of his admin to follow his suit, especially the Vice-Provost Students, David Farrar.
I want to thank the students who showed up for the rally. In such desperate and troubling times, I really feel comforted in knowing that students are out there to help. I especially felt encouraged by how many non-Muslims came out to the rally. Even the President of the Jewish Students Association was supposed to speak (but she was sick that day). Students showed up asking how they can help. They acknowledged that there was Islamophobia on campus, and racism, that they’ve seen it, and would like to fight it. Thank you, guys, for speaking up.
It is with media help that the admin feel pressured to make statements, when otherwise they wouldn’t. I have approached admin about Islamic issues in the past to make life on campus easier for Muslims, and they did not respond, or did not understand why I would be asking at all. I have approached the Race Relations office with other racism issues, but with no follow up. So, the pressure from media and students alike are helping now, because at Governing Council, there will finally be a statement made by the university…hopefully it is a statement that will protect students on campus.
Shaila Kibria
SAC Vice President Equity.
