By now, everyone on campus has seen the embarrassing video of AlwaysQuestion’s sit-in at Simcoe Hall that took place on March 20. It’s a real—excuse the word—shame that student activism has sunk to these depths. Originally meant to be a legitimate protest against the 20 per cent increase in New College residence fees, a grievance initially supported by the New College Student Council, the cause was debased when seized by radicals with divergent interests.
In 1968, Europe came to a standstill with student/worker protests demanding socially progressive policies. Time and again, each riot eventually floundered due to an inability to agree about their fundamental goals. The same thing happened on campus, as a vocal minority of U of T students hijacked the sit-in with ludicrous demands ranging from the end of the Iraq War, to Israel granting freedom to Palestinians. In effect, AlwaysQuestion decided to protest everything, ignoring the nuances of their cause in an immature quest to get their way, which is to them, the only way.
Successful agitations for change— such as the Civil Rights movement— not only have clear goals, but are also well-coordinated. Chanting profanity like a group of overtired frosh certainly isn’t a way to enforce change. Reports, petitions, facts, figures, and suggestions for improvement will persuade the administration. It may not get as much attention from our admittedly apathetic student population, but it’s far more productive than simply shouting an end goal without suggesting any intermediary process. It’s unfortunate that AlwaysQuestion and their ilk refuses to think of measured solutions, instead choosing to use blunt scare tactics in hopes of getting some attention.
AlwaysQuestion’s continuing actions— deeming the gentle tactics of the police officers at Simcoe Hall “police brutality,” continually insulting the police, scapegoating David Naylor for all their problems, and staging protests to protest what happened at other protests—only discredit the left. President Naylor commented that such cries of police brutality are nothing but “historical revisionism.” Mocking calls of “Shaaaaame” have become a joke all over campus, as more students have laughed at their video, or felt embarassed by the organization than felt united by the cause. It’s upsetting, because student activism has a history of being just and effective, not silly and ridiculous.
Our predecessors brought a lot of progress to this school, from gaining women access to Hart House, to allowing undergraduates into Robarts—iniatives that Always- Question likens itself to. Those same alumni should shake their heads at what student activism has become: petty, reactionary, and ludicrous.
