The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) did everything to stop this referendum from happening. Months ago, they refused to accept the petitions asking for the opportunity to let U of G students decide whether they truly want to be members of the CFS. It took a court battle and the ruling of a judge to allow students the right to democratically decide where their money goes and whether they want to be a part of this particular lobbying organization. Now that the CFS has been ordered by a judge to allow this referendum to go forward, they have descended upon our school in droves to inform us of the value of a ‘united student movement.’
But where were they before?
Many students are hearing about the CFS and the money they’ve been paying to them for the first time during this campaign period. Last issue, the Ontarion published the results of a CSA Capacity Analysis and Planning survey that revealed that in nearly all areas involving the services offered to them by the CFS, they were either totally unaware of these services or had never used them at all.
Now that the CFS is looking at loosing the $224, 000 that U of G students provide them with annually, they’re here and with some unusual tactics to boot. For some reason, the ‘Yes’ campaigners and the CFS felt it would be a good idea to bring in canvassers from outside universities like York, U of T and Ryerson among others to go to classrooms, and walk around campus talking to students about all of the good that the CFS does and should be allowed to continue to do for U of G students. But this, to the Ontarion, speaks to a larger problem.
Why do they need to bring students from outside universities to influence Guelph students in a Guelph referendum about Guelph issues? The answer seems to be because there isn’t enough of a CFS-supporting presence on campus to hold up the weight of a campaign; there weren’t enough students who openly cared enough to push for the ‘Yes’ side of the debate.
According to Denise Martins, a ‘Yes’ campaigner and incoming CSA executive, in an article published in the news section of this issue, the negative ideas about these outside-university canvassers are likely being disseminated by those campaigning on the ‘No’ side and that they aren’t coming organically from students. But it’s hard to ignore that there’s some truth to the assertions likening these outside canvassers to interlopers.
Let’s call a spade a spade here. What this comes down to is the University of Guelph. Guelph students paying Guelph money for services and advocacy from an organization that most students aren’t even aware of.
It’s hard not to believe that there could be a better alternative to the CFS. One that is present on the campus all the year round; not just when they’re faced with losing our money. It’s time we had a look at what those might be.
And that’s why the Ontarion wants you to vote a resounding ‘No.’