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Tuition Fee Hike and Student Strike: A one stop shop (or almost!)

February 14, 2012
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  • By how much is the tuition fee increasing?  

The Quebec Government is set to increase tuition fees by 75% over five years (from 2012 to 2017), for a total of $1625, starting with an increase 325$ this fall.

  • Why is that a problem?

Such an increase would deny 30,000 students from low-income families and other socioeconomic groups their right to education based on merit.

  • How can we stop the increase?

On November 10 2011, over 200,000 students including 24,000 at Concordia (ASFA & GSA members) went on strike! We were over 30,000 walking the streets of Montreal protesting the hikes. Prior to that, students engaged in a number of demonstrations and actions to protest against the strike. But clearly we need to do more! Students across the province are planning a general strike to pressure the government this winter semester. As of today, 11,000 students are already on unlimited strike, and 10,000 more have a strike mandate and will join the general strike in less than a week.
It is time we all discuss our options!

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Quebec Tuition: We Have A Choice

February 16, 2012
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We hear a lot from Charest and conservative lobbyists about how tuition hikes are the only way to finance the Quebec University system, but they never seem to present any actual facts. Why? Because, as you can see, the facts speak for themselves!

For sources and more information, visit gsaconcordia.ca

Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Association (ECSGA) to vote on strike

February 12, 2012
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STRIKE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

February 16, 3pm at EV 2.260

  • Vote on a strike against tuition fee increase

    Plus:
    Introduction of ECSGA  new By-Laws
    Presentation by Teaching and Research Assistants of Concordia (TRAC) union reps

    All Engineering and Computer Science graduate students are urged to attend.

    Please bring your STUDENT ID to be eligible to vote!

    General Assembly followed by a FREE DINNER
    (only for those who attend the meeting)

    For more information:ECSGA Website, Free Education Montreal

Town Hall on Student Strikes: Get Your Questions Answered!

February 6, 2012
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What is a student strike? How have past strikes worked? What can it accomplish? What are the risks?
Stand up to fear-mongering * Get the facts * Discuss your options 

Wednesday, February 8, 2pm
H-110 (Hall Building)

This Winter, students all over Quebec are preparing for a general strike to defend public university education. Tens of thousands of students have already voted to go on a strike and many more will do so in the upcoming weeks. At Concordia, there will be general assemblies of departmental associations and the CSU and GSA to consider joining the strike. Each student has a vote, but make sure you have the correct information!

For instance, student strikes:

  • have been the LAST resort of Quebec students in defending the accessible and democratic nature of universities and colleges
  • have occurred eight times since 1968, and students have never lost a semester
  • have succeeded in establishing a tuition freeze that lasted from 1968 to 1990 and major improvements to the Quebec loans and bursaries program (AFE)
  • are NOT just about skipping class
  • do NOT involve dropping classes
  • do NOT involve non-payment of fees


Representatives from the CSU, GSA and the Concordia Mobsquad will make a short presentation and be available to answer questions.

Commodification of Education

February 5, 2012
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By Martin Robert
Presented at “Winter Camp” 14 – 15 January 2012, at Concordia and McGill Universities
2030 MacKay, Montreal

We live in the « commodification of education » era. By definition, a commodity is something that we buy and sell. Therefore, commodification of education means that education is not yet a commodity, but that it is becoming a commodity. This consequently means that, up until recently, education was approached as something other than a commodity. The main purpose of this presentation is to analyze in three steps the process through which education is, in our time, slowly turning into a commodity. First, we will look at what education actually was up to now in Quebec. Second, we will look at the different ways by which education is being commoditized. Third and finally, we will look at why this process is taking place in Quebec as we speak.
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Common Threats, Common Struggle/ Même Menace, Même Lutte

January 29, 2012
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Common Threats, Common Struggle/ Même Menace, Même Lutte

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE TUITION HIKES WHERE: Starting at Concordia, Hall Building Lobby (1455 De Maisonneuve, W.) WHEN: Thursday, Feb 2nd, at 11am to 2:30pm La langue, les classes sociales, les origines, le campus, le quartier… Autant de barrières qui ont toujours divisé les étudiant-es...

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