gdp's Comments

Macleans OnCampus : Ontario gov't makes cutbacks to textbook grant

Mon, 4 May 2009 19:24:31 +0000

While I agree that the removal of an universal \\\"grant\\\" is not necessarily a bad thing; it is the decrease in planned aid that is problematic in this announcement.

The \\\"textbook grant\\\" will be frozen for students with assessed need.

This would\\\'ve been great public policy if the announcement was a removal of grants for those without assessed need and a continued commitment to increasing the grants, as planned, for those with need.

Macleans OnCampus : Ontario gov't makes cutbacks to textbook grant

Mon, 4 May 2009 19:13:18 +0000

No need for FOI. The government included that information in response to my questions above:

\\\"[L]ast year\\\'s stats as of April 24, 2009:
A total of approximately 285,000 Textbook and Technology grants were issued. Of that number, approximately 204,000 or 72 per cent went to students who qualified for OSAP
About 11,000 students received Distance Grants. Approximately 10,400 (94%) went to students who qualified for OSAP\\\"

Macleans OnCampus : Former Harper adviser says true academics don't run for office

Fri, 1 May 2009 13:54:19 +0000

I favour term limits in the hope this would get rid of career politicians and leave a void to be filled by \\\"real\\\" people

Macleans OnCampus : Drop fees, not birth rates!

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:22:17 +0000

If the mayor wishes to see an increase in the birth rate, he should focus on creating incentives to encourage that directly.

Debt is a major factor in young people putting off starting a family. I know it will be a long time before I can pay off my debt and start a family.

A forgiveness program for student debt based on family size would likely assist to increase the birth rate.

- Joey

Macleans OnCampus : France has a national higher ed promotion agency - why not us?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:29:20 +0000

Thanks Alex.

Macleans OnCampus : More student elections: StFX, UBC, and Ryerson

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:48:03 +0000

@RadicalBeer Thank you for correcting my wrong calculation. I picked that off one of the VFM outlets. Agreed with you there is going to be disengagement among the part-time body. The fact that students live "off-campus" should not be an excuse for low turnout. They are "on-campus" every day for classes and to use the library. The question is, how do you engage them? The other two categories noted have the ability to vote online. I can understand the difficulty in reaching students on practicum, but it should be possible to at least engage the med students. - Joey

Macleans OnCampus : UCalgary kicked off my list of potential grad schools

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 23:09:47 +0000

@Josh Yes, I would tolerate the distribution of said pamphlets. I rather bigots openly express their wrong opinions than hide them. With the knowledge of their bigotry, I can work to counter it and disassociate from those individuals.

Macleans OnCampus : Gateway editorial: Recession, unions screw universities

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 20:38:19 +0000

The $2B is not being dismissed. The editorial is pointing out that money was not a student priority. The federal budget included very little for students. The only concrete thing students are getting from the budget is the future bill.

Macleans OnCampus : Despite deficits, student pols increase their pay

Sun, 1 Feb 2009 08:35:27 +0000

It seems one of the problems is that pay raises are not sent to the entire student body to vote on in a referendum.

Macleans OnCampus : Despite deficits, student pols increase their pay

Sun, 1 Feb 2009 02:57:21 +0000

@Dollansky Falling enrolment? I know a lot of Ontario SUs benefitted greatly from the massive increase in enrolment over the last decade to expand services and spend. Now that enrolment is on the verge of dropping, many SUs in Ontario are about to face deficit situations.

Macleans OnCampus : Despite deficits, student pols increase their pay

Sun, 1 Feb 2009 02:55:30 +0000

@Jerry Having to shut down the campus pub is a financial difficulty. It means the student union has lost revenue and there will be a need to invest in change the space to either be a service or a revenue generator. It may not be a threat to the overall stability of the SCSU, but it is a difficulty.

Macleans OnCampus : Despite deficits, student pols increase their pay

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:17:32 +0000

You are right they are not related. The financial downturn has nothing to do with the problems at this two student unions. The problems are related to poor leadership and a culture of entitlement. These would have happened regardless of the greater economy. The headline and dek create the wrong impression.

Macleans OnCampus : Despite deficits, student pols increase their pay

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:53:13 +0000

True, but a student has tuition expenses and other educational expenses. A student politician does not have those expenses. Want to represent students, then expect to live like a student is my belief. What to make private sector money, then go to the private sector.

Macleans OnCampus : York University strike is CUPE's Waterloo

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:44:30 +0000

@Andreimr No, cause the 2010 issue is the main issue. Both sides were guilty at one point of not negotiating seriously. 3903 only lowered its demands when it became clear that back-to-work legislation was a real possibility. I will agree that the university sat on its hands this last week. President Shoukri was very clear that he would not under any circumstances sign a two year contract. Tip-o-my-hat to you for trying.

Macleans OnCampus : What you probably don't know about the York strike

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:56:49 +0000

@Benson CAUT is involved to the same extent as the AUCC in setting national goals for bargaining. Yes, they are not officially at the table, but they are involved in assisting the individual faculty associations.

Macleans OnCampus : What you probably don't know about the York strike

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:27:32 +0000

Jeff, Great piece thank you for adding it to the discussion. It should be noted that another cause of the increased use of contract faculty is that the Canadian Association of University Teachers has successfully negotiated decreases in teaching loads for tenured faculty. This has increased the cost of teaching classes. Whereas previously two tenured faculty members would teach six classes, the universities now require three for the same six classes. The "deficit" has been filled with the use of lower paid contract workers.

Macleans OnCampus : Another university president without a Ph.D.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:31:47 +0000

Thanks Carson, I should have remembered that.

Macleans OnCampus : Ont gov whistling past graveyard on York strike

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:45:24 +0000

From the CUPE 3903 website: http://cupe3903.tao.ca/?q=node/836" rel="nofollow">http://cupe3903.tao.ca/?q=node/836 "Our most recent wage proposal was a 7% increase in the first year – to make up for lost ground and 4% in the second to give us just a slight edge over current inflation rates."

Macleans OnCampus : Unless York strike ends soon, classes stop Dec. 15

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:46:23 +0000

@Danny V Actually, because the strikers are paid by the course, they will receive their pay after the strike. If tenured full-time faculty were on strike, there would be savings because they are paid a salary, not piece-rate.

Macleans OnCampus : York back-to-work watch I

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 08:16:35 +0000

That is a private members bill which will die in committee not government legislation. You are correct that it is legislation, I should have been more clear.