Marginal Notes

Alberta's Commercialization of Education: Self-Interested, Political Wannabes Attempt to De-Federate from the CFS

Recently, the executive of the Graduate Students' Association of the University of Calgary has campaigned to de-federate from the Canadian Federation of Students. It is worth noting that those who are heading up the campaign for de-federation are the newly self-appointed kings of Alberta's Graduate Council.

One can plainly see that the approach to education promoted by the Alberta Graduate Council is vastly different to that of the Canadian Federation of Students.

For example, the Canadian Federation of Students lists among its principles:

"To achieve our ultimate goal - a system of post-secondary education that is accessible to all, which is of high quality, which is nationally planned, which recognizes the legitimacy of student representation, and the validity of student rights, and whose role in society is clearly recognized and appreciated."

In contrast, the Alberta Graduate Council's mission is:

"Informing stakeholders of the value of graduate students as highly skilled workers that will drive a knowledge-based economy – providing world-class knowledge, research and education."

So, we need to ask ourselves is education a collective good or a commodity? Are students persons with human rights or marketable labourers?

If you believe that education is a human right, you must vote against de-federation as the Canadian Federation of Students is critical to a pan-national students' movement organized around education as a collective good.

I would also ask students and concerned parties to be wary of the Alberta Graduate Council which has recently increased the levy that students pay each year by 200%.

It is critical that students demand responsible student government. On January 21, 2009, Canada Student Loan debt surpassed the $13 billion mark.

“The students and families who can least afford to pay for post-secondary education are carrying a $13 billion burden,” said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “Saddling a generation of students with billions in debt will have far reaching implications for Canada's economy and socio-economic inequality.”

As a graduate student at the University of Calgary, I am against de-federation from the Canadian Federation of Students. As a human being, citizen, and possible future parent, I am terrified by the increased commercialization of education. And, I'll be damned if I will allow some ladder-climbing, wannabes play into the hands of neoliberal policy makers when they should be upholding their responsibilities as student representatives and securing the future of education of Alberta.

This one goes out to all of you with hate-ons...

This holiday season, watch a video, have fun, get laid...take a break from the hate. 

Film: Call Me A Paki

Call Me A Paki is a great short film by Albertan filmmaker Afzal Huda.  The themes of the film are consistent with those that I attempt to explore on this blog - marginalization, identity, voice.

Using old video footage, the filmmaker narrates his personal story of lost, and reclaimed, identity.  From Zed television:

The film gives a glimpse of the filmmaker's personal growth brought about by his first experience with racism upon returning to Canada after living in Pakistan for 17 years. The realization that he was not accepted in this society quickly lead to the abandonment of the cultural & spiritual values & practices that were once an integral part of his life. It took the hauntingly insightful words of a virtual stranger on the streets of Northern Pakistan to make him realize all he had given up.

Watching this film, I was struck by the marked change in the filmmaker's movement and voice; there is a clear change in energy.

Links:

Call Me a Paki by Afzal Huda

Who Participates?

I came across a feature called  Video Nation on the BBC website yesterday evening.  The Video Nation project was inspired by the social research organization Mass Observation. The organization, created in 1937, aimed to create an "anthropology of ourselves" by studying the everyday lives of ordinary people in Britain. The organization recruited a team of observers and a panel of volunteer writers to record the stories of people across Britain. Drawing on this idea, the Video Nation project began in 1993, distributing camcorders across Britain and having people record their everyday lives.  Video Nation, now online, offers video clips of people across Britain talking about subjects ranging from disability to Valentine's Day to the War in Iraq. 

What I like about the project is that makes an effort to get many different people to participate, not just those who may already own camcorders.  The project has local teams stationed around Britain to help involve people.  Last night, I was able to watch one man talk about his struggles with alcohol abuse, then another talk about having lost his family in the tsunami.

I believe the project is somewhat successful in capturing the diversity of Britain.  It is certainly worth checking out.