Burnaby— In response to the recent provincial budget, a coalition of students, staff, professors, teaching assistants and other community members at Simon Fraser University warns that the rhetoric of the recent provincial budget does not appear to be supported by real funding.
Following up on the overwhelming success of a February 4 rally against previous cuts, which was attended by over 1000 people, the coalition is hosting a public forum today to talk about the budget’s impact on the SFU community and how we can move forward in the struggle to protect public education from continued attacks.
The Forum features speakers Robert Clift (Executive Director, CUFABC), Cris Costa (Graduate Student Society, Action Committee Chair), and Kevin Harding (SFU student Senator and member of Board of Governors).
“The throne speech call education ‘the best economic development program ever invented’ and yet the Liberal budget continues its attack on public education in terms of real funding,” said Scott Drake of the Teaching Support Staff Union. “At the end of the day, this is an election budget in a time of economic crisis.”
While there is a $2 million dollar increase this year, this money is being used to handle increased enrolment and is tied to specific programs. Moreover, the projected revenue sources of the provincial government are precarious in nature. The budget, in fact, projects a decrease in actual funding over the next three years.
“At the President’s Annual Forum on February 25th, SFU President, Michael Stevenson called the ongoing cuts to faculty positions an appalling prospect. The elimination of positions means over-worked professors and teachers. It means a decrease in the value and quality of education at SFU,” said Cris Costa, Chair of the Graduate Funding Action Committee.
“The budget situation is already impacting the real quality of education at SFU,” said student representative Kevin Harding, “we’re losing instructors, class are being offered less frequently, class sizes will likely increase, and we’re facing cuts to scholarships, awards, and bursaries. Not only will it be harder to get the classes we need to graduate, but it will be harder for students to afford to take classes.”
The impacts of Budget cuts are already being felt. According to one member of Polyparty, a bargaining council of various unions representing Trades, “buildings are crumbling.” Roofs are leaking, tiles are breaking off, bathroom stalls need replacing, and there is mould everywhere.
“SFU remains an excellent university. The budget situation threatens our hard-won achievements in teaching, research and community involvement, but it’s not too late to reverse the damage,” said Dr. Bob Hackett, President SFU Faculty Association.
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For more info, contact
Sean Carleton 778.782.4735
Cris Costa 778-782-3899
Kyall Glennie 778.782.4540
PRESS RELEASE: SFU Community Calls on Province to Follow Through on Throne Speech Promises
Burnaby— In response to the recent provincial budget, a coalition of students, staff, professors, teaching assistants and other community members at Simon Fraser University warns that the rhetoric of the recent provincial budget does not appear to be supported by real funding.
Following up on the overwhelming success of a February 4 rally against previous cuts, which was attended by over 1000 people, the coalition is hosting a public forum today to talk about the budget’s impact on the SFU community and how we can move forward in the struggle to protect public education from continued attacks.
The Forum features speakers Robert Clift (Executive Director, CUFABC), Cris Costa (Graduate Student Society, Action Committee Chair), and Kevin Harding (SFU student Senator and member of Board of Governors).
“The throne speech call education ‘the best economic development program ever invented’ and yet the Liberal budget continues its attack on public education in terms of real funding,” said Scott Drake of the Teaching Support Staff Union. “At the end of the day, this is an election budget in a time of economic crisis.”
While there is a $2 million dollar increase this year, this money is being used to handle increased enrolment and is tied to specific programs. Moreover, the projected revenue sources of the provincial government are precarious in nature. The budget, in fact, projects a decrease in actual funding over the next three years.
“At the President’s Annual Forum on February 25th, SFU President, Michael Stevenson called the ongoing cuts to faculty positions an appalling prospect. The elimination of positions means over-worked professors and teachers. It means a decrease in the value and quality of education at SFU,” said Cris Costa, Chair of the Graduate Funding Action Committee.
“The budget situation is already impacting the real quality of education at SFU,” said student representative Kevin Harding, “we’re losing instructors, class are being offered less frequently, class sizes will likely increase, and we’re facing cuts to scholarships, awards, and bursaries. Not only will it be harder to get the classes we need to graduate, but it will be harder for students to afford to take classes.”
The impacts of Budget cuts are already being felt. According to one member of Polyparty, a bargaining council of various unions representing Trades, “buildings are crumbling.” Roofs are leaking, tiles are breaking off, bathroom stalls need replacing, and there is mould everywhere.
“SFU remains an excellent university. The budget situation threatens our hard-won achievements in teaching, research and community involvement, but it’s not too late to reverse the damage,” said Dr. Bob Hackett, President SFU Faculty Association.
-30-
For more info, contact
Sean Carleton 778.782.4735
Cris Costa 778-782-3899
Kyall Glennie 778.782.4540