One of the most recognizable acts of activism observed by non-Indigenous Canadians all over the country today is land acknowledgments. But while they are a way to reflect on Canada’s colonialist past and history of broken treaties, they fail to address its colonialist present and our collective lack of action when it comes to indigenous issues.
Editorial: The student body should be informed when there are cases of COVID-19 on campus by the University.
On Aug. 27, the University of Ottawa Student’s Union (UOSU) and nine recognized student governments formally offered their support to Carleton student Khadija El-Hilali in demanding for an anti-racism course to be made a mandatory requirement for all undergraduate students.
For the first time in its storied history, the University of Ottawa will offer the majority of its courses online this fall, meaning the presence of most students on campus is not necessary. Financially for most students, this is great news as they won’t have to rent an apartment or live in residence but if you’re an incoming student and still on the fence about whether or not you should come to campus and live in residence, here’s the case for staying home.
Editorial: Professors and Faculties should take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to develop innovative ways to evaluate students in their courses instead of relying on invasive proctoring software to monitor traditional multiple-choices exams.
We call on the university administration to immediately implement a number of changes to their mental health care system to better support students in need.
Voter turnout in people aged 18-24 jumped by 18.3 per cent from the 2011 election to the 2015 election. It’s never been easier to make an informed decision of which candidate and party you want to support, so let’s keep that trend alive.
The university missed an opportunity to lead by example with what could have been a powerful show of support for student activism in the face of a global emergency.
U of O students voted decisively in February to leave the SFUO behind and embrace the UOSU instead. But now that the dust of the union transition has settled, where did the enthusiasm of students go?
If you had the time, we could talk to you for hours about why it’s important to stay opted in to the work the Fulcrum produces. We thought an editorial might be the easier route for everyone.
The U of O’s English student news outlet, 77 years strong, is now publishing exclusively online. Follow along on our website and social media channels as we continue to produce the high-quality, award-winning journalism we’re known for.
To everyone who has supported us through each transition over the years, thank you for believing in student journalism.
Millennials (and their younger counterparts, Generation Z, if I may add) have been brought up in a world where feelings of burnout are the norm, congealed with rare and brief tides of stunted relaxation or comfort.
It’s time for students at the U of O to start being more involved in the democratic processes that directly impact both their lives and their education. In the 2014 general SFUO election, for example, just over 10 per cent of students voted, an embarrassingly low number. Squaring this number with the over 57 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 who voted in the 2015 federal election proves we can—and should—do better.
It’s a shame that this still needs to be said.
For a government that cares so much about freedom of speech, it seems odd not to include campus media as an essential part of post-secondary institutions, especially given the fact that student press holds administration and student government accountable in ways that the larger media landscape both cannot and would not do.
This came in response to fraud allegations, and allegations of financial misconduct faced by at least three individuals on the SFUO executive, and for many students, felt long overdue. For others however, concerns of administrative interference in student governance raised red flags, and some students feel as though their voices are being stifled. We’re here to tell you that this is not the case.
How can the SFUO reduce such issues going forward, and even respond to them in a more positive way? The answer is the president.
One thing we’ve learned from the lone successful GA—students are more likely to show up if they feel like their presence will make some kind of impact.
Of course, if a temporary leave is necessary and agreed to by the student, it’s good that such measures are available. But making such a major decision without the student is not acceptable.
Having the campus media at the centre of elections for our student unions, by asking tough questions and ensuring that candidates are prepared for any issue that may arise if elected, is critical to the proper functioning of an open and transparent student democracy.
If there’s one thing technology can’t do, is replace the fundamental need for passion and curiosity in this field.
If Mr. Trudeau wants to deliver an apology that truly is comprehensive, then he needs to apologize not just for the former policies and practices of our government, but for the fact that queer and trans Canadians are still suffering today.
Through this editorial, we hope that we have opened your eyes to the issue and provided some insight on both ends of the argument. We encourage you to do your own research, and speak to your Indigenous classmates and colleagues to understand their thoughts on the ruling.
This past week, it is the opinion of the Fulcrum editorial board that campus press institutions have been subject to attempted pressure tactics by members of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) executive.
