Posted Mar. 4/04
By Phil Robinson
Premier Eves has yet to set a date, but that hasn’t stopped Carleton’s student organizations from planning ahead for a provincial election that may take place during the busy first month of the 2003-2004 academic year.
Anticipating this possibility, the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA), the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and the Rideau River Residents’ Association (RRRA) are laying out plans of action that include classroom presentations, an all-candidates forum, resource tables, and a poster campaign. The associations also intend to discuss election-related issues during orientation week and will invite the media to cover many of the pre-election events.
“I’m looking forward to getting students engaged in this election,” says Liam Lynch, Vice-President of the RRRA. “The issues are crucial for the students we represent, and we hope to reach all of them through these initiatives.”
Lynch explains the groups’ organizing efforts have been guided by two main goals: to help students exercise their right to vote; and to enhance understanding of the various party platforms.
“The first goal requires ensuring that students get enumerated, which is not going to be easy if the election is held only weeks after the arrival of the double cohort,” says Lynch. “Students also require access to polling stations. While some will be able to vote on-campus, others will need to know where they can vote and the transportation options available.”
Concerning platforms, post-secondary education may not be the only election issue, but it certainly is a key one for students and for the entire university. Extensive funding cuts and tuition increases over the past 10 years mean the issue won’t soon go away.
“As a student union, our intent is to be both non-partisan and to further student interests,” says George Soule, Vice-President of Finance for CUSA. “Maintenance of an accessible and public post-secondary education system is an issue that will directly affect every current and future student at Carleton.”
The Carleton student groups are by no means alone in their pre-election planning or in an emphasis on post-secondary education as the key issue. Both CUSA and GSA are members in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), an organization whose provincial wing began election planning months ago.
Carleton students interested in assisting with preparations for the provincial election can contact Phil Robinson (gsa_vpx@carleton.ca), Liam Lynch (rrra_vp@carleton.ca) or Melissa Davis (vpsi@cusaonline.com).
