The proposal of an unlimited student strike by arts students is certainly cause for concern. On Jan. 31, the AUS General Assembly saw heated debate regarding the creation of an AUS strike committee. One of the biggest concerns raised was the issue of whether or not students actually want to go on strike.
As is the difficulty with all General Assemblies, with only two per cent of Arts students needed to reach quorum, it can be argued that only a minority of voices make an appearance, and it therefore cannot accurately depict the entire student body’s opinion on the subject.
Another point is the issue of information. While I commend those in favour of an unlimited strike for their efforts in disseminating information, how are students supposed to understand the full picture when only one half of the information is being put out there? It seems the catch phrase of this semester is “creating a dialogue,” so I encourage everyone to do just that, by truly looking at both sides of the coin.
In my opinion, following through with an unlimited student strike this semester is a plan with many holes. McGill University has recently seen the end of MUNACA’s three month long strike, various occupations, riot police, and demonstrations. While some may argue that the widespread student activism of recent months gives momentum to the idea of a student strike at McGill, there are some stumbling blocks.
As we saw with the MUNACA strike, tensions arose between the opposing parties. Not only that, but there were members from MUNACA itself who voiced their opposition to the strike, citing misrepresentation of information from the union’s executives to its members as well as a flawed and underrepresented voting process which began the strike in August. Surely if the concerns raised at the AUS General Assembly are any indicator of these same trends, and thus future tensions, then the student strike movement is off to a shaky start.
I also fear that the divide already existing among students will widen if a portion of McGill students go on strike. It is important to remember that although Arts students would be on strike, other faculties would still be following through with their academic studies. Resentment could brew between the studiers in the library and the drummers outside.
In addition, the timing is dreadful. Few graduating students will want to postpone their graduation date by a month or more. The term ‘unlimited’ is unsettling, and no student wishes to be in a state of limbo, unsure about when they will graduate. Furthermore, when application deadlines for post-graduate programs are strict, postponing midterms, finals, and graduations could hinder opportunities. Also, any plans students may have already made—like internships, or summer jobs—which require them to have finished class by May will have to be altered. And those students relying on summer classes remaining on schedule could also be adversely affected.
As students begin to recognise these practical realities, the strike will lose its numbers, and therefore its strength. I’m not arguing against fighting increases in tuition, but I am saying that better strategies are needed. Certainly, other techniques such as protests may not have been successful, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a strike turn the tables. A successful student movement takes careful organisation and strategy. This means having a dedicated and fully informed student population behind it.
