Protesting on the weekend is so not cool

By Paolo Zinatelli
Gazette Staff

After taking the weekend off, the Coalition Against Deregulation is again camping in the principal's office at Queen's University.

Last week five students occupied the principal's office in hopes university administration would re-think its decision to ask the provincial government to allow deregulation of undergraduate tuition.

Having only been prepared for a five day protest, which ended last Friday, the group returned yesterday morning to the principal's office just before 8 a.m..

The group was hoping they would be able to negotiate with administration, but their demands have not been taken seriously, said Lindsay Leitch, a third-year arts and science student and CAD member.

William Leggett, Queen's principal, said that in all his conversations with the protesters the group has never brought up their reason for being there and the issue at hand.

"I didn't say I was or wasn't willing to speak to them," he said. "Just that in all the conversations we've had, [CAD] never once raised interest in the talking about the issues."

Leitch said there are plans in the works to continue the protesting, even if the school does rescind its proposal.

"Once we finish our business here, it's off to Queen's Park to get our funding back," Leitch said.

In an open letter to Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities – distributed to the media late Monday, Ontario New Democratic Party leader Howard Hampton said he supports the protesters and he has contacted them to show his support "for their struggle on behalf of all Ontario students.

"Giving Queen's University the right to raise tuition as high as it wants would create a two-tier university system where wealthy students are able to attend, while everyone else is denied the privilege," Hampton said.

Queen's Alma Mater Society president Scott Courtice said he prefers to have productive dialogue with decision-makers.

"We've received positive feedback from government sources that the proposal holds no weight," he said.