Fighting the Budget Cuts at Brock University

In his most recent editorial, Doug Herod, my favorite columnist from the St. Catharines Standard, highlights the pending budget cuts at Brock University. It seems that no matter where university president Jack Lightstone goes, distopia follows along.

Herod juxtaposes the universities willingness to build unecessary infrastructure with the liklihood of cutting the operating budget for teaching in the process. His dry humour is of course present throughout the article.

The full editorial can be found here... CUPE Local 4207, in association with B.L.A.S.T. (Brock Labour and Students Together), has organzied a February 28th rally to send a message to the administration that budget cuts won't be tolerated.

From Herod's editorial...

For instance, Dan Crow, president of the union local representing
non-faculty teaching staff, wonders about the wisdom of pursuing "pet projects" while "gutting essential services."

That's because his 900-strong membership, which includes teaching
assistants, part-time instructors and lab demonstrators, believes it's the group most likely to feel the impact of any spending reductions.

Local 4207 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees fears that courses and seminars will be eliminated to meet the desired targets, which means a decreased number of jobs for its members and a heavier workload for those who remain.

The local is planning a Day of Action at the university Feb. 28 with the usual suspects from the organized labour world in attendance in an attempt to rally support against the possible cuts.