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Fund it Yourself: U of T President

TORONTO (CUP) -- University of Toronto (U of T) President Robert Birgeneau has expressed an apathetic view on the issue of under-funded post-second- ary education.

"If you can afford to pay [for uni- versity], you should. It's that simple," said Birgeneau in a public statement.

U of T's Graduate Students' Union (GSU) President Chris Collins refutes the president's comments and says that the GSU wants the government to carry the debt load for higher education, not students.

"[Birgeneau] seems to have this fatalist idea that since we can't get proper funding the only way to continue is by increases in tuition," said Collins. "Tuition deregulation will lead to an environment where only the very rich will be able to afford post-secondary education."

Collins is also quick to point out that "there are many situations where extenuating circumstances necessitate financial assistance". He cites limitations imposed by disability as an example.

York Federation of Students exec- utive member, Pablo Vivanco, has been

working closely with U of T's GSU and the Canadian Federation of Students on this issue.

"Birgeneau's remarks are pretty backwards, especially after we have gained the support of both major opposi- tion parties,” said Vivanco. He further explains that both political parties will use the regulation of tuition fees as part of their platforms, but, cautions students against buying into the propaganda.

"[We] can't really rely on party policies," said Vivanco, referring to Gordon Campbell's de-regulation of tuition in B.C. when he said it would be frozen.

"[Schools] are not doing enough, and they should be standing behind stu- dents, fully supporting our call and the fac- ulty's as well," he said. "University educa- tion should be fully funded."

Collins, with the support of other student unions, proposes to work together with university administrators on a public awareness campaign on the under-funding of post-secondary education in Ontario. The goal is to teach students about de-reg- ulation and what this means

Vivanco does not anticipate sup- port from university administrators.

"They are afraid of being repri- manded or further isolated from public funds by criticizing too much".

He also points out that there are "lots of crossovers between administrators and politicians. Many [administrators] are not unbiased. You just have to look at [York University's] board of governors to see who is being represented".