Massive student strike in Quebec

[Kuciwalker]

The question here, is that a prof still requiring that the work be done, is clearly ignoring a democratic choice, and using the means at his disposition to revert it.

So what? If the Libertarian club at my school votes to denounce Medicare, and Congress doesn't get rid of it, Congress is also ingoring a democratic choice! And if the people of Belgium vote for the US to leave Iraq, and we don't, we're also ignoring a democratic choice!

Despite being legal, they still have the same effect: they coerce students by forcing them to give up their association right. I doubt the legitimacy of something, even legal, meant to undermine popular will.

Eh, no. They "coerce" students by refusing to give them something that the students are declaring they will not take anyway!

Again, this is as if senior citizens went on strike because of proposed cuts to Medicare. WTF?

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Sava
I'd have to read more about this situation to have an informed opinion on it.

But I must be honest, I can't seem to get myself motivated to argue about some local Quebec education issue.

But I like how most people arguing vehemently in this thread are doing so without really being informed. But that's to be expected from some.

As you wish, but obviously the debate is more about student strikes in general, not the specific issues.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
So what? If the Libertarian club at my school votes to denounce Medicare, and Congress doesn't get rid of it, Congress is also ingoring a democratic choice! And if the people of Belgium vote for the US to leave Iraq, and we don't, we're also ignoring a democratic choice!

The difference being, of course, that we're students of the same university where they're teaching.

Eh, no. They "coerce" students by refusing to give them something that the students are declaring they will not take anyway!

They won't take it, but obviously they consider failing grades (and the hassles associated with it) to be too much. If the strike ends soon, they'll just do the rest of the course later; if it's too long, they'll want the semester to be canceled, without the Fs.

Again, this is as if senior citizens went on strike because of proposed cuts to Medicare. WTF?

Some people who want to work, actually stop working and go on strike. Could you believe that?

[Lul Thyme]

Actually in many schools, teachers are cancelling classes to respect the strike but thats not everywhere.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Lul Thyme
Actually in many schools, teachers are cancelling classes to respect the strike but thats not everywhere.

In other schools, students take it upon themselves to cancel the classes.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
I'm going to Bordeaux next year. The wine and the women should compensate for the crappy university, right?

In what uni precisely? Will you live in public student housing, or in private ones?

I've studied in Bordeaux. I'm not really outgoing, but I may have a few tips for you

[Fake Boris]

My demand has been made to Bordeaux-III. I'd rather live in private housing, but that depends on my budget (more precisely, if I can count on a tuition I applied to on top of personal money).

[Spiffor]

Well, rents in Bordeaux aren't too terrible. But you need to look early for habitation. Besides, public student housing is the first to go, and you have to file in early spring if you want to get something public IIRC. The best thing to do is to join a colocation, and the rent can quickly go to about 200€ a month for something comfortable.

Bordeaux III, as with the rest of the campus, is fugly. I strongly recommand you to live in the city centre, where it's much more lively than on the campus. I haven't taken the new public transportation (tramway) since I left, but I expect transportation to be acceptable now.

[Fake Boris]

BTW, it feels strange to be talking in English with you. Oh, and if you're around next year we'll arrange for a drink.

[Lul Thyme]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris


In other schools, students take it upon themselves to cancel the classes.

Yeah but if the teachers don't agree, it doesnt bode well for the students after a week or two does it?

[Nostromo]

Bordeaux III, as with the rest of the campus, is fugly. I strongly recommand you to live in the city centre, where it's much more lively than on the campus. I haven't taken the new public transportation (tramway) since I left, but I expect transportation to be acceptable now.

I highly recommend Oncle Boris to live on campus. It will be small and ugly, but he'll easily meet people. Otoh, if he lives in the city centre, he'll likely get isolated.

[Nostromo]

Actually in many schools, teachers are cancelling classes to respect the strike but thats not everywhere.

I'm not free to cancel a class if I want to. Its the admninistrations call. So I'm supposed to teach next tuesday. We'll see what happens. If I'm not back by thursday, call the cops

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by nostromo
I highly recommend Oncle Boris to live on campus. It will be small and ugly, but he'll easily meet people. Otoh, if he lives in the city centre, he'll likely get isolated.

I dunno how it was in Aix, but Bordeaux' campus is pretty much dead at night. OTOH, the city core has a very active student nightlife (30,000+ students for an area's population of 700,000, with most students concetrated in two small zones).

[Nostromo]

I see. Boris, follow Spiffor's advice.

I wasn't on campus, I was on the outskirt of Aix. I had great apartment with a nice view of Mont de la Sainte Victoire. However, I was isolated. Otoh, my friends who went to Paris lived at La Citée Universitaire. They didn't work much, but they had a ball.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's like union thugs beating the guy who hires scabs.

So you ARE admitting you are on the same moral plane as the mafia.

I guess you won't complain if the police beat the student protestors either, right?