Reclaiming the Campus
Levy Abad, Winnipeg Ethnic News
April 5, 2018

Courtesy of UMSAN-RSM page

It was only a few weeks ago that we welcomed spring, but a different kind of storm hit the southern part of the city when students stormed and occupied the Office of the President of the University of Manitoba, Fort Gary Campus at 8:30 in the morning on April 5th. They staged a sit-in protest to dramatize their opposition to the scheduled 6.6% tuition fee increase by the fall term, in addition to cuts to healthcare for international students.

According to Ian Desales, one of the coordinators of the protest, over 40 students joined the protest. Over a dozen students tried to occupy, but many were barred by locked doors and security. However, eight of them were able to  get inside, while the rest continued their protest outside the office.Thousands have seen images and hundreds of shares in Facebook. Many media journalists called in and tried to get interviews. A film crew showed up, but was also barred. He added that the administration building was locked down and security was increased. 

Ian furthered that the protest action was popular and they were protected by students who were sympathetic. He continued, "the students made it clear to the administration that they were not interested in discussing concessions with the administration, but would remain firm in their demands. However, the students welcomed an arranged meeting with a campus Elder. It was after this meeting, along with the mass support that the student action received throughout campus, that security became less hostile. We were able to send the message that they have to treat us better by respecting our democratic rights."

Courtesy of UMSAN-RSM page 

According to their press release dated April 5, 2018, "The group claims it is taking inspiration from similar struggles occurring at York University, where students have occupied the University Senate Chambers as an act of solidarity with York`s striking workers in CUPE 3909."

Meredith Harley, Secretary of the University of Manitoba section of the Revolutionary Student Movement,  explained in the press release that, "The state and university administration  in the province have decided to attack university students once again, this time targeting both tuition as well as international students' access to public health care, which harms working class international students first and foremost. We formally condemn this decision and will continue to resist the commodification of knowledge by the bourgeois class or those who own society."

As stated in the press release, this action is part of a pan-Canadian campaign titled "Reclaim Our Campus" and is initiated by the  Revolutionary Student Movement.  Yan Ni, another coordinator of the protest noted that "Students and youth are often forgotten as a driving force in creating a change for themselves as part of the working class."
Campuses,

The student action happened in the midst of the cutbacks on social programs that are unfolding in the province; cutbacks on health care, education, infrastructure and many more that would really harm ordinary working folks. There is also restiveness in Manitoba Hydro and people are apprehensive as to where this development will lead us down the road. 

It is interesting to note that despite the reversal of policies on social programs that benefit the community, the resistance of the people is quite subdued. Folks still go on with their daily lives and continue working to pay the bills. There are grumblings here and there. As this develops, the opinion polls of the party in power dropped while that of the opposition surges. Could this action by the students lead to a resurgence of activism? Would this lead to a movement not only of students, but workers of the province as well? Only time will tell.