The groups of students and student unions across Canada looking to defederate from the Canadian Federation of Students certainly turned some heads early last week. The group, which doesn’t quite have a name yet, sent out a press release stating, “Students are realizing that their interests are not served by [CFS].“
This press release, perfectly timed to come out just before the beginning of classes, raised eyebrows, ruffled some feathers, and brought a whole lot of attention to an issue that wasn’t previously on the radar of the average student.
But the York Federation of Students, our own student union, has been digging trenches and hiding out, probably waiting for the dust to settle. Before we asked, they had been tight-lipped on the matter, declaring none of their intentions publicly.
In a statement we received from YFS president Jessica Thyriar when this CFS debacle began, she wrote, “Ihave not received any information or seen any petitions in regards to students de-federating from the Canadian Federation of Students prior to your email.” Idon’t know about you, but it makes me pretty uncomfortable that YFS is so out of touch with how students feel about CFS that they didn’t see this coming.
“It is in our member’s best interest to continue being members of the federation,” she concluded after saying the YFS is always looking for ways to get more involved with the CFS.
YFS has quietly told us they have no plans to defederate, which seems like the least troublesome way of dealing with the war being waged right outside their door. But Ithink it’s time our student union raised a flag and really let us know where they stand. Right now, it seems as though they’ve got their heads down and are hoping things figure themselves out before shit hits the fan.
It’s been a week since the press release was sent out, but the YFS’s website still lacks any mention of the current issues plaguing the CFS. There are no tweets, no Facebook posts, or anything else stating whether or not they plan to stay with the CFS or defederate.
What about students who are concerned about these things? Why can’t the YFS give us a clear and concise case for staying with the CFS or leaving them behind? Tell us exactly why the York student population should want to stay with the CFS. How do we benefit from paying them 24 cents per credit every year?
The YFS better speak up and make it quick. It’s better to state your stance loud and clear rather than to sit in no-man’s land and hope you don’t get a piece of shrapnel lodged in your throat, then bleed out over the course of two months.
Where’s the action, YFS? How can Ifeel confident in my own union when you stay so hush-hush over some pretty serious issues? Can’t we get a little love, a little respect maybe?
Get on or off the bandwagon. Then I, as a dues-paying student, can feel a little less lost.
