November-December 1987

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November-December 1987 so ,. CANADA'S NEWSPAPER FOR UKRAINIAN STUDENTS mystery is because the V.P. Internal was not present to engage in any sort of debate after the report was read. In FOR THE LOVE fact, she was not there at all. The second, somewhat bizarre point made in her report was that there was a MICHELLE KOWALCHUK 'lack of communication' amongst the members of the executive. This has OF SUSK been a favorite adage, used by many in SUSK and other organizations to It seems to me that throughout SUSK focused on the alleged 'east' - 'west' describe a very intolerable situation. history there have been high and low conflict. However, in describing last year's SUSK points in terms of participation, Are SUSK members bored!?! Can we executive it is also highly interest and productivity. From the not find anything more constructive to inappropriate. There was a total of at level of all three of these at the past argue about!?! Apparently, we have least 20 packages sent to all clubs and SUSK Congress in Montreal, one might decided, in SUSK, that arguing amongst executive members jam-packed with 1 say that SUSK may be a a 'low point . ourselves is more exhi lira ting than information. I know, I received all of Historically speaking, however, SUSK lobbying on Parliament Hill. Oh, we them and even sent a couple. So, what has managed to deal with all crises and are a bunch of strange birds, aren't was meant by this alleged 'lack of survive, and even prosper. It is with we!?! communication'? Perhpas I'm not in this thought in mind that I engage in I shouldn't be surprised. The complete understanding of it. I mean, writing this article . hoping that infamous 'east' - 'west' conflict exists maybe we all misunderstood the entire whatever transpires between the SUSK everywhere in Canada. In Winnipeg's mood of the V.P. Internal report. Then 'east' and the 'west,' within the next Blue Bomber Stadium the east side of again, what other conclusions could be months and years, SUSK will continue the grandstand boos the west side of the drawn? The strangest thing throughout to be a voice for Ukrainian Canadian grandstand for not performing the all of this talk of lack of club support student concerns and will do this with human wave up to par, and vice versa. and communication is that it is the initiate a degree of credibility amongst their One hears raucous chanting . "east duty of the V.P. Internal to Canadian student peers, and the wider side sucks", "west side sucks" and then dialogue between the SUSK executive Canadian community; a national body the realization hits that these words and its' member clubs, and if a problem that makes decisions, formulates policy are coming from your own mouth as is perceived, then it is also within this and strives to achieve goals and well. We're all guilty. In some cities, portfolio to alert the executive to the purposes important to them and all east and west are involved in a similar problem and ask them for support and help. a member of this executive, I Ukrainian Canadian students. I know conflict. each with their own As I'm not the only individual that shares directional pride and deep rooted received no such request. these feelings, but I often wonder if resentments for each other. Yes, even Last year's V.P. Internal also made some of my fellow SUSK-ites haven't this grand land of ours Canada has such reference to the issue that she took the lost sight of this fundamental bitter east/west controversies. We all principle. know of threats to separate and SUSK CON'T PG. 5 Experience in SUSK has given many statements of superiority being spewed people the opportunity to develop from the lips of many from either the ^NOVEMBER DECEMBER 1987 important communication and east or west. these gulfs widen and interpersonal skills that have helped recede as time passes. I suppose that VOL. 20 NO. 97 them be lawyers, politicians, human we are only a product of our Canadian rights supporters, influencial members heritage. divided by two-four letter of the community and in addition to words. well respected members of the It was only too evident at the Ukrainian Canadian community and the Montreal Congress that SUSK has sunk more mainstream Canadian reality. to a new low. only six delegates from INSIDE This is not to say that they, if not for the west. I imagine that some T SUSK, would have ended up as worthless contribute this lack of westerly I pieces of rubbish with little or no participation to the inability of the EDITORIAL Pg- 2 direction in their lives. no, not at east, and certain members of Manitoba 2 all. The point is that most SUSK alumni (which conveniently has been appointed LETTERS Pg- look upon their involvement in SUSK as to the position of 'honorary eastern RAMBLING MEND Pg- 3 positive and many the 'west' have fond province') to give credit to STUDENT Pg- 4 recollections of old SUSK days. for being capable of handling a SUSK Pg- 5 SUSK has a wild and wonderful executive home base. This ridiculous BLOC NOTES Pg- 6 history! In the early 70's, SUSK conclusion is one I have drawn on the A assisted in the ground work of the basis of a report submitted by last KGB FILES Pg- 8 establishment of a multiculturalism year's V.P. Internal. This report CULTURE! Pg- 9 policy in Canada. SUSK has been the consisted of a number of very CHORNOVIL Pg- 10 site of many heated and torrid disturbing points. The first being that E 11 debates. ..in other words, SUSK has the only reason SUSK permits the 'west' TWO PEAS Pg- really been around. Today SUSK is still to be peripherally involved in SUSK concerned with the direction of business, is that SUSK needs their multiculturalism policy and continues membership dues. "WHAT KIND OF H to keep abreast of issues relating to SELF-INDULGENT, SULKY, CHILDISH STUDENT Ukrainian Canadian concerns, but some BOLOGNA IS THIS?" I asked myself 620 SPAD1NA AVE SECOND CLASS - of the vitality is lacking. Much of the upon hearing it. The answer is TORONTO, ONTARIO REGISTRATION «7606 current debate is not concerning human unfortunately still a mystery. One of M5S 2H4 rights, culture or media, but is instead the reasons the answer is still a T - All signed letters of reasonable length which comply with Canadian libel and column. slander laws will be printed unedited (save tor purposes ot clarity) in this We contributors wish to will not print anonymous letters, but il lor personal reasons withhold their names or use a pseudonym, this can be arranged, tn all esses, however, we require both a genuine signature and a return address. The new, long-awaited, Multiculturalism Act was released in early December by the Progressive Conservative govern- ment. In glowing terms it has reaffimed what was an- nounced 1971 by Trudeau's Liberals. There has been no major advancement of Multiculturalism in the past 16 years. Multiculturalism Act, the Progressive Conservative of For this The first resolution passed at the John Nunziata (Member with which it af- government has only changed the language Montreal SUSK Congress reads: Parliament - York South-Weston) had firms (mildly) multiculturalism. New words do not produce "Whereas the Meech Lake Accord this response to Clause 2 (I)(a): a new act. hearings (Federal and Provincial) "My mother, an immigrant to Canada, The new act had a promising start, the House of Commons will be held within the upcoming does not speak fluent French, nor standing committee's report, Multiculturalism: Building fluent English. Under term, be it resolved that the does she speak the Canadian Mosaic. This reports conclusion was that the SUSK this clause, the chracteristics of my multiculmralism system should be reworked and a whole SUSK executive make submissions to are not fundamental new system be emplaced. The report called for a multicul- these hearings." mother characteristics of Canada. By tural advisor to the Prime Minister and a cabinet committee Well, the hearings are just around things. The new act ignored this report and Ontario, and I implication, those who are not among other f the comer (in anyway) came up empty. The only two suggestions which the Act have not heard about or seen a SUSK English-speaking or French-speaking was to appoint a Canadian Multicul- accepted from the report position on this matter. Precious do not possess fundamental turalism Council and to set up a parliamentary standing com- time is slipping through our fingers. characteristics of Canada. In my mittee on multiculturalism. However these two institutions Why is there no SUSK stand on view, this clause is a betrayal of my existed prior to the Act. Meech Lake? Perhaps the SUSK mother and of the millions of others The ethnic community, after digesting the standing com- executive feels that the who have come to Canada from other mittee's report, was expecting a lot from the government. Accord, signed by the countries". Especially after the Mulroney govemmet also appointed Constitutional about the aboriginal David Crombie as Secretary of State in charge of Multicul- First Ministers in a period of And what it they also lack turalism to improve relations with the ethnic community. approximately ten hours is peoples? As stands The ethnic community was looking to the Progressive Conser- satisfactory. the "fundamental characteristics" of vative government for something that it has not shown for a We should be concerned with the Canada.
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