Mandatory student fees are often controversial.  Here in Durham Region a subsidised transit pass is mandated for each college/university student; as part of the required Student Fee package.  Many have there own cars, yet cannot opt out.  The argument being that full student body participation is necessary to obtain the lower rate from Durham Regional Transit, (DRT confirms that full enrollment is required as per the contract).  Needless to say,  those students who own and pay for the operation and upkeep of their own vehicles are less than happy.

It's an age old dilemma.  You need full contributions to pay for the programs,  however you will always have students who use many of the services and those who attend their classes and seek nothing more.

Personally,  I lean towards your feelings about making students pay for something they will never use;  however my opinions are based on my own decades old time at college.  My part time job started at 3:00 pm so I was one of those who left promptly after my last class,  hopped in the car and drove to work.  As I wasn't living on campus,  I never returned until the next morning;  although like all students I paid a mandatory Student Activity fee every semester.  I understood the need for "some" program funding;  although I cannot recall any "political or ideological" concerns back in those days.

Last edited by Media Observer (November 22, 2019 3:36 pm)

The _ONLY_ reason the student unions are applauding this ruling is because it was an idea of the Ford Government.  

Was there any such response when a referendum was held to shut off funding to CKMS at the University of Waterloo?  I have many fond memories of the place but the fact is very few people even knew it existed let alone knew they were paying for it.

An interesting documentary of Radio Waterloo can be found here:




For what it's worth, I think opting out of fees is a good idea.  If anything, it presents a more realistic view of what students consider important.  They vote with their wallets.


 

Last edited by Peter the K (November 22, 2019 2:25 pm)

Unions are socialist supporters by nature - anything out of their cradle-to-grave governmental sucking is the enemy. No bigger boogymen than Mike Harris and Doug Ford. (they must have been ecstatic when Bob Rae was at the top of the charts.)

DFTT

TheConsultant wrote:

Unions are socialist supporters by nature - anything out of their cradle-to-grave governmental sucking is the enemy. No bigger boogymen than Mike Harris and Doug Ford. (they must have been ecstatic when Bob Rae was at the top of the charts.)

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

TheConsultant wrote:

Unions are socialist supporters by nature - anything out of their cradle-to-grave governmental sucking is the enemy. No bigger boogymen than Mike Harris and Doug Ford. (they must have been ecstatic when Bob Rae was at the top of the charts.)

If memory serves me correctly, initially the unions were happy Bob was at the top of the charts, but it quickly changed as fiscal reality hit. Does anyone remember Rae Days?