theVARSlTY
V OoC 1 o
MONDAY, MAY 15, 2006
THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1880
VOL. CXXVII, NO. 1
Adieu Sodexho, howdy Aramark
Mike Ghenu & Kevin Wong
VARSITY STAFF
Fifty-odd union workers rallied out- side Simcoe Hall on Friday reacting to news that Sodexho — the French com- pany that provides food on U of T's St. George campus — is being replaced by Philadelphia-based Aramark, and driven by worries that U. of T food ser- vice workers may lose their union as a result.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Unite Here, the union representing Sodex- ho's U of T employees, met with uni- versity officials inside.
"We explained how vulnerable everybody feels, and that because they're the client, they're the one con- trolling this, that they need to step in and make sure that Aramark recogniz- es the collective agreement that these workers fought for," said Alex Daag, the executive director of Unite Here.
"It was a big struggle to get the agreement," added Valerie Gaynor, who is a cook at the New College caf- eteria. The union agreement was ap- proved in February.
Maria Del Mar-Morales, who mans the pizza station at the New College cafeteria, said the union agreement has boosted her wage by fifty cents, to $10.50 an hour. While she plans to stay on after the change-over, Del Mar-Mo- rales worried that Aramark might treat returning employees who had worked for Sodexho for many years as if they had just walked through the door.
Daag, Del Mar-Morales, and Gaynor met with Catherine Riggall and An- gela Hildyard, U of T's vice-presi- dents of business affairs and human resources, respectively. In an inter- view, Hildyard noted that Aramark is not compelled to keep the collective agreement struck between Unite Here and Sodexho's employees.
Unlike the case where one company buys another and is forced to honour existing collective agreements, she said, "in what's happened here, where
Members of Unite Here — the union that since February represents Sodexho food employees on the St. George campus — rallied outside Simcoe Hall last Friday while a union delegation met with university administration officials inside.
it's a commercial change, Ontario law does not require that the collective agreement continue."
Hildyard added, however, that "if the University of Toronto had been in this situation, the University of Toron- to would almost certainly have recog- nized the current agreement."
Sodexho has been the food provid- er on U of T's St. George campus for 16 years, serving out two contracts and one contract extension. The cur- rent contract with Sodexho run out July 31, and Aramark's contract may run between seven and ten years, by Riggall's reckoning.
A town hall meeting between So- dexho employees and Aramark to discuss the union issue is scheduled
for this week.
Aramark provides various "man- aged services," including a campus service, according to its website, which includes control of food ser- vice outlets such as Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Mr. Sub, Pizza Pizza, and Pita Pit. The company does business in 19 countries, and has 240,000 em- ployees.
Aramark serves more than 400 col- leges, universities, and prep schools across North America. Its list of cli- ents includes New York University, Florida State University, and U of T's Scarborough Campus, among a num- ber of others.
In the past, Aramark has faced criti- cism from students at the University
of Alberta, who complained to the uni- versity administration over the cost and nutritional value of the food pro- vided by the company, according to U of A's student newspaper. The Gate- way.
At Trent University, in Peterbor- ough, The Arthur reported that Ara- mark requires that all campus events involving food be catered by the com- pany; and student groups are limited to maximum two pot luck events each year. Last December, students held an "illegal potluck dinner" to rally against the contracted monopoly that restricts any form of for-profit food service as well as the ability for stu- dents to share food through campus events.
Budget 'o6: the student view
Mike Ghenu
NEWS EDITOR
While student advocates and op- position legislators criticized the 2006 federal budget for a lack of vision and commitment to post- secondary institutions, the bill itself promises to help graduate students and scholarship winners. The budget passed a first vote last Wednesday.
"[Post-secondary education] was not part of their top five prior- ities," charged Phillippe Ouellette, of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). "They've ob- viously missed the mark."
CASA, an Ottawa-based lobby group, argues that a "Canada Edu- cation Transfer" fund that would inject at least $4 billion a year into Canada's post-secondary educa- tion system is the best way to im- prove colleges and universities.
NDP education critic Judy Wasy- lycia-Leis, member of parliament for Winnipeg North, largely con- curred with Ouellette's assess- ment.
CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE: While this year's federal budget includes changes to the tax code that may defray up to $80 on textbook costs and $124 on transit passes for a typical full-time student, increases in tuition for the 2006/7 schoolyear may well outstrip these gains. Returning arts and science students can expect to dish out an extra $167; students in engineering will pay $280 more; MBA students have it worst of all: their tuition will go up from $25,000 to $28,000.
"There are a few of these tax measures that help a bit — that's better than nothing," she said. "But by and large, it a continu- ation of the same approach, a hodge-podge of programs that are meant to replace the cash transfer
approach."
To Ouellette's figure, Wasylycia- Leis replied that education trans- fer as low as $1.2 billion a year would make an impact right away.
"All we need right now is fed- eral government agreement that
it has a role to play in terms of cash transfers," she continued. "And that if it's really concerned about fiscal imbalance, it should be concerned by redressing that
SEE BUDGET -PG 3
Headscarf unwelcome at Law?
Sarah Barmak
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Like many, 25-year-old Farah Yameen returned to work after the winter holi- day last January feeling more deeply connected to her faith.
But what she wore to work to show that faith — an Islamic headscarf, or hijab — led a co-worker to tell Yameen in front of other employees that she was "scaring people."
Yameen and the co-worker, Judy Finlay, both worked at the financial aid office of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, a faculty that prides it- self on the courses it offers on Islamic law and the fact that 30 per cent of its students are visible minorities. It is yet another case of offensive, ethni- cally-charged statements occurring on U of T's usually tolerant campus.
Yameen, a U of T graduate who worked part-time as an assistant in the office, was getting ready to leave after work on January 11 when Finlay, the faculty's assistant registrar, in her late fifties, made the remarks.
"She said 1 look scary and am scar- ing people," said Yameen. "She said that you should leave your religion behind when you come to Canada. I told her wearing the hijab was a sym- bol of my faith. She said she hoped it was a phase 1 was going through.
"She initially thought 1 was just hav- ing a bad hair day," added Yameen.
The faculty's administration con- ducted an investigation "immedi- ately," according to Assistant Dean of Students Bonnie Goldberg. But Yameen, who resigned from her job last month due to the incident, says she never received the support she needed.
"I waited for days for a response" from administration, during which time "I was an emotional wreck," said Yameen in an open letter to Goldberg written after her resignation.
SEE 'HIJAB' -PG 2
Check out www.thevarsjty.ca for answers to the following:
• Why did U of T's Faculty of Law decide to retain its current campus location, instead of moving to a new site? JULIA LO reports.
• What did American anti-war mom Cindy Sheehan have to say about George W. Bush and Stephen Harper when she spoke at Convocation Hall on May 3?
ALEX KAZIA was there.
• Plans were unveiled last month to enable the 100.000-odd international stu- dents attending Canadian universities to worl< off-campus. When will the program be in place? AMY SMITHERS finds out.
2 MONDAY, MAY 15, 2006
VARSITY NEWS
news@thevarsity.ca
Documenting Africa's forgotten war'
Last year, humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres sent five top photo- journalists to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their handiwork is on display at the Scotiabank Plaza downtown until May 31.
Rehaana Manek
When thinking of the Democratic Re- public of the Congo, the misery of Jo- seph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness is among the first things that comes to mind. But there is much more to this forgotten country, a population of 54 million people, and an eight-year war which actual combat was only a small portion, the Congolese people suffer extreme preventable deprivation.
Although the war itself ended in with a peace accord in 2002, the death toll has reached 1,200 people per day in the eastern portion of the country where the instability is at its peak. With their first elections in 40 years just around the corner this June, tensions are running high.
"We really hope to raise aware- ness," said Helen O'Neill, Deputy Director of Operations at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), "and photo- graphs are a great medium." Accord- ing to her, the 'Forgotten War" exhibit.
showcases the lack of awareness and foreign compassion.
"Someone loses a child everyday, when you see a woman lose half her children, then the last one, what do you say?" Said O'Neill, who has been working in the DRC since the begin- ning, "She accepts it, she understands what life is like."
From May until August 2005, MSF sent five renowned photographers from the VII Photo Agency to capture this inhumanity to show an under- reported tragedy to the world. Ron Haviv, Gary Knight, Antonin Krato- chvil, Joachim Ladefoged, and James Nachtwey are the artistic masters be- hind the 'Forgotten War' exhibit.
For U of T sisters Mera and Arabhi Nirmalan-Nathan the exhibit was a true education.
"Reading about a situation is one thing, but there's only so much you can imagine," said first year student Arabhi, "You don't want to think about what the torture is, but when
its right in front of you and your con- fronted with it, it makes u think of the situation another way. Visually it takes you to another level."
According to Arabhi, the general hope here is that people associate with pictures more than with words, "How many people did u hear talking about Rwanda before the movie?," she asked. This underreported way of life is neglected not only by the me- dia but by the greater outside world, leaving the Congolese people forgot- ten.
"We are pretty aware as a group of people, the student body is quite informed," said third-year linguistics major Mera, "but we should be doing something more productive with that information. There should be more in- formation, before this exhibit I didn't know much about it. What we know about on campus are things that are big in the news."
MSF is heavily involved in the east- ern part of the country, where there is the most risk with preventable diseases, destitution, fear of rape and murder, and endless death. MSF dispenses vaccinations for malaria and measles, and trying to quell the extreme illnesses that are barely a problem in the west.
"People believe that because there is an ongoing peace process that the problem in the Congo is over and we can move on, that's not the case," said O'Neill, "It's unstable, people are in a constant state of running, they sow crops but can't stay long enough to harvest. Everyone has been dis- placed at least once."
For O'Neill, it's a constant heart- break, and also a constant reminder that in the heart of Africa where mis- ery seems to run rampant, humanity still exists. "Everyone has lost some- one, it's all a struggle to survive, but they all know how to be patient. They are waiting for it to get better."
A farm for all faiths
Archbishop seeks to better Muslim-Christian relations in Nigeria
Josephine Lee
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Nigerian Archbishop Josiah Idowu- Fearon has spent his career striving to improve Muslim-Christian relations on a local, but also on a global level. In 2003, his archdiocese purchased the Jacaranda Farm, with the hope that it would become a source of income for the local population and a place to promote Christian-Muslim reconcilia- tion.
Jacaranda Farm is 78 hectares in size, and contains amongst other facil- ities a self-contained water table, two dams to reserve stream water, irriga- tion infrastructure, land for orchards and plantations, poultry pens and a piggery. It is located in north-central Nigeria, a country of 131 million that has long been torn by tensions be- tween its largely Muslim north and Christian south.
Earlier this month, Idowu-Fearon taught a course on Muslim-Christian dialogue at Wycliffe College. He also spent time promoting the Jacarunda Farm project at a concert hosted by St. Paul's Anglican Church on May 6.
In the midst of his busy schedule, the Idowu-Fearon took some time to
talk to The Varsity dboui his work.
The Varsity: What do you hope to achieve with the Jacaranda Farm by the end of this year?
Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon: We should have the various sections of the farm in order: poultry, hostel ac- commodations for at least 30 people, etc.
V: What about after five years?
A: The ultimate aim is to bring young Christians and Muslims to- gether. After five years, we'd like to see 500 Christians and Muslims who have a better understanding of their own and each other's faith. We want to encourage peaceful co-existence and support the effort of the govern- ment to create jobs.
There are politicians who use re- ligion to create crisis situations and employ jobless people to perpetuate them. We want to counter joblessness (with the Farm]. Eventually, we hope to have 100 people there per year.
V: What is the current religious cli- mate like in Jacaranda and Kaduna? What changes do you hope to make?
A: The present government puts
on a religious facade for everything, when it's actually always politics. We hope the Farm will be a plateau, culti- vating a culture of positive tolerance and respect. People must see that they have a stake in the state, they must maintain a peaceful environ- ment for people. Religion is a gift from God for humanity and should be used for brotherhood.
V: How have the citizens of Kaduna reacted to the idea of the farm?
A: Some think it's good, others don't care. No negative reactions. There is a level of expectation, so we want to get things going.
V: Have any other individuals or or- ganizations lent their support to the project?
A: The United African Company, a food outfit like KFC, has agreed to buy our chickens but we won't sell to them because they don't offer enough money. At least we know the farm is ready for the market.
Students interested in becoming involved in tlie Jacaranda Farm project can obtain information at St Paul's Anglican Church at 227BloorSt£.
HIJAB - CONTINUED FROM PG 1
Goldberg admits things didn't move very quickly, but it was because the situation was complex and sensitive.
"The allegation was substantiated and [Finlay] was advised of that" within the next week, said Goldberg. "These were inappropriate, unaccept- able comments." Goldberg wouldn't share details of whether Finlay was disciplined, but said that both parties were encouraged to meet with Nou- man Ashraf, U of T's Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity officer. Yameen de- clined to do so, saying she wasn't the one who needed counseling.
Yameen became "bewildered" when Finlay said a few days after the incident that she would apologize to Yameen, but then she changed her mind days later, citing legal concerns. When Finlay eventually read Yameen a written apology about a month after the incident, Yameen said it felt mean- ingless and "fake."
"It's so childish. [She] should be ac- countable," said Yameen.
When asked how such an incident could happen at a faculty that prizes diversity, the director of admissions and financial aid and Yameen's su- pervisor, Mai-Anh Giap, said she's "stumped."
"Farah cried for a week when this happened," she said.
Yameen is less upset with Finlay than with the faculty's administra- tion for failing to support her and protect her. Their mismanagement
became clear, she said, when Finlay again made offensive comments to Yameen, this time on her last day at work in March.
"1 told her the incident was the main reason for me leaving, and she said, 'Why are you still continu- ing this?' and 'Why are you causing havoc?' She complained that 1 almost got her fired," said Yameen, who left distraught.
In a statement sent to The Varsity, Finlay emphasized that her comments came out of a wish to have "free dis- cussion" and debate on issues in the office, but that "[i]t is clear now that 1 should have never had the [initial] conversation with Farah. It is a new world we live in nowadays."
An investigation into the March incident by the manager of human resources, Susan Anderson, is ongo- ing. Meanwhile, Goldberg said that the staff is scheduled to have devel- opment and sensitivity training with Ashraf's office next week.
"1 believe that the matter had resolu- tion and closure," said Goldberg, who said that she nevertheless wasn't sat- isfied with the outcome. "1 regret that Farah chose to resign." Dean of Law Mayo Moran said she's concerned with how the incident reflected on the faculty. "When you look back. . .there's always room for improvement."
For Yameen, any action taken was too little, too late.
"This administration has failed to do what it was supposed to do," she said. "They drove me to leave."
//SCREAM IT OUT LOUD!
On April 30 more than one thousand demonstrators congregated at Queen's Park to "Scream for Darfur." The rally was organized by a few high school students who created a group called Project Equity in order to organize this rally, and other initiatives. David Berkal MC'd the rally and is one of the people at the centre of Project Equity. He explained that the screaming motif was an attempt to counter the silence on the world stage that has surrounded the genocide in the Darfur province of Sudan since it began in 2003. Berkal even read out Prime Minister Harper's private office phone number and encouraged demonstrators to call and voice sup- port for Canada's immediate and active intervention to stop the genocide in Darfur. Speakers included members of the Toronto Sudanese community, youth activists, and prominent MP's such as NDP leader. Jack Layton and prominent human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler.— DANIEL ROTH
news@thevarsity.ca
//A SURVEY OF CRIME
CRIME LEGEND
property stolen from locked locker
stolen bike
property stolen when left unattended
theft over $5,000 in value
Just over 120 incidents were formally reported by the University of Toronto Police between April 7 and May 11. The majority of the responses dealt with unwelcome or suspicious persons removed from the premises, and thefts under $5000. A rundown of incidents on campus:
• Unwanted/Suspicious Person: 24 incidents
• Medical Calls/Chemical Accidents: 17 incidents
• Theft Over $5000: 2 incidents
• Theft Under $5000: 55 incidents
• Property Damaged, Break and Enter, and General Mischief: 14 incidents
• Assaults, Domestic Disputes, and General Disputes: 7 incidents
• Attempted Theft: 4 incidents
Many thefts occurred not in open spaces, but from secured lockers, 4 of which were located in Hart House, and3 in Edward Johnson. On May 5, a trumpet was stolen from a locker in the Edward Johnson music building, as well as a flute worth nearly $10,000. Of the 55 thefts under $5000, 21 of the incidents occurred when personal property was left unattended. Nine bicycles were reported stolen, four of those thefts happening in the area around Robarts on May 10-11 alone.
Incidents of a more peculiar type this month included a student who collapsed in Robarts due to a lack of food on April 13, and a noisy group of youths who were caught in the parking lot at 256 McCaul St. around 11 p.m. on Friday, May 5, one of them clutching a bottle of beer while sitting behind the wheel of a parked car. -AMY SMITHERS
'BUDGET -CONTINUED FROM PG 1
through increased amounts for education," she said.
What is in the budget then? For starters, come July 1, commuter students will be able to start claiming tax credits on the cost of a Metropass — a full-time student taking transit for eight months may get as much as $124 in tax credits. Textbook tax credits are in there too: full-time students will be able to claim up to $65 per month in textbook costs. This could add up to an $80 return for a full-timer.
But, Asif Pirani, a fresh U of T medical school graduate, pointed out that medical students spend about $1,500 on non-text- book materials during their four years: stethoscopes, otoscopes, opthalmoscopes, and other equipment.
"Generally, people buy the stuff all at once," said Pirani, during their first or sec-
ond year. "It's something 1 have to pay for because I'm in school, so 1 think it should be tax deductible," he added.
Dentistry students have it even worse: their equipment costs run between $3,000 and $6,000 a year, according to their course calendar.
Another budget measure, which will make all grant and scholarship income non- taxable, promises to impact graduate stu- dents, such Tracy Tivell, a PhD candidate in the department of anthropology.
"I have an NSERC [research grant], and they give you $21,000 a year, but then you end up having to give five or six grand of that back in taxes," she said. "So probably, over the last five years, I've had to give back $20,000 in taxes on my scholarships."
Unfortunately for Tivell, she expects to defend her thesis by late fall, so the tax changes won't affect her much. But other graduate students will surely be glad.
ISM mta
GMAT GRE
Preparation Seminars^
Complete 30-Hour Seminars Proven Test-Taking Strategies ' Personalized Professional Instruction
• Comprehensive Study Materials I Simulated Practice Exams
• Free Repeat Policy
' Personal Tutoring Available ) Thousands of Satisfied Students
Teach English Overseas
Top quality styles at bottom line prices.
Walk-In to Andre-Pierre and you'll get a top professional haircut, with an average wait time of just five minutes. All at a special reduced price ttiat's tiard to beat. So, next time you're in thie area, just walk rigtit in.
e Intensive 60-Hour Program
• Classroom Management Techniques
* Detailed Lesson Planning
9 Comprehensive Teaching Materials
t Internationally Recognized Certificate
-J Teacher Placement Service
« Job Guarantee Included
« Thousands of Satisfied Students
'J Oxford
SEMINARS
416-92«24(l(1-800™779 www.oxfordseminars.com
Regular Before Before After Saturday
Men cut & blow dry $29 Women cut & blow dry $46 Cut & colour $110 Cut & foil highlights $160
|
11:30 |
4:30 |
4:30 |
|
|
$22 |
$24 |
$26 |
$25 |
|
$35 |
$38 |
$41 |
$39 |
|
$85 |
$95 |
$99 |
$95 |
$120 $130 $144 $135
/ ndii CAieiiaiuiis aiiu ja^^ai
Cutting the hasslesQ / since 1 972 V 5'
Hair extensions and Japanese straightening also available.
55 Bloor W. (Manulife Centre) 41 6.922.6946 (Receive 2 hours free parking at Manulife Centre) 22 St. Clair E. (St. Clair Centre) 416.923.8780
Oxford Seminars
416-92«MI1-8l)0™iI9
www.oxfordseminars.com
4 MONDAY, MAY 15, 2006 W I II I %# \J I T 1 1 W I mm 1^1 opinions@thevarsity.ca
Hit the road, U of T
Now that exams have mercifully come to a close, most students will have begun to take on (or look for) some form of employment that will keep them fed and sheltered during the summer months. But before hun- kering down in your offices, summer camps, and warehouses to make some more moolah for the alma ma- ter, might we humbly offer a sugges- tion: if you have the means, and even if you don't, take a few days off this summer and get out of town.
We've all been sequestered for too long in labs and libraries. Now is the time to get in touch with that wider
- EDITORIAL "
world that we too easily forget about during exam time — a world with stories, sights, and new experiences galore.
Young people today have the op- portunity to travel more than any preceding generation, and it be- hooves us to make use of any chance we get. Whether it's a return to one's native land, the tried-and-true back- pack through Europe, or a baseball- themed road trip, some time away does wonders towards broadening
our perspective and adding to the "life experience" so desired by em- ployers and grad schools.
If the thought of leaving the ol' red and white scares you, fear not. Our diversity in terms of geography and language is such that it would take five or six trips to truly appreciate the cultural amalgam that is Canada. Simply pick a region you haven't ex- plored yet, and hop a train — a small town just a few hours away can feel like a whole new world.
Cost can, of course, be a hin- drance to travel, but it needn't be with a little planning and a sense
of adventure. Youth hostels, host families, and shared sleeping com- partments all provide the opportu- nity for memorable experiences and new friendships, while government programs and bursaries — such as the J'Explore French immersion course — are unique and affordable options for students.
It is crucial to get out there and see how things work in other parts of the world. The variety of human experi- ence is just staggering and is some- thing to be celebrated. It's even more important to start this exploration early, even if it doesn't make total fi-
nancial sense to do so, since only by going to a place first can you return later and see it again with new eyes.
As Canadian novelist Margaret Laurence put it, to visit somewhere is to always have that place with us once we leave, available in our mem- ories whenever we feel like a return trip.
Before we know it, school will start again and we will once more find our- selves barricaded in reading rooms and lecture halls. Do yourself a fa- vour, and make sure that when that time comes you'll have some exciting memories of new lands to return to.
No mas for Hamas
But cutting aid not the way to go for Canada
Adrian Morson
In one of the first international policy moves by Canada's new gov- ernment, the Harper administra- tion declared that Canada would cut funding to the new democrati- cally elected Palestinian Author- ity. I emphasize "democratically elected" because it is crucial to remember that under incredible hardships — both domestic and in- ternational— the Palestinian people were out en masse to exercise their right to vote. And in return for this commitment to the democratic pro- cess, Canada was the first among the Western states to cut funding to the new Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
Our government's rationale was simple enough: until Hamas heeds demands to renounce the use of violence against Israel and agrees to recognize Israeli sovereignty. Canada would cease direct funding to the P.A. and reassess its contri- butions to the various UN agencies that administer programs in the ter- ritories, funding that together totals $25 million CAD. Peter McKay, min- ister of Foreign Affairs, put it blunt- ly: under the current situation, "not a red cent" will go to Hamas from Canada.
As the largest employer in the territories, the Palestinian Author- ity relies on foreign aid to finance its operations. The cutting off of aid by Canada and other Western coun- tries will severely hamper the P.A.'s ability to effectively govern the area and will further burden an already fragile economy. The World Bank estimates the Palestinian economy will shrink by at least 27 per cent in 2006 alone because of the termina- tion of foreign aid. This downturn will have serious political, social
Many Palestinians welcomed the Hamas victory as a vote against corruption, but Canada has refused to fund the militant group.
and economic repercussions, and will likely serve to further margin- alize voices of moderation while lending credence to more extreme factions.
The parliamentary elections that brought Hamas to power have been recognized by many experts as be- ing as much a vote against the ram- pant corruption of the secular-na- tionalist Fatah government as they were a vote for the more hard-line Hamas party. This corruption, cou- pled with Fatah's inability to bring to an end the four-decade-long Is- raeli occupation, represented the
principal election issues — that Hamas is an Islamist party was not of immediate concern to many of the voters.
While for long-term international legitimacy Hamas' view of Israel must evolve to a more tenable po- sition, it is short-sighted of Canada to cut ties with the nascent govern- ment. Hamas officials have already indicated their willingness to begin negotiations with Israel on the two- state plan and have re-affirmed their commitment to the year-long cease- fire. In light of these assurances, a more effective Canadian policy for
long-term peace would be to encour- age these opportunities and foster the beginnings of a dialogue.
Canada's cessation of economic aid to the Palestinian government represents a blow to both Pales- tinian democracy and to Canada's reputation within a region where it has historically been held in high regard. While our own government is also new, we should hope that its future policies for the region and be- yond are based more on the values and interests of Canadians than on the appeasement of our more tradi- tional allies.
LETTERS
Great minds don't memorize
Re: Learned helplessness plagues exams — and exam writers, April 6
The purpose of this institution is to sort the "thinkers" from the concrete learners. The only way to show a true understanding of a concept is being able to apply it where you see fit. This is not high school anymore where you can breeze through a course just by memorizing the facts. I know people who did not do well in high school but succeeded at U of T. The reason is simple: they don't like to memorize but really are thinkers who like to solve problems. I'm not sure what year in undergrad this writer is from, but I think the article is written by a frustrated student who doesn't really understand higher education.
Karen Zhou
Tfie l/ars/tym\comes letters from our readers. Send letters (250 words max.) w/ith your full name & phone number to:
opinions@thevarstty.ca
Opinions submissions are also welcome.
//ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Talk of intelligent design and evolution has filled the airwaves and school board debate rooms in recent months, but what do these terms really mean? PETER O'HAGAN looks at how faulty nomenclature can trap thinkers on both sides of the issue, and reveals that the divide between science and religion might not be as wide as commonly thought. See "Intelligent Design debate keeps on evolving" online at www.thevarsity.ca
theVARSlTY
21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 306 Toronto, ON M5S 1J6
Editorial: (416)946-7600
Advertising (416)946-7604
E-mail:
editor@thevarsity.ca
Editor-in-Chief Sarah Barmak
Production Manager
Rogelio Briscno
News Editor
Mike Ghenu
Photo Editor Kara Dillon
Science Editor
Sandy Huen
Arts & Entertainment Editor Jordan Bimm
Sports Editor Christophe Poirier
Comment Editor
J. P. Antonacci
Satellite Campus Bureau Chief
Gus Constantinou
Associate A&E Editors
Jennifer Fabro Chandler Levack
Associate Sports Editor
Perry King
Associate News Editors
Malcolm Johnston Adrian Khan Josephine Lee Anita Li Amy Smithers Kevin Wong
Associate Science Editors
Mayce Al-Sukhni Mandy Lo
Contributors:
Alex Kazia, Julia Lo, Justin Panos, Rehaana Manek, Adrian Morson, Peter O'Hagan, Emily Ranhala, Daniel Roth, Radheyan Simonpillai, Atee Zolghadr
VARSITY PUBLICATIONS:
General Manager
Johanna Herman
Ad Designer
Rogelio Briseno
editor@thevarsity.ca
2006 5
KIBBUTZ XND THG Cliy
Can a kibbutz have wi-fi? Can a nostalgic, socialist, Jewish ideal be adapted to Los Angeles, New York, or Toronto in the twenty-first century? U of T student DANIEL ROTH has made up his mind to find out
In a dirty, run-down apartment in Sderot, a city in southern Is- rael, I first realized what 1 would have to go through in order to live the socialist dream.
There were about 30 of us packed into three tiny apartments in a de- crepit, old building in the slums. In just one night we found out how hard it was to sleep four in one room, with not enough toilet paper. Fights for the cold, dirty shower began almost immediately.
We were there because we were traveling as a group throughout Is- rael to find out what it means to live in an urban kibbutz — a version of Israel's communal farms where all wealth is shared equally that some are trying to adapt to North Ameri- can cities.
We later found out that a group of Israelis who had grown up living on a kibbutz had moved to these apart- ments and lived there for a number of years, in the same conditions that we found hard to live with for one night — all for the kibbutz ideal.
I am about to graduate with a B.A. in something, and all 1 keep thinking about is the fact that as of this sum- mer, 1 can do anything, or 1 can do nothing. 1 feel like I am about to be liberated in some way.
So what am 1 going to do when I graduate?
Despite the hawkish antics of Ariel Sharon — and most Israeli leaders in the past decade — the holy land has potent socialist roots. 1 did a lot of my growing up at a summer camp called Camp Shomria. It is a part of a worldwide Socialist-Zionist youth movement called Hashomer Hatzair (Socialist-Zionism being a type of socialism crossed with a belief that Israel is the place that the revolution will happen). The camp was origi- nally a training farm for youth who were getting ready to move to Israel to live, and work, on a Kibbutz in Isra- el. Though it does not directly have those same goals anymore, there are some nostalgic aspects that remain. As a group we all clean the kitchen, the dining room, the bathrooms, and the grounds. We share the work equally in order to instill moderate socialist values among the mem- bers. That's not to say that there isn't waterskiing and 'spin-the-bottle' like other camps — there's that, too.
For the last 20 years or so, Hashom- er Hatzair has been quite successful at instilling its values. We have each taught and been taught about Social- ist-Zionism, what it means; for us, it's a way we can live our lives as en- lightened individuals in a fucked-up world. We have, however, been less successful at fulfilling the Socialist- Zionist ideology beyond education.
The Hebrew word for enacting one's ideology is hagshama. It rough- ly translates to "precipitation." For example, when moisture in the air becomes rain it is precipitating, or fulfilling its nature. When a Social- ist-Zionist moves to Israel to live and work on a kibbutz it is known as hag- shama.
What is a kibbutz, exactly? It's a lit- tle socialist paradise that is general- ly self-sustaining, and often centred on some sort of agriculture. I know what you're thinking, and yes, most of them are beginning to privatize. But does that mean that the dream is over?
The history of Israel is crowded
Left: A 1930's urban kibbutz at a flax processing plant in Lithuania. Below left: Inside one of the first kibbutzim in Israel, in the early twentieth cen- tury. New kibbutz-ers can be seen through the window.
with different ideologies, from the highly militaristic to the pacifistic, from the intensely capitalist to the most ardent socialist. Socialist-Zion- ism was a central ideology in build- ing Israel since the early twentieth century. Based on the teachings of thinkers such as Martin Buber and Ber Borochov, young European Jews began to reject the idea of living the same old alienated, oppressed life as their parents in industrialized Eu- rope. They began to move in droves to Israel and experiment with so- cialist living. This meant tearing up university degrees and becoming farmers, living in close quarters with their chaverim, or fellow socialists. The goal was explicitly revolution- ary; erasing their alienation from the land — and from each other — through agricultural work. These early Social- ist-Zionists were not religious, and even in many cases before the state of Israel was established, advocated a bi-national state for all people in
the. region, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Israel was, until about 30 years ago, very supportive of the kib- butz, as they saw the importance of creating their own infrastructure in everything from farming to politics.
One of the goals of living commu- nally is to try and get past the alien- ation that we all know surrounds us. We pay psychologists to hear our problems, but we can't seem to com- municate those same problems to our closest friends and family. The world we live in divides us along so many different lines until the only one that we feel comfortable with is ourselves, and the only outlets for making us feel better about being alone are movies, drugs, and shop- ping.
Letting go of material possessions and reframing money as an unfortu- nate, but necessary means for sur- vival in this world is an important step in discovering what is really im- portant in life and creating relation-
ships based on people, not things.
So here's my plan. 1 will join a group of about ten people from my movement and go to go to Israel this September for a year to create what is known as an urban kibbutz. Hashomer Hatzair's members as well as a number of others have been do- ing this for a few years now, and we want to get in on it.
A network of urban kibbutzes (or kibbutzim) are sprouting up every- where. Most are being created by young Israelis who grew up in the Socialist-Zionist movement. These young people are rejecting the idea that the kibbutz has to be a rural, agri- cultural entity and making it relevant to urban centres. Importantly, they are also moving them outside Israel's borders. The goal: to re-establish the movements as movements, rather than the stagnant, overly nostalgic communities that they see their par- ents' kibbutzim as having become.
So what do you do on an urban kib- butz, if not farm the land? One of the major projects is social work. This can include anything from working with people who live in poverty, to doing activist projects, all while work- ing a day job to make sure the group has enough money. The groups tend to put all, or most, of their material goods and money into a central pile that the group shares.
The people building this move- ment see urban centres as the most important places to be. They see the old kibbutz as cut off from what's really going on in Israel, what's re- ally important. The old kibbutz is a nice place to raise a family, but the city contains the poverty, the dirt, and the things that need to be fixed today.
When I visited one of these urban kibbutzim, someone asked how they felt not doing agricultural work, so central to the ideals of the classic kibbutz. Nomika, one of the founders of the urban kibbutz who had lived in those dingy apartments that 1 men- tioned above, replied that farming was the pioneering work of one hun- dred years ago. What is going on now is the pioneering work of now.
A group of us will start out by learning Hebrew daily, while living communally. We are going to share our money, our time, our thoughts, and our feelings.
The next step is volunteering. We may end up teaching or building. We want to work with some part of Israel's Arab population. There are a number of things we could do to help make Israel a better place, but working with Arabs seems appropri- ate. Since we are focused on ending alienation, why not work with people who are the most alienated in Israeli society?
Many questions remain, and will remain long after this journey is over. For example, how relevant is this going to be for North Americans who don't