WND Update - sorry about the short timing!

[Robin Wing]

Greetings WNDers!

I hope everyone is having an amazing summer so far! I just have a couple of updates:

#1 London District Labour Council Workshop:

"Turning Corporate Globalization Around: the Power of Grassroots Activism".

Date is May 10 from 10am to 100pm
Location is the Tolpuddle Common Room
The day will go as follows:
10am  Introduction to the day by Patti Dalton and welcome from the
          London and District Labour Council
          Keynote and discussion featuring Janet Conway
1100am  Break and refreshments
11:15am  Round table discussion based on current projects, issues and
 topics identified by participants
11:45am  Break and refreshments
1200 noon to 100pm  Ideas and suggestions for more effective activist solidarity work, joint projects,
 building local capacity.
100pm  Wrap up

#2 Letter of Support for PIRG:

If you have a spare moment please send a letter of support for PIRG to the USC and UWO (here is a template)

USC; cc Paul Davenport; bcc sphr exec

Dear USC President Tom Stevenson,

I have been informed of the recent decision de-ratifying the UWO PIRG and is outraged at the CPC’s inability to seriously consider the points outlined in the UWO PIRG’s response to the initial notice of de-ratification.  We understand that UWO PIRG has submitted an appeal and we urge you to accept it and reverse the CPC’s unfair decision.  

 

In response to the USC’s allegations, UWO PIRG has provided plenty of evidence to defend its case.  A letter was submitted indicating that UWO PIRG had no involvement and at no time endorsed any of the events during the “Week Against War/Peace Week.”  As well, UWO PIRG and its working groups have maintained a high level of financial integrity, as proven through the Financial Audit conducted by USC, indicating that the club's financial records have been outstanding.  UWO PIRG realizes that certain breaches of the Clubs Policies were made with regards to minor financial matters, and the executives have apologized for this and have promised to ensure compliance with such policies in the future.

It is unfortunate that the CPC’s decision not only affects one club, but also suppresses the many working groups that are organized under the umbrella of PIRG.  This year's PIRG included the Feminist Action Group, Counter-Stryker and Palestinian Human Rights.  These organizations have worked hard to raise important issues at UWO, issues of human rights which no other club is concerned with.  Their existence is vital because they add to the plurality of clubs at UWO.      

 

Furthermore, we find that the timing of this process was inappropriate because it exploited the fact that students were busy with exams, including the UWO PIRG executive, who were not given sufficient time to respond. 

 

Having clarified these points, we hope you can recognize that these incidents perhaps warrant an official warning and that there are no longer grounds for de-ratification.  We stand in support of the UWO PIRG and reiterate our request that you carefully consider the appeal and re-ratify UWO PIRG as a club.  This is the only decision that can bring justice to a university campus where the silencing of alternative voices has become a trend. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Name of Person

Position and Club/Organization Name

Solidarity,

Robin

WND President