A Letter to the Editor of The Meliorist

I have sent the following letter to our student newspaper, The Meliorist.

Dear, Editor:

I am writing in regards to the drastic cuts to Alberta’s post secondary education system.  As you know, the Redford government ran on an election platform of modest, if predictable and stable funding to post secondary schools in Alberta.  Redford explained that post-secondary education would see a 2% increase each year for three years.

On 7 March of this year, the government dropped a budget that made cuts to post secondary education of more than 7%.  Our schools are still reeling, and the full effect of these cuts will not be felt for some time.  These cuts have devastated our institutions.

Now, our Minister of Advanced Education Ignorance, Mr. Thomas Lukaszuk has said that students will not feel the effects of these cuts:  “not on the backs of students,” is the oblivious rallying cry of the Redford government.  I would expect that students are already feeling the effects of these cuts with a rise in non-instructional fees, with fewer course offerings, and other signs of the disaster that will be unfolding over the next few years.  Mr. Lukaszuk is quite delighted with the fact that he has frozen tuition; bear in mind, students, that this tuition freeze lasts for one year.  When your tuition skyrockets next year, be sure that your anger is directed at the proper source.

Mr. Lukaszuk has attempted a divide and conquer strategy: he has attempted to woo students with a tuition freeze, with quarterly meetings with student leaders, and numerous photo-ops with students.  The students I know at the University of Lethbridge can see through this charade.

Mr. Lukaszuk has also stated that he has not heard much from students or their parents.  And it is this claim I hope you, students of the University of Lethbridge, will prove to be staggeringly inaccurate.  I urge you to contact Mr. Lukaszuk.  I urge you to follow the #abpse hashtag on Twitter.  I urge you to get involved and demand that the government reverse these cuts; let’s protect the University of Lethbridge and your education.

Let’s show Mr. Lukaszuk and the Redford government what a united, educated citizenry is able to accomplish.

Regards,

Dr. Jay Gamble

P.S.  The opinions expressed in this letter are mine and do not reflect the views of the University of Lethbridge or its administration.

P.P.S.  You may contact the Honourable Thomas Lukaszuk at the following addresses:

Twitter:  @ThomasLukaszukMLA

Phone: 780 427-5777
Fax: 780 422-8733 

Snail Mail: Lukaszuk, Thomas, Honourable

Deputy Premier and Minister 

Office of the Minister

Enterprise and Advanced Education
408 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5K 2B6