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So how do I tell this story. It involves yours truly, a handful of other e-geek activists, and the U of O Board of Governors. The story's main plot development revolves around the boards agenda. And if you're tired of my link game, this agenda contained a motion on the elevation of student tuitions. Note also on the page containing their agenda the amount of committees that are active. This will be an important and clever detail later.

So let me begin. My fellow students and I decided it was politically important to attend the meeting by the board on the question of tuition. Phillipe, a superfrench fellow, myself, and an international student requested a chance to speak and were given a total of 10 minutes to address the board. This means we had about 3 minutes each. First went Phillipe the apologist, who began his statements refering to how he already knows nothing he says will change their minds or fix things. Then came the international student who wanted to know how his comrades were expected to pay for tuition and so forth.

Then the old gentlemoderatorman cleared his throat, mispronounced my last name fluke, and gave me the floor. I had scrawled down two points I wanted to make. Let's fictionalize this a bit and give you how it went through storybook style.

She walked to the head of their table down the long corridor of mostly caucasian and well-to-do folksinsuits in bare feet and a bit of a bloated feeling from the fine dining the university had provided for itself; which she appropriated gleefully, if only a little ironically.
"Can you all hear me then? In the back? Okay good"
The dean nodded yes, he could hear her shaking voice striving for calm amongst a tempest of nerve.
"Well I only really have two questions to ask the board. For one, are they going to renew their exclusivity contract with Coca-Cola and when that decision may begin to be made? Secondly, what, if anything, will be done to cut down on excessive bureaucratic and administrative spending? Because today I got a job. It pays just above minimum wage, and that wage only recently went up after a long 10 year freeze by the last provincial conservative government. My wage hasn't risen with inflation, while a man sitting here making 300 000k tells me to find 4% more dollars out of a hat this year."
The moderator saw that she had quickly stepped away from her soapbox at the end of that point and quickly moved to have comments on behalf of the board in response to student questions/commentaire. The student speakers were addressed chronologically, and the Board stammered on about society, international student qualms, and finally addressed the Coca Cola Who Pays You Anyway combo. The Dean said that they were not sure whether the contract would be renewed, and insisted the Student Federation would be involved next time, just as it was last time. He did fail to mention that the contract is extended by 2 years to meet Coke's consumption demands from students, since original estimates were based on American soda consumption rates.
Nevertheless, the Dean addressed the question of efficiency in terms of already established projects to reduce percentages by these targets at some point in the near future. He didn't have those figures memorized or on him. Not a very clever man it seems. Students shot up their arms to gain a moment of the Boards floor, but were gently told the discussion excluded them at that point.
Suddenly a peroxide blond shoots up her arm and takes the floor. Her features were thin, focused, and pulled tight by the tension in her pursed lips. She reprimended the girl for her blasphemy against the Deans Hard Work. Suddenly criticism transformed into a perceived lack of respect and appreciation.
The student seized this opportunity to take the floor again and make a few things clear. "I was not intending to offend or suggest M. Patry didn't work or that he shouldn't be commended for his efforts. I am asking what can be done to make this board more efficient. You have a tasty spread and comfortable air conditioning. " Her time felt to be cutting short so she acquiesced to the floor regaining its composure over the students.

The next day at a Coffee Shoppe in downtown Ottawa, our hero the student was enjoying a minted split pea soup and Orangina beverage when one of the Governors sat down across the student and spoke
"Hi I'm not sure if you remember me--"
"oh yes of Course I remember you"
"yes well I wanted to say thank you for coming to the meeting and voicing your concerns."
"oh hey no problem it's important to attend these matters and say what you think. Even though I offended someone--"
"yes well I didn't see any reason to get offended she just overreacted a little--"
"yeah some of the students were jesting after that she seemed to be longing for a promotion..."
"she was just being defensive really"
"I know"

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So I'm bored of fictionalizing. The end of the story goes like this: the two broads chat about economics and student life, provincial politics, the Governer reveals a bit about her background, and reminds me that these committees are volunteer so the university provides food. It only dawned on me later that this is a ridiculous excuse because these volunteer boards are requisite to the whole job market they are in; they are the vectors of promotions and promulgating more work for themselves. The lady said she would appear on SWACC radio for an interview, so thats keen.