Students at the University of Windsor joined counterparts from across the province in letting the government know its displeasure with planned changes to OSAP.
Over 150 students and union members gathered outside the CAW Student Centre for a noontime rally and march coinciding with an organized walkout of classes by students, protesting the plan by the PC-majority government to change payment distribution for the Ontario Student Assistance Program. They also spoke out against tuition cuts, which students feel may put the squeeze on student-run organizations and campus media outlets like The Lance and CJAM-FM.
The Ford government says their post-secondary education plan, which would cut tuition at publicly-funded colleges and universities across Ontario by 10 per cent, will help make post-secondary education more affordable. Changes to OSAP would reflect an intention to focus aid on students with academic potential but with the more significant obstacles in paying for school.
The rally also called attention to the government's plan to increase class sizes in schools across Ontario beginning with the 2019-2020 school year. Erin Roy of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), says education is in the balance.
"Your fight's our fight," said Roy. "They've attacked you; they're coming after us. I want you to know that we all need to be in together, we all need to stick together, and we all need to come together."
The rally concluded with a short march to Wyandotte Street West, near the Ambassador Bridge. Activist Edy Haddad hinted that this march would be a small taste of things to come.
"That will be our warning that this September, students from across the country and across the province will join together and we will close the Ambassador Bridge until they reverse these cuts," said Haddad to loud cheers.
It was not apparent exactly how many U of W students decided to walk out of class, despite being permitted to do so by faculty as long as students informed them ahead of time of their intentions.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Brian Hogan of the Windsor and District Labour Council speaks at a rally at the University of Windsor, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
University of Windsor students participate in a rally coinciding with a walkout to protest planned OSAP cuts at the CAW Student Centre, March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Peter Zimmerman, president of the Windsor University Faculty Association, speaks at a rally on March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Activist Edy Haddad speaks at a rally at the University of Windsor on March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Union members attend a rally at the University of Windsor on March 20, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
