Student coalition disappointed after low turnout

A new organization representing 60,000 students from four Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions says it will go back to the drawing board after a rally aimed at highlighting the provincial government’s deep cuts to universities and technical institutes attracted about 20 students.

“We will continue to push for it. We will continue to get more people out. We won’t let this drop off the agenda,” said University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union president David D’Eon, speaking on behalf of the Saskatchewan Student Coalition (SSC), which was formed in the wake of the Saskatchewan Party government’s 2017-18 budget.

Asked why the downtown Saskatoon rally was sparsely attended while others, such as those protesting the demise of the Saskatchewan Transportation Co., drew hundreds of people, D’Eon said he thinks there has been comparatively little attention paid to student concerns over the last several years, and that it’s difficult to restart.

Similar protests were also planned in Regina and Prince Albert.

Although the rally was held outside the government’s Saskatoon cabinet office, the only politician in sight was Saskatchewan NDP leadership candidate Ryan Meili, who applauded D’Eon and the other student associations that make up the SSC for making their voices heard, even if only a few people showed up to listen.

Educational institutions have been struggling to cope with cuts handed down in the government’s last budget. The U of S lost $18 million from its operating grant, while the University of Regina had its funding slashed by $7 million. Funding for Sask Polytechnic, SIIT and the Gabriel Dumont Institute was cut to $150 million from $156 million.

D’Eon acknowledged that getting people out to rallies is difficult and that he was disappointed by the turnout. At the same time, he continued, there is little indication that the government is taking students seriously, and the SSC is committed to ensuring that their concerns are heard and the funding reductions stopped.

“The point of this rally is to tell the stories of our students. To get us out of the universities and into the public eye, and to get people seriously talking about what role does post-secondary play in the province.”

The point of this rally is to tell the stories of our students. To get us out of the universities and into the public eye …