Historically, universities have thought of themselves as depositories for knowledge. However, this view has faced a barrage of challenges. The left tells us that the academy, shaped by dominant discourses, constructs cultural hegemonies that advance narrow class interests. The right tells us that our ivory tower elitism renders us ineffectual—even pernicious—by disconnecting us from common people and their common experience.

Contrary to what the @freefoodubc Twitter account will tell you, there’s no free lunch at UBC; students and their families pay for this experience. But picking classes at UBC is not like buying clothes in a mall or tickets to a movie; it’s more like gambling.

We need the university and the AMS to take a serious look at these issues and make real policy change. Otherwise, I’m afraid more and more students are going to end up being unhappy, unhealthy and overwhelmed in years that are meant to be the best of their lives.

The AMS receives little attention during elections because students lost confidence in the institution long ago. Most see their student society an uninspiring and incestuous clique of self-serving politicos, afraid of what real advocacy might entail.

UBC needs to learn from the Keystone victory. We are world-renowned for our sustainable operations and innovative research in the field, but we could do more to politically mobilize our students and faculty. The science is clear; it informs our urgency and forecasts our future. The politics are messier, but our experiences have shown us that the solution lies not in waiting for our leaders to act, but in forcing their hand.

Stocker, billed “the world’s leading authority on climate change,” is co-chair of Working Group 1 of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), leading a team of over 250 of the world’s most respected climatologists.

Like the benchwarmer who’s scared he’ll be sent back to the minors, today’s student is anxious about their future. Should we be surprised that either decide to use performance-enhancing drugs?

If only a few hundred more had voted no on fees, the AMS might have had to face the apocalyptic scenarios some imagined. On the other hand, students reaffirmed their overwhelming and unequivocal support for lower tuition.

Critically evaluating masculinity will not only make this world a safer place for women, but it will free men from the burden of conforming to oppressive cultural standards.

Will our student union fight for affordable education, or will they continue to acquiesce to soaring fees and bloated debt?

All across the world ordinary people are standing together and saying they will no longer be trampled on by the political elite. In this historic moment of popular uprising, it’s time to decide which side you’re on. Will you defend the interests of the privileged few, or will you stand with the many?

I think the evidence suggests that the average student is no less concerned than I am, only they’ve learned to feel powerless with respect to creating social change.

For the average student, the AMS remains virtually invisible. Nothing could better demonstrate that fact than the dismal 11 per cent voter participation in the recent elections. Despite this abject failure, neither the councillors nor the campus media seem particularly worried. We’ve heard passionate disapproval of the many dirty tactics used in this election (this paper went so far as to call for the elections to be annulled), but there has been little willingness to discuss the cause of the low turnout.

To insist that hockey is an integral part of this nation is practically your patriotic duty. We dominate it, and we proudly boast that we love it more than any other nation loves a sport. But there is an uncomfortable truth we seldom address about our beloved game. Despite the fact that Canada is a multicultural, racially diverse nation, our game is troublingly white.