Monday, December 15, 2008
I apologize for the late reply...
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Queens Park
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Co$t of an Appeal
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
...comes great responsibility.
Alliance: A close association of groups, formed to advance common interests or causes
Using the power of information
Gooch is here to restore communication
Bridging the gap between students and administration
Embodying Hillary & Obama - two forces in one
She brings, experience, change, & inspiration
Our university experience she hopes to advance
By bringing awareness she gives us a chance
To be involved in decisions that effect us each day
She’s providing a forum to hear what WE have to say
Equipping us with the necessary knowledge to progress
She’s bringing back the alliance to ensure our success
Celebrating the unique diversity at this school
Uniting our talents and using them as tools
I wanna see a President who is genuine and true
With the knowledge and integrity to know what to do
Who is involved on this campus in many different ways
With a variety of achievements – I want to be amazed
Because I want to see a president who will get the job done
Who will stop for nothing until we unite as one
And I'm tired of seeing presidents who accept the status quo
and do nothing to help our student alliance grow
I want a speaker who will say what needs to be said
There's no room to be silent when you are the head...
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The 23h Work Day
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Breakfast At Tiffany's
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The end of Strike '08
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Not Alone
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Expectations
Theodore Roosevelt once said:
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Memo I sent to the chief negotiators for both teams (and each member of the teams), Alan Wildeman, Brian Brown:
I am writing to you within my capacity as President of the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance on behalf of 12,000 undergraduate students.
From what I have come to understand the University left the last offer on the table and is waiting for a counter from WUFA. I have also been informed that WUFA has prepared a counter to the offer and is ready to return to the negotiating table. As far as I am aware the mediator has been informed that WUFA is prepared to resume talks and has informed the University of this fact.
If all of this information is true, and both negotiating teams are at the hotel or within 15 minutes of the hotel what is stopping the bargaining process?
Thousands of students have invested millions of dollars into their education at this institution.
I have the utmost respect for each and every one of you; all I ask is that you step up to the plate right now and set a time to resume talks.
Our education is at stake; please do not take that lightly.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Gooch
President
University of Windsor Students’ Alliance
Responses:
Dear Tiffany,
Emily Carasco
Dr. Emily F. Carasco
Professor, Faculty of Law
University of Windsor
Hi Tiffany:
Thank you for your letter. We share your concerns and are working hard to achieve a Collective Agreement.
Sincerely,
Gwen
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Shine Day
ENVER!
CBC radio woke me up at 7am Thursday morning, not because my alarm was set to the channel but because I was scheduled as a guest on the show. I spent a few minutes trying to get my fading voice back and woke up enough to articulate the points I needed to make. "Students are upset! They want to go back to class! They want to see the faculty reach a fair and equitable agreement that preserves the quality of education at our institution... and quickly".
I won't lie, I was too tired to function, these late nights and early mornings aren't really doing it for me, so I slept a little longer after the phone interview before heading in to work. And boy was the work piling high.
I will admit I was happy when I noticed a message from Clayton Smith in my inbox stating that classes were cancelled. Not because the classes were cancelled of course, but because of the time I received the email: 3:02am. This was a full 6 hours earlier then the email I received Wednesday which spurred my urgent request that Clayton inform students of cancelled classes as early as physically possible from that point forward.
I spent some time replying to emails from students and returning calls before heading out to deliver the promised Pizza to the strikers outside.
They were incredibly grateful to receive the Pizza, not only because it was delicious (made at the pub!) But because it was a validation of the support students had for them. I most enjoyed the time I spent on south campus with the drama faculty who lifted my spirits as they thanked me for my kind words of support on the radio and in the newspaper.
By the end of the night I made my way to the theater to see "The Dark Knight" for it's last night in theaters. I hadn't seen it yet and I couldn't find one of my friends who hadn't seen it at least 3 times in the theaters so I just went alone. Don't feel bad for me, I've never really considered the movies a "social" outing, it's not like you can talk during it anyway. As expected it was amazing!
Today was action packed beginning for me with the rally outside of Chrysler Tower. I was amazed to see so many other students there supporting WUFA. About halfway through the speeches from other faculty unions from across the country, I realized there was a possibility that Brian Brown (President of WUFA) might invite me to the microphone for a few words. This shouldn't have come as a surprise since I am the "Official" spokesperson for the students, but I was incredibly intimidated to be speaking after a variety of incredibly charismatic speakers. I formulated a few key points in my mind and readied myself in case I was called on, "These empty buildings surrounding us are not the University, the people behind us in this building in particular are not the University... WE are the University". "Get back to the table, so we can get back to class" So maybe it was cheesy, but true nonetheless.
After the rally I went back to my office for the usual: return emails, return phone calls, prepare for meetings and imagine my surprise when I saw Enver Villamizar standing in the hallway!
Enver!! The man, the UWSA legend himself!
I had never met him before but I recognized him from all of the pictures I had seen. Call me a geeky UWSA historian but this man spent 3 years of his life serving as a UWSA executive. One year as the Vice President University Affairs 99/00, and 2 consecutive years as President 01/02-02/03. I spent a week going through his files in the office this past summer, and the manual he had prepared for the incoming president after he left. It was amazing to finally meet him and Laura Chesnik (former VPUA) even if only for a brief moment. He complimented me on my blog... Enver Villamizar read MY blog!
Later in the afternoon I had a meeting with SAABR to work towards standardizing procedure for student groups who have events in the pub. We came up with some great ideas and ended the meeting hopeful for some positive change working together this year.
By the evening I made every attempt to get back to work, answer some emails and hopefully get cracking on policy. But of course I was sidetracked by various distractions: CBC called to see if students are politically active in youth parties and volunteering for local federal MP campaigns. The reporter asked if we had anything planned for the election on campus, like a "Rock the Vote" type of event. I let her know we were hoping to have an all candidates debate, but that the success of such an event would depend completely on the length of the strike. (PS, if anyone is interested in assisting with organizing this event PLEASE contact me!)
Thank goodness for 24/hour Walmart! At one in the morning I bought a minifridge!! I filled it with healthy snacks as per the recommendation of my friend (and head bouncer at the pub) Rob Ouellette. "It's 80% food and 20% working out" he says. Hopefully having fruits and veggies in my office will keep me from eating out as much. And perhaps I'll find my way back to the gym at some point soon as well.
That is, if I can find the time.
I know I promised a short blog entry, but in my defence, this entry represents TWO days! I'll try harder next time...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Strike 1
Hello Blog world!
While I have never been much of a blogger I am definitely a talker so I don't think this should be too difficult.
I was hoping to write a blog to keep students informed as to what I have been doing to represent them in the UWSA presidential office; hopefully through all of the craziness I'll be able to keep this up!
I've titled today's post "Strike 1" because this is day one of the faculty strike on campus, if you don't know about it yet I recommend that you check out www.uwindsor.ca/strikeinfo, www.uwindsor.ca/wufa http://www.uwsa.ca/wufa-negotiations/ and www.pastthepages.ca. Or join the active facebook group: http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=41401863456&ref=nf (login required).
The last 24 hours have moved very quickly beginning at 8pm last night with a council meeting at which council reiterated our official support for WUFA. Stephen Pender, Clayton Smith and Anna Kirby attended the late night council meeting to answer questions from students about the strike. By the time council ended at 10:30pm it was nothing more then a waiting game to hear information about the strike. At 11:30 I contacted Wildeman to be sure that a mass email would be sent to students upon immediate notice of cancelled classes and he assured me that negotiations were continuing and that new information would be posted at 7am on the website.
Forgetting that Tuesday nights are open mic night I was pleasantly surprised as I went to the Pub to see and hear a couple friends on the microphone (Jasmine Ball and boyfriend Sam), I hung out with them for a short while before heading back to my office just in time to get the 2am phone call. I spent some time posting the news of the strike on relevant facebook groups, sending it out to anyone who I had an email for and then got some sleep.
This morning the media frenzy began much more quickly and aggressively then I expected. My phone didn't stop ringing with requests for interviews with CKLW, CBC Radio, CBC French Radio (the interview was conducted in English thank goodness),
After receiving the letter from Dr. Wildeman I spent some time verifying the validity of the statements with WUFA representatives and got the ball rolling on clear UWSA literature to be distributed Thursday and Friday.
By early evening I was sitting in a meeting with the UWSA exec brainstorming ways by which we each can personally show our active support to WUFA. We decided to serve pizza to WUFA on Thursday (Vegetarian for Pender) and construct witty signs to rally with everyone on Friday at 12pm.
I spent a little time stressing about whether the UWSA was doing enough to serve students and support the faculty in their plight. After a few conversations I came to the conclusion that while there is no way to please everyone - the action that is being taken by the UWSA elected officials and UWSA members this year is electrifying. UWSA students are mobilizing in support of WUFA in great numbers - Kudos to my grade school friend Emily Wunder for her essential role in this movement.
Like you all, I hope the strike is very brief. If you have comments or concerns that I can address please do not hesitate to comment below or email me at puwsa@uwindsor.ca
I assure you that my next blogs will be much shorter :P