Mobbin’ Like That

CSU Group Out to Combat Rising Tuition

NewsHilary Sinclair — Published October 3, 2011

The Concordia Student Union’s Mob Squad is putting out a hit on tuition hikes.

The group—headed by CSU VP External Affairs Chad Walcott and open to any and all interested students—was assembled to combat a proposed province-wide increase in tuition, and is aiming to mobilize 5,000 students by the Nov. 10 protests against the proposed tuition increase.

“When we take action and when we take to the streets, the English media finally starts paying attention to what’s going on,” said Walcott.

“I think Concordia has the responsibility to make sure the message gets out to the wider population.”

The Mob Squad gained attention on Sept. 28 when they released 1,000 red balloons in the Hall Building under the slogan “Together we can stop tuition fees from going through the roof.”

You’re likely to be seeing a lot more of the Mob Squad in the upcoming weeks as they mobilize the campus with further “sneaky actions,” classroom speeches, videos and flyers. The goal is to educate students on the effects of tuition hikes and the truth behind the figures.

As protest day approaches, Walcott is optimistic about the impact of student demonstration changing government policy.

Citing the 2005 student protest victory against the Charest government’s move to cut student bursaries by $103 million, he said, “I think if you look back to 2005 or to what happened last March, when thousands of people take to the street, it forces people to talk”

Walcott says the best thing for students to do is to get informed on the issue. The Mob Squad will be holding a weekly meeting on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. in the CSU Large Lounge on the seventh floor of the Hall Building to educate students and empower them to participate in the Nov. 10 Day of Action.