McGill TribuneI have just returned from the 100th anniversary of the McGill Daily. I was a writer and editor from 1964 to 1967. The McGill Daily set me on my path both as an activist and as a journalist.
Needless to say the 1960s were an exciting time at McGill. We fought for and won the idea that a university should provide a centre for a constant discussion of ideas inside and outside of the classroom. For me, my activities outside the classroom were far more important.
In an era where inequality is growing and our civilization is staring down major environmental and economic crises, the role of organisations advancing alternative discourses on these matters is even more important. More than ever ,linking environmentalism and social justice is critical to an understanding of the challenges we face. For 30 years the Quebec Public Interest Group (QPIRG) has brought innovations such as recycling to campus, queer friendly space stickers, campus gardens, Social Justice Days, Radfrosh, and more.
With upwards of 20 working groups linking students with community and international issues, QPIRG McGill (like PIRGs all across Canada) contributes to the discussion and learning of students. Whether you agree with the causes advanced by these working groups or not, it is always important to keep in mind the role they play on campuses and in communities. The education of everyone is enriched when conventional nostrums are challenged and we are exposed to different experiences and perspectives. Moreover, offering alternative spaces for communities and voices that do not conform to the mainstream is integral to a vibrant democracy.
Keeping organizations like QPIRG and the initiatives it supports alive and thriving requires stable funding. I therefore encourage McGill students to continue to value the work of QPIRG McGill and to engage with them and learn more about the work they do.
