Among the many groups on campus working to draw awareness to important issues, the Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 902 and the Wilfrid Laurier University Palestinian Justice Club are two that demonstrate the power student voices can have.
PSAC 902 is a union group that represents graduate teaching assistants at Laurier. The organization collaborates with other clubs at Laurier, including the WLU NDP, Laurier’s Women and Gender Studies Society and the WLU Rainbow Centre. WLU PJC is a student club that spreads awareness about the ongoing genocide in Gaza through numerous events. They have collaborated with other local Palestinian awareness groups such as UWaterloo Voices for Palestine, KW Palestine and Occupy UWaterloo, among others. Both groups have also collaborated on events together, such as the UW Divest from Genocide rally on March 28.
One of the most notable events ran by the WLU PJC this term includes their Gaza Will Rise event, which took place on March 24 in the senate and board chambers on the Waterloo campus. With 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. timeslots, the free event led attendees through a detailed workshop on the struggle of the Palestinian people alongside a masterfully created art display of before and after maps of Gaza.
Similarly, PSAC 902 has been active on campus this term and is due to hold their annual general meeting on April 7 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Roles up for application this year include chair, deputy-chair, co-chief steward of the Waterloo campus, administrative officer, co-chief steward of the Brantford campus, treasurer, communications officer and equity officer.
“They operate by really coming together and supporting those who either need to be unionized or those who are on strike currently. Additionally, they do other methods of activism and really help to bring student and faculty voices together to make sure that everyone really has a fair and equitable shot on campus,” said Meeka Geyer, co-president of the WLU NDP when asked about how PSAC 902 operates.
Of the events held by PSAC this year, the open mic was the favourite of Wallis Scott, a general member of PSAC 902 and co-president of the WLU NDP.
“People created spoken word poems and spoke from the heart about some of the experiences they’re having today. A lot of it was queer focused and a lot of it was focused on some of the conflicts that are taking place throughout the world,” Scott said.
Hosted on Jan. 31 in Arts 1E1, the open mic was organized by PSAC 902, WLU NDP, Laurier’s Women and Gender Studies Society and the WLU Rainbow Centre. Filled with spoken word poems and community collaboration, the event brought students together while educating them about the union’s activities. Hillary Pimlott, associate professor in the communication studies department at Laurier, concluded the night with a comedy show.
“It was really just a good time I think for everybody involved. It was very funny,” Scott said.
The dedication of both clubs to encouraging student engagement with important social and cultural issues is inspiring and demonstrates the strength of Laurier’s student body.
Bronte Behling/Editor-in-Chief
