N.S. university students start historic week-long walkout

University students from four post-secondary institutions across the province started a historic, weeklong protest, Sunday.

According to reports, students filled the streets in downtown Halifax as they call for lowered tuition, equal fees for all students and programs that serve marginalized groups.

Student unions from Dalhousie, Saint Mary’s, NSCAD and Kings College are invited to the strike that will stretch until March 21.

It follows a meeting last week with student union leaders and the department of education that only left leaders feeling like they were “met with excuses” and not real solutions, according to the Canadian Federation of Students–Nova Scotia (CFS-NS).

According to the Dalhousie Student Union (DSU), on March 12, 62.3 per cent of students voted to strike.

DSU says there is no guarantee there will be no impact to academics, but they are working on an “academic amnesty” to provide some protection.

“The DSU urges students to participate fully in the strike but will not prevent students from crossing picket lines,” reads the statement.

Saint Mary’s Student Union (SMUSA) also backs students’ right to make their voices heard and say they stand in solidarity with those who choose to participate.

However, SMUSA says they do not have the authority to mandate a strike.

“The decision will ultimately be a personal decision that each student will make for themselves,” says SMUSA.

Saint Francis University (StFX) in Antigonish will not be participating in walking out but that student union tells us in an email they fully support it.

“At TheU we will always support students’ right to protest and peacefully assemble to speak up for injustices happening to them or others. We see the student walkouts occurring elsewhere in Nova Scotia as a sign that students are paying attention- and willing to make noise our education is threatened,” says President Jacob Cruchet.

Cruchet says they encourage any student who feels their rights have been violated to reach out to them for support.

Organizers say they need tangible and meaningful action and took part in the provincewide rallies last week over the cuts to arts and culture in the spring budget.

-with files from Natalie Chiasson