Table turned on protesters

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by George Maddux

Two recent protests against CSIS and Armed Forces recruiters at Concordia University's Hall building will lead to sanctions against some of the 30 people involved in the disruption, according to Michael Di Grappa, Vice Rector of Services. The protesters, chanting "Big brother go home," and "Spies off campus," tipped over the display tables and walked away with literature.

"These are two of the most popular employers for our students," says Di Grappa. "They're valued by students researching career opportunities. We've identified who was involved and security will conduct an investigation." Meanwhile, Di Grappa has written an apology to CSIS and the Armed Forces and has also formally asked the six student umbrella groups to denounce the intimidation tactics.

"I personally sympathize with some of the frustration that this action comes from," says Robert Green of the Concordia Student Union. "The students sent a pretty clear message here, maybe we shouldn't be allowing these groups to recruit on campus."

Green says CSIS has been exaggerating the threat of protesters at the upcoming FTAA conference in Quebec City. "There's some real frustration from those groups organizing this. They have no intention to be violent, they just want to protest as is their constitutional right." Still, Di Grappa says such table-tipping attacks aren't okay. "They have to find a way to express this disagreement in a civil, harassment-free way and there has to be an opportunity for students to avail themselves of these services on campus."