Disabled
discrimination

It’s about time somebody brought attention to the problems disabled people are having with the STM [“Bummed by buses,” Sept. 19]. I’ve been friends with Simon Lortie for several years and the amount of discrimination and inconvenience he experiences on a daily basis is disgusting.

I don’t know if people are aware of the amount of planning Simon has to go through just to go out and have a good time with his friends, or just to go about a regular day. When I go out I can leave when I want and take any form of public transportation. Think about having to wait for someone to get you out of bed, showered, dressed and probably a million other things during your day because you can’t do those things yourself.

When you’re disabled, your whole life is put into a very tight schedule dependent on whether or not other people feel like helping you. Frustration is not even close to describing how one would feel. You’d think that people would be sensitive and considerate to those in situations where they are physically limited. Instead, there’s a general attitude that the able-bodied are being inconvenienced, because they have to do something for someone else. Life happens randomly so don’t think that just because you’re walking down the street today you won’t be rolling down the street in a wheelchair tomorrow.

» Katherine Blenkinsop

Con U
censorship

It’s been only a few weeks since I became a student at Concordia, and I must say I’m not at all impressed with the way the so-called authorities have been handling affairs there lately. I’m referring of course to the riot Sept. 9 when Binyamin Netanyahu was in town [Photo of the week, Sept. 12] and all the circumstances that have followed as a result.

I was under the impression that university education was supposed to teach students how to take personal responsibility for themselves, as well as teaching us the necessary skills required in dealing and co-operating with other people out in the “real” world. It seems I was seriously misled!

I’m involved in a Web site project called the Free Spirit Centre, where people write articles about personal growth and healing. Before the semester began, it had been arranged for us to have a display table at Concordia where we could present some of our work. I turned up ready to go, only to be informed that I couldn’t have my table, as there had been a ban placed upon on “freedom of expression” in the university.

I spent a great deal of time and money preparing the display, and not a single person from the office responsible for booking these tables had the decency to inform me of the ban. I feel thoroughly discouraged from making any attempts at giving my spare time to contribute to the university in my own way. I understand the ban where the Middle East situation is concerned, as I don’t feel it’s necessary to be dealing with such issues in an education establishment anyway. What I don’t understand, however, is why other students who have no involvement with these religious and political issues should be made to suffer too. It enraged me enough that I missed two classes when the Hall building was closed on the day of the riot. Now other students and myself are suffering further loss because the authorities are either too ignorant, lazy or just plain incapable of properly handling the mess they created in the first place.

» Ashleigh Stewart

Keep druggies
out of
discussion

In last week’s issue you refer critically to the “Conferences about drug use without any drug users,” [Insect, Sept. 26]. What’s wrong with that? It would be like having a conference on crime without any criminals.

» Barry Merson

Corrections

In our Fall Arts Preview cover story (Sept. 12), artist David Elliott was quoted as having a fondness for Bryan Adams. Who he actually named was “Ryan Adams.” The Mirror regrets any teasing Elliott has been subjected to as a result. Also, in the Sept. 26 fashion supplement, the photo accompanying the Ritual Designs article should have been credited to Caroline Teo.

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