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The Democratizing Education Network will be hosting a retreat this fall in Montreal, Québec while students there go on strike to protest skyrocketing tuition increases and fight for all students' rights to attend college in Québec. The retreat will be an act of solidarity with our Northern brothers & sisters and also a space to learn more about Canadian student unionism from member of ASSÉ and CFS (Canadian Federation of Students) and strategize ways to bring the student unionism movement to the U.S.!

In 2005, ASSÉ (Association for Solidarity Among Student Unions) led a widespread student strike to protest the provincial government’s cuts of more than $100,000 in financial aid. That strike came to an end after the government offered to reinvest $482 million into grant and loan programs over the next 5 years, including restoring the $70 million that was cut the previous year. They have plans to go on strike again this October- and this time we'll be a part of it!

Here in the U.S. we're facing a constant struggle against corporate rule in our public higher education system. Every year students face tuition increases that are 2 to 6 times the rate of inflation, decreasing financial aid, increased student loan burden, attacks on affirmative action-placing a college education out of reach for many working families and students of color. The good news is that students across the country are resisting these trends. The better news is that students across the country are working towards democratizing our campuses- putting power back in the hands of students.

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Visit www.democratizingeducation.org for more information about the retreat, Canadian student unionism and the 2005 student strike. You can download an application there as well.

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