McGill-MELS debacle example of the effects of chronic underfunding of
universities

MONTREAL, April 20 /CNW Telbec/ - The dispute between McGill University and the Ministry of Education Sports and Leisure over the past year is a clear example of the effects of the chronic underfunding of Quebec universities.

The Post-Graduate Students' Society of McGill University(PGSS), as the representative of all graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at McGill, is opposed to the university's decision to selectively deregulate tuition for MBA students, but at the same time we recognize the decision as an institutional cri de coeur in the face of the chronic underfunding of Quebec universities.

The PGSS calls upon government for a massive re-investment in the Quebec university system, so as to foster the highly-skilled researchers with the skills needed for the Quebec of tomorrow. The way forward is not through excessive tuition, but through an understanding by government that investment in graduate student education and research is an investment in Quebec.

The PGSS has been representing McGill graduate students since 1908, and currently represents 7,500 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers.

For further information: Daniel Simeone, PGSS President, [phone], [email protected]