What is STORM?
STORM is a student organization dedicated to making student voices heard. We
believe that students should be able to participate in making the decisions which
affect their lives and the quality of their education. One lone voice is easily ignored, but the voice of an organized group can make a difference. As governments make massive social spending
cuts, and the state of education, health care, and other social programs that
were fought for by previous generations to ensure a basic standard of living
for all, are being sacrificed to maintain "capitalist incentives"
and profit margins for a small portion of the population, we, as students,
need to be aware, to be critical, to organize, be activists, and take
responsibility for the world in which we live. It was in recognizing this need
that STORM was created.
What does STORM do?
Some recent events that STORM has been involved in include:
- A STORM member was arrested for writing a letter of protest against tuition fees on a construction wall in HUB Mall at the University of Alberta. Many other students signed the letter, and the wave of protest culminated in disrupting the Board of Governors meeting to voice dissent against the governors voting once again for a ninth consecutive tuition increase.
- In September 1997, STORM helped organize rallies against the Alberta Growth Summit, a government orchestrated attempt to create a new compact between the government, business and the social sector of society. Press Clippings
- The On To Ottawa Trek protest against federal cuts to education, healthcare and social programs funding began on May 1, 1996. STORM commemorated the struggle of the unemployed workers of the Thirties by organizing the Alberta component of the Canadian Federation of Students event, bringing together students from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge to join the caravan of students from every other province in a demonstration 1,000 strong on Parliament Hill and a civil disobedience action that shut down the Indian Affairs' ministry office tower in Hull, Quebec to protest meager funding for aboriginal students. Seven students were arrested, including a STORM member. With the support of the Assembly of First Nations and the CFS, the Hull authorities dropped the charges. Press Clippings
- STORM performed street theatre at the Common Front against the Tory Convention rally, to cheers and roars of approval as it united with its Edmonton chapter. STORM continued to perform street theatre at rallies throughout Calgary.Press Clippings
- An "eggcellent" protest on December 10, 1995 in which around 1200 eggs signed by students were delivered to Ralph Klein during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The idea for this protest was sparked by comments Klein had made earlier about how students "must be content with
the governments cuts to post-secondary education" since they weren't "throwing eggs at the minister of advanced education". This comment was in reference to a 1991 incident in which John Gogo, at that time advanced education minister, was pelted by an egg.
Afterwards, Klein made an offhand remark that the students involved in the protest were "jackasses" that was picked up by the media. Klein was forced to issue an apology, and to save face, later made a token gesture by meeting with SU president Garett Poston to discuss student concerns. The eggs were donated by STORM to the food bank after the protest. Press Clippings.
-
Teach-ins designed to stimulate critical thinking through education, encourage student activism, and keep students informed on current events and how students are affected by them.
- STORM members join health care workers in protest at a capital health authority meeting regarding the contracting out of labour to private firms in various areas of the health care sector. We have also done solidarity picketing with the embattled movie projectionist union, IATSE.
How can I get involved?
While STORM was active between 1994-1998 on the University of Alberta, Grant MacEwan College, University of Calgary, Mount Royal College, Southern Alberta Institute for Technology campuses, STORM is no longer an active student movement. This web site is an archive and resource tool to inspire and support active student movements.
You can learn more about STORM's history and ideas by exploring the rest of the web site.
Our Organization:
STORM Statement of Principles | First Conference Resolutions | Second Conference Resolutions | STORM pamphlet | STORM position on cuts to federal transfers | A Guide to Organizing Your Own Protests
Any comments, suggestions or questions can be emailed to:
Jen
Hayter(jhayter@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca) or
Gord
Peters(gpeters@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca)
Peter Moore
If you hesitate to act, remember...
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one commits oneself then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
W.H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition
And if you don't think you have a right to act...
Freedom only for the supporters of the government, only for the members of one party however numerous they may be is no freedom at all. Freedom is, always and exclusively, freedom for the one who thinks differently.
Rosa Luxemberg, The Russian Revolution