I must admit that, like others, I was stunned when I learned that the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) decided to stop supporting the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) through its Shinerama campaign during the frosh week activities because it “has been recently revealed to only affect white people and primarily men“.

Yes, that’s right: CUSA decided to stop raising money for a disease that affects primarily white men. (UPDATE: The CCFF has posted information on their website containing accurate information about cystic fibrosis, as opposed to what CUSA used.)

Since the news was reported by the CBC, CUSA president Brittany Smyth has been doing some major back pedalling and released a press release saying…

“It has become clear that there is not an appetite at Carleton to change from Shinerama”
said Ms. Smyth “The responsible thing to do is to reverse the decision.”

… and …

“I both respect and admire the students’ commitment to the cause of raising funds for
cystic fibrosis.” stated Ms.Smyth “I believe this issue has been blown out of proportion
but the motion was never meant to imply that raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis research
was not a worthwhile cause. I do apologize for the negative attention Carleton has
received”.

(You’ll note the distinct lack of apology for the insensitivity of the motion in the first place.)

The responsible thing, Ms. Smyth, would have been to rule the motion out of order in the first place.  The issue has not been “blown out of proportion”.  You are experiencing precisely the sort of attention on this matter that is deserved.

According to an article in the Charlatan, the motion was moved by Donnie Northrup and seconded by Meera Chandler and passed 17 to 2.  Those 17 people, particular Northrup and Chandler, should hang their heads in shame.  They should also resign because clearly they are not fit to represent the students at Carleton.  Had this taken place when I was a student at Carleton I would have stopped supporting CUSA immediately.

Hopefully, the CUSA council will get their heads out of their asses, individually and collectively, (except for the 2 who voted against the motion because clearly they aren’t experiencing a rectal-cranial inversion) and reverse this decision.

I’ve texted my feelings on this to Ms. Smyth, too.  I wonder how many other people have.