I had a very unpleasant surprise yesterday, as I went to Concordia University, my own Alma Mater, to participate in their candidates' debate. The debate, organized by the Concordia Student Union and the Canadian Federation of Students, had apparently decided that the Greens would not be invited to participate, although we have done so in previous elections.

Naturally, outraged by this turn of events, I immediately went to see the president of the CSU, Keyana Kashfi, for an explanation. She didn't have one, and claimed it was her VP External, Colin Goldfinch, who was the organizer of the event. I replied that she was ultimately responsible just the same, and that I wanted her to personally make a statement to the students gathered for the debate, explaining to them why I had been excluded. At first, she agreed. When the time came for the event to begin, however, she said she would not 'interrupt' the event and if a student should ask the question, she would respond.

The only problem is, there was NO question period, and students were left with the impression that the Green Party candidate simply did not show up. Security would not allow me to hold up a sign identifying myself as the candidate. I thus had the humiliating experience of being threatened with removal for 'causing trouble'. It is worth noting that none of my opponents (Anne Lagacé Dowson of the NDP, William Hogg of the Liberals and Guy Dufort of the Conservatives) stated any objections to my exclusion.

So this is what my university has come to! This is quite literally, THE last place I would have expected such a thing to happen. The Concordia Student Union I used to know in 2000-2003 (not that long ago!) was led by some of the most progressive and devoted individuals I have had the privilege of knowing and working with, including Rob Green, Misty Mullarkey, Sabine Friesenger and Tom Keefer. I naturally intend to write to the university's newspapers and alumni association about this, in hopes of pressuring the CSU to publish an apology to the Greens and most importantly, to the students whose rights were trampled upon.