Farewell

Dear Students and Staff,

I have come to the realization that without a crisis to motivate them, the students of UTS become, for the most part, apathetic and lethargic. The aftermath of the recent news that Mr. Tipova will be coming back next year, to be evaluated again in November, is one such example.

It is with this in mind that I declare the 1st volume of Socrates closed. If ever it had a mandate set solidly in stone, that mandate has been fulfilled. To the best of my knowledge, a toned down version of Vivek's article will be presented in the next issue of the Cuspidor, and Mr. Tipova has been rehired to another one-year contract. Moreover, I do not realistically expect any more submissions for this volume. For a brief moment, UTS students showed concern for the future of their school, and that moment has passed. I iterate that without a crisis to grip us, we students tend to lose our concern.

I implore all of you not to lose sight of problems larger than the maltreatment of a single teacher - problems that involve the general direction and the future of liberal arts education at our school. I ask of you to take the time to think of the changing policies of the Ministry of Education and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the extent to which they should rule the course of our school. I ask you to answer one question: is it more characteristic of a true visionary to abide by policy, or to cross the boundaries of jargon and protocol to make lasting and good changes?

There are those among you I must thank - students, teachers, parents and alumni alike - who gave support, rendered advice, and showed concern. You all know who you are.

Socrates is the voice of the students of UTS, but the students of UTS are silent. Volume one is finished.

Sincerely Yours,

Socrates