Another cold and blustery day in Montreal. Today Concordia was voting whether or not to join other student unions in Quebec for a strike next week. If you know me, you know my opinion about the strike.

I can't help but feel like many of the students are whining like babies. I understand people are upset that burseries have been cut by the Charest government and I think changes need to be made to the Educational Institution in Quebec in general - like getting better facilities and resources by ending the ridiculous tuition freeze - but loans are available and the maximum amount of money you can take out for a loan has been raised significantly. Low-income students will be able to have their interest completely erased. That's a good thing. It's not perfect but I don't think a strike will achieve anything better. In the end, once you get a job using your degree, you'll be able to pay off your loans and get on with your life.

Now, I know I'm in a privileged position but loans play a big part in many people's lives. People take out loans for cars, for houses, and whathaveyou. Sometimes it needs to be done. But why do some students feel that they don't have to pay for their education? What? Should it be up to the taxpayers to pay for you?

It seems that most of the students complaining are CEGEP students and are unaware of the realities involved. English CEGEPs have wisely stayed away from the brouhaha and hopefully schools like McGill and Concordia do the same. The students need to stop and think what a strike right now will do to their school year, especially now that we're almost done. You know what a student strike will achieve? Lost time which could have been used for learning and wasted money. Because I don't see the government budging on the choices they've already made.

The thing that bugs me most is seeing the average amount of money students owe in other parts of Canada: $27,000 in New Foundland, $21,000 in New Brunswick for example and in Quebec it's $13,000. That's a mighty big difference but I don't see the students in New Foundland striking. You know why? Going for an education costs money. So, suck it up cause the reality is, CEGEP's are basically free and Quebec has the lowest tuition fees in ALL of Canada.

So regardless of the outcome of the vote, next week I'll be crossing any picket lines there are with my head held up high and I'll be going to my classes. Proud to be a SCAB.