Last month Director Beyers opined in the Campus Resident that the UBC was rather
like the Austro-Hungarian Empire and that as residents of the UNA we are like
the former citizens of Vienna; somewhat privileged pets living in a gilded
cage. In the same issue resident
Jim Taylor and Director Zhou showered praise on our current from of government,
yet added nothing that actually contradicted Director Beyer’s assessment of the
lack of real, effective, local democracy in the University Neighbourhoods Area.
I essentially agree with Beyer’s comment on the lack of
democracy here in the UNA.
However, I think the more apt analogy is Pinochet’s Chile. Why? First, the Pinochet dictatorship used the façade of the rule
of law to justify its actions (even as they summarily ignored the laws they
enacted).
More to the point, however, was the way in which Pinochet’s
government privatized much of Chile’s resources and used private corporations
to develop key services. Chile
under Pinochet piloted many of the economic measures that are now common:
deregulation of the economy, transfer of state property to the private sector,
the reduction of government services (except for enforcement agencies), and the
transfer of the management of public services to the private sector.
A third parallel involves the systematic silencing of
opposition. Under Pinochet’s rule opposition was silenced in a variety of ways.
The most persistent forms involved silent pressure and constant threats against
individual security. While one would be foolish to say the same thing exists
here at UBC, there is a parallel form of silent pressure that is exerted: the often-mentioned
‘nuclear clause’ in the Neighbours Agreement (see section 15.3-5). The Neighbours Agreement between UBC
and the UNA allows UBC to withdraw at almost any time if they feel the UNA is
not acting appropriately. Lurking
in the background is the constant threat that UBC will pull the plug. UBC, through its permanent appointed
directors, is able to monitor elected Directors. Through a combination of paternalistic reminders and
internal self-censorship, elected Directors are constantly aware that if they
deviate from UBC’s plan the entire UNA edifice may be taken over and any
semblance of autonomy removed.
An enhanced status quo, a la Jim Taylor, might improve some
of the perks Director Beyer suggests UNA residents might enjoy. It is clear
that under Pinochet a so-called economic miracle occurred that benefited large
corporations. The trains ran on
time and, as long as one was quiet, most people were able to live out their
lives relatively unmolested by the state.
I wonder though, is that really the type of society we want to live
within? Are we really willing to
give up democratic rights that people across our country and world have fought
for? Just for a gilded cage of privilege?
I think not. The time is right to move forward on a full
democratic reform of the UNA.
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