Brett Derouyn (Writing student)
“It would depend on if there’s a platform from UVic Pride already about what they’re going do with the money. I haven’t heard about it obviously so maybe if there was something more forthcoming about their presentation of what they’re gonna do with the money, I would probably be for it.”
Meaghan Allen (Biopsychology student)
“Yeah. Duh. I don’t know a lot about the services that UVic Pride provides to people, but I imagine it’s making sure there’s a safe space for people and making sure that they’re properly equipped with the right resources people need, and they hand out condoms like candy . . . and that’s useful, ya know? . . . Providing good services for whomever needs it and being all-inclusive is really valuable to all students, so it seems like a no-brainer.”
Danielle Ghaney (Social Sciences student)
“I don’t think there’s an issue with that. It’s not a lot of money, and I think it’s for a good cause.”
Nassim Nowshadi (top, Political Science student), Brandon Clarke (bottom, English/History student)
“I’m okay with it, ‘cause I like the reasons why. It depends what it’s for, because I think about how we pay $80 a semester for Vikes Recreation, and I don’t play on Vikes team or go to sports events, and that doesn’t affect me. And this doesn’t affect me either but it affects people I’m friends with and I like. And it’s a small, minimal [increase], and we’re paying a thousand times that for things I don’t even care about.”
“I’m very uneducated about it . . . On the surface, [it bothers me,] but looking at it more in depth, not a whole lot.”
Shym Singh (Women’s Studies student):
“Speaking for myself, I’m more than happy to [support it]. I have some idea of Prides’ track record and all the things they do for students over and above health services. The way they’re able to refer students to other services on campuses, the events they put together . . . I’m more than happy to pay the 74 cent increase.”
Tessa Munro, nurse:
“I think it’s really important. I think money going towards all the advocacy groups is incredibly important. They do really good work . . . it’s a space for students to come together and build community and I think that’s really important.”
Editor’s note: Singh and Munro chose not to be photographed.
