UWindsor Annual Report 2007/2008

Holly Ouellette, a grade 12 student at St. Anne Catholic High School in Lakeshore, said a visit to the University of Windsor was a rewarding experience.

Students at high school forum "I got to be surrounded by people who think about issues and concerns that are important to me," she said. "It was definitely worthwhile."

Ouellette was one of about 200 students from 20 local high schools on campus who attended a day-long forum to discuss issues related to globalization, the environment, consumer culture, fair trade, free trade, and labour. Organized by Teachers for Global Awareness and the University's Centre for Studies in Social Justice, it featured nine workshops—three led by professors from the University, and the rest by student and community activists—on the theme: Shop 'til You Drop: Your Role as a Consumer.

Ouellette's schoolmate, Andrea Bechard, said she was glad that the day proved more inspiring than demoralizing: "It wasn't just all doom and gloom. They offered different solutions to the problems."

Fourth-year communications student Danielle Bédard conducted a session on fair trade. She said she was thrilled with the enthusiasm of attendees.

"We ended up talking about ways they can make a difference," Bédard says. "One of the first ways is thinking about where they spend their money."

Teachers for Global Awareness President Amy Tesolin, a teacher at Walkerville Collegiate Institute, said the forum was able to build on the successes of the previous year's effort, giving students tools to bring activism back to their schools. She added that the help of the Centre for Studies in Social Justice was invaluable.