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Universities open doors

Two Montreal universities, Concordia and Université de Montréal, have announced that they will take in students who were supposed to be studying in Lebanon this fall:

With the largest population of Lebanese-Canadians on their doorstep, Concordia University in Montreal and the University of Montreal have reopened closed application processes to students stranded by the war in the Middle East.

The two Quebec universities say they are fast-tracking applications from students who had planned to attend institutions in Lebanon this fall.

“It’s important that the current generation still have access to education,” said Guy Berthiaume, vice-rector of development and alumni relations at the University of Montreal.

[ . . . ]

Since Friday, Berthiaume said they’ve received more than 100 calls, mostly from local Lebanese-Canadians and many who were recently evacuated from the war-torn region.

The university is waiving tuition for the exchange students and is also raising funds for them.

“They will need money to live, pay rent and buy food,” said Berthiaume.

Meanwhile, an Israeli-Canadian friend of mine is having trouble getting her student loan and bursary application sorted out, because her parents live in Haifa and they can’t send in a bunch of the related paperwork because they’re, you know, living in bomb shelters.

Don’t expect any special treatment or fast-tracking there, though.

{ 4 comments… add one }
  • DaninVan 08.08.06, 4:34 PM

    She could try showing up, in person, in a burqha…

  • John Palubiski 08.08.06, 5:32 PM

    Those crazy “whackademics”.

    Probably think they’re being all heroic and humanitarian by fast-tracking elements of “the resistance”, ya know?

    What better place for failed hezbo….er……”resistance” hitmen to hide out than in the faculties of a western univeristy!

    I’ve three questions I’d love to ask Mr Berthiame:

    1) Was “Mark Lepine” a typical member of “the resistance” or just the offspring of a serial wife-beater or both?

    2)If you’re of the opinion that Lebanon is war-torn, then who’s fault is that?

    3)Why does higher education tend to make one irretrievably stupid?

  • John Palubiski 08.08.06, 5:35 PM

    Eh…..that should be “whose fault” and NOT “who’s fault”.

    Is my B.A. showing, or what!

  • DaninVan 08.08.06, 10:12 PM

    !!!…I certainly hope not, this is a family show.

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