Student leaders boycott degree for Inco boss
Published by MAC on 2005-10-27
Student leaders boycott degree for Inco boss
October 27, 2005
One of MAC's editors - and a graduate in environmental science at St John's Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada - has put together the following report on protests against Inco last month when the company's CEO got an honorary degree.
The Memorial University Students' Union and the Graduate Students' Union boycotted the fall (autumn) convocation last week because of the awarding of a honourary degree to Inco CEO Scott Hand. Hand was booed by students when he got up to speak while other students walked out. A student refused to shake the university president's hand in protest.
Television, radio and Internet media covered the protests and convocation controversy. Student activists with the Society for Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility (CESR) handed out hundreds of Inco degrees to attendees of the ceremony. A campaign 'No More Silence, Dr. Meisen' targeting the university's administration to take a stance on Inco's abuses is underway.