By now you've probably seen the image above plastered in your facebook feeds, your campus dailies, or your other local news sources. You may have even seen it on the t-shirts of activists, protesters or those who stand in solidarity against what happened on McGill's campus last week, where riot police were called in to break up a demonstration/occupation and otherwise peaceful protest. The image is so virally affecting because of the power disparity between the two sides. The police with their hard armour, helmets and shields look ready to take out a herd of rhinos. The students look ready to take out library books. Power favours those with the means to enforce it.

The clash is old news now and we apologize for not getting information out sooner (such is the downfall of a volunteer-run blog with limited resources). But we're grateful that one of our readers, Amy, was brave and kind enough to give us her first-hand account of the events of that day (such is the joy of a volunteer-run blog with committed readers). While we're sensitive to the fact that differences of opinions exist, and that the administrators likely had a different perspective of the events of Nov. 10, no reading of the situation should have led to such a display of intimidation and violence by people in positions of authority on a university campus (or on any other public grounds in our fair city). We share Amy's account here in full, and in support those who were hurt and terrified last Thursday. Ongoing coverage of the after-effects can be found here and here

At first, my friend Vivian was a little startled by the loudness of my voice. "Education is a right! We will not give up the fight!" I turned to her and smiled. "I'ma lose my voice today." For the next chant, though, she was just as loud, and as the march of McGill and Concordia students wound its way towards Berri, our voices became bolder, louder, and, eventually, Frencher.

Like about 25,000 others, she and I took to the streets on November 10th to protest the provincial government's decision to raise university tuition, which most estimates suggest will prevent 7,000 students from attending university. The mood was high despite the rain, the students noisy and creative, and the SPVM remarkably restrained. As the march came to its ending point (Charest's office, conveniently across the street from McGill's Roddick Gates), a girl shouted that some students had occupied the fifth floor of McGill's James Administration building . "They need help!"

Jeudi, 16 h. Un orage violent aux airs de déluge frappe le centre-ville de Montréal. Une pensée me vient pour les indignés. Les irréductibles campeurs sauront-ils tenir bon face aux éléments ?

Hier, le mouvement des indignés a gagné plus de 1500 villes dans quelque 70 pays. Montréal fait partie du lot. Le Square Victoria a été pris d'assaut samedi matin par ces manifestants répondant à diverses allégeances politiques. Des tentes se déployaient tandis que ces nouveaux occupants s'apprêtaient à démontrer avec force et pacifisme leur ras-le-bol commun.

By now you've heard the news. By now you've seen the outpouring of love an support. By now you've seen the old high school photos. By now you've seen the evolution of his mustache over the years. By now you've read about his Hudson, QC origins. And by now, you've read his incredibly powerful goodbye letter, written just days before he passed.

After 20 years in Toronto city council, and a near decade of leading the New Democratic Party of Canada, Jack Layton had achieved something most people had deemed impossible in winning the hearts of Quebeckers. And the hardest part is that we knew his best was still to come.

In no way does this article represent Midnight Poutine's or my own political views. Rather it's a post written to show that even though I never voted for the NDP, I have always been a supporter of Jack Layton, our country's last likeable politician.

'My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.'

Goodbye Jack. We were lucky to have you.

Opinion | Last night's leader debate offered no respite from status quo politics amongst Canada's "great" leaders. In true Parliamentary fashion, our current Prime Minister played aloof and superior, while the opposition dealt in fumbling petulance. Layton (NDP) and Duceppe (Bloc), comfortable in their positions as redundant vote-splitters, offered the clearest policies and attacked evenly against Harper (Conservative) and Ignatieff (Liberal). Layton lambasted Ignatieff's pitiful House attendance record, stating that missing work was not a good prerequisite to getting a promotion. Meanwhile, Duceppe clearly outlined Harper's flip-flopping vision of democracy over the years from opposition to leader.

For those of you out there who are students (undergrad, grad, post-grad) or care about tuition increases, some serious shit is going down on Monday. As many as 44,000 students from all over the province will be gathering in Quebec City to protest upcoming tuition increases. You can hitch a ride on one of the many buses heading there Monday morning, or attend simultaneous actions in Montreal.