news // 4 theotherpress.ca Russia temporarily ousted to form new G7 » Leaders of the world taking off in a new direction = Aidan Mouellic Staff Writer Aver 24, the G8 as been temporarily reduced to seven following the suspension of Russia. Due to Russia’s continuing issues with Crimea, world leaders voted on what could be presented as a warning. In addition, the 2014 G8 summit, which was to be held in Sochi in June, has been moved to Brussels. The ousting of Russia is a direct result ofthe country’s role in the overtaking of the Crimean peninsula, which has been part of Ukraine for over 50 years. After the vote to remove Russia from the G8, the White House released a statement: the acquisition of part or all of another state’s territory through coercion or force. To do : so violates the principles upon : which the international system : is built.” The statement went : onto say that the US, “[con- : demns] the illegal referendum : held in Crimea in violation : of Ukraine’s constitution.” General public reaction in “G8 is an informal organization that does not give out any : membership cards and, by : its definition, cannot remove : anyone. All the economic and : financial questions are decided : in G2o, and G8 has the purpose : of existence as the forum of : dialogue between the leading : Western countries and Russia.” Lavrov went on to say that, “we don’t seea : great misfortune.” “International law prohibits : Despite being removed from the G8, Russia was : only added in 1998 by the : other nations; compared : tothe others in the G8, : Russia was the newcomer. The US and other western : nations have taken to utilizing : their soft power resources to : inflict damage to Russia during : the crisis in Ukraine. The US : : and other nations have begun : Russia towards the vote appears : : to be that of disregard. Russian : Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov : said ina public announcement, to prepare possible economic : sanctions upon for Russia. : Democratic and Republican : lawmakers are also voicing their : desires to provide light arms to : the Ukrainian resistance forces. : Reports have said that as many ; aS 20,000 Russian military : personnelare stationed along : the Ukrainian border ready : toinvade at Putin’s notice. Efforts to isolate and weaken Russia are mounting : as the world continues to cry : foul at Russia’s tactics in the ; Crimean peninsula. With : its seat in the G8 suspended : and possible sanctions on the : horizon, time will tell what the pressure will do to President : Putin and his political allies. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov // By Sergey Ponomarev New law school in British Columbia stirs controversy, pushback from Ontario Darko Milenkovic, Contributor (The Lance) he soon-to-be first Christian! law school in Canada is drawing the attention of law faculties across the country with : its controversial requirement that students sign a contract saying they will uphold the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, prohibiting members of the LGBTQ community from entering the law program. The discriminatory community covenant, acontract : that must be signed by all students at Trinity Western University (TWU) in Langley, BC, has caused some law schools to take a stand before the first Juris Doctor students are accepted to the new program in 2016. Katelyn Scorer, a second- year law student from the University of Windsor, said agreements such as TWU’s mean members of the LGBTQ community are denied equal opportunities for education. “It creates a quota system in Canada wherein heterosexual individuals have more opportunity at legal education than non-heterosexual individuals,” said Scorer. “I identify as a lesbian; so, I have less opportunity of law school a MMi) options than heterosexual : students.” [WU received conditional : approval for its proposed law program from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada : Approval Committee and from : the provincial government in BC. : : submissions from people and institutions either supporting or ! : opposing TWU. : The university has stood by their covenant, defending what : they say is religious freedom, : but their covenant has already: : begun to receive pushback from : : across the country. It is up to each individual : province to decide on the : accreditation of TWU’s School : of Law graduates. The Law : Society of Upper Canada (LSUC), representing Ontario, has accepted over 300 online The Faculty Council at Windsor Law, the law school : the approach... : Western doesn't have the right : at the University of Windsor, : recently voiced its disapproval : of the contract, passing a : motion to ask the LSUC to : withhold accreditation of : graduates from Trinity Western : until changes are made. Scorer wrote the motion : and presented it. “The motion] is not taking : to opena law school,” said : Scorer. “Our approach is more : that they have the right—we : accept and support religious : freedom—however, we do not : support discrimination and : that’s what [TWU’s] community : covenant clauses do. “TWU based it off a 2001 : case where they won and were : allowed to open a teachers : college. However... you have to : consider the social context of 4 : that time. It’s been over a decade @ : and social context has changed. s : The fight for equality for LGBTQ : individuals has progressed.” Mike Maher, vice-president of the Student Law Society _ } (SLS) at UWindsor said the » } covenant could not be justified. “Regardless of the intent : of Trinity Western in including : the discriminatory clauses, : the effect is discriminatory,” : said Maher. “No matter which By Travis Fauteux : way you attempt to justify the : community covenant, it gives : reduced access to law school : seats for LGBTQ applicants.” “Not giving credit to TWU : degrees is the only way that the : LSUC can meaningfully address : the discrimination inherent in : the community covenant,” said : Maher. LSUC will meet on April of saying Trinity ; 1° and April 24 to determine : Ontario’s response.