On January 31, 2012, URSU's Board of Directors was informed that Melissa Blackhurst, VPSA, had requested a Leave of Absence that was agreed to by her fellow Executive. Although the Board was not informed of the specific reason for the Leave of Absence at the time, it was dueto a DUI charge related to a traffic accident in which she was involved in December. The accident happened off campus, and Blackhurst was not acting in any official capacity for URSU, or the University, nor was she travelling to or from the University, nor to a University or URSU event. No one was injured in the accident, except Blackhurst, who sustained a leg injury.
Blackhurst was instructed by her lawyer not to inform her employer of the charge until there was an outcome in the proceedings, and everyone is still awaiting that outcome. Prior to the outcome it became clear that members of the public and URSU had learned of the charges, and so Blackhurst felt compelled to make URSU's Executive and later Management aware of the situation, and the details around it.
Based on discussions over the last several days of January, Blackhurst and the rest of URSU’s Executive agreed that it would be best for her to take a Leave of Absence until there was an outcome in the proceedings. That outcome would inform what URSU's and Blackhurst's course of action would be. This was expected to be in mid-February, meaning she would be available to return on Tuesday, February 21. Delays in the proceedings have made it unlikely that we will know the outcome by then. While on Leave of Absence her duties are being done by URSU's remaining Executive and Board of Directors. Blackhurst’s Leave of Absence is with pay.
The Board of Directors met again on February 14th, 2012, and at that time was informed of the details around Blackhurst's Leave of Absence. Currently, Blackhurst and URSU’s Board of Directors have agreed not to extend her Leave, meaning that the date of her return will be February 21, 2012. The Board felt comfortable with Blackhurst returning to work to meet the duties of her position without putting any further burden on the other Executive and Board. The outcome of her charge remains pending.
URSU in no way condones drinking and driving. Upon her return, Blackhurst has taken the initiative to help the organization with the promotion of sober driving, and we feel a particular obligation in this regard because of The Owl.
If any further action on the matter is required, it will be determined by the Board of Directors.
For more information please contact Neil Petrich, URSU Communications Coordinator, at 586.8811 ext. 216 or email communications@ursu.ca.
During its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, February 8th, the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) passed a motion to join student organizations to support Palestinian rights. Although the motion touches on a contentious and controversial issue, the decision was made democratically and in accordance with the URSU procedures.
The motion was brought forward by a student, and was seconded, before members were invited to speak on the motion. After speakers, for and against the motion, were heard, a vote was taken, which resulted in a near unanimous decision to pass the motion.
On Tuesday February 7th at 1 p.m. in the RIC Atrium, come join the fight
against cancer!
For the first time, the Canadian Cancer Society is bringing its
signature event, Relay For Life to a post-secondary setting in Regina.
University of Regina students, staff and faculty will hold a launch for
the event on Tuesday February 7th at 1 p.m. in the RIC Atrium at the
University. President Timmons will be speaking at the launch.
"Hosting a Relay For Life event on our campus speaks volumes about the
University of Regina and its engagement with the larger community," says
Vianne Timmons, University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor and
Honourary Chair of the event. "Nearly everyone on our campus has been
affected by cancer in some way, and I'm so proud that our students are
leading this event to support the Canadian Cancer Society and honour the
battles others have fought against this disease."
Relay For Life is more than just a fundraising event. It’s a global
movement that brings together more than 200,000 people throughout Canada
each year. This inspiring event involves people who participate in a 12
hour, overnight, non-competitive relay. It’s a night to celebrate
cancer survivors, honor and remember loved ones, and a way for each of
us to fight back against cancer. On April 27th, the night of the event,
teams of 12-15 students, faculty, alumni, friends and family will join
together for an unforgettable 12 hour overnight journey.
Jared Wolfe is a 2nd year student and co-chair of the event. He’s
also a volunteer with the Society who has been touched by cancer. In
2010 his father was diagnosed with an advanced stage of colon cancer.
After surgery and months of treatment, the 53 year old was declared
cancer free this past November. “I’m involved in this project
because I know the money raised will go toward finding better treatments
and supporting those who are going through what my family has
experienced,” said Wolfe.
Wolfe says students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to find
out how to get involved with this amazing event and can also purchase
luminaries at the U of R Relay for Life launch. They’ll also be
selling Valentine’s cards to raise money and encouraging people to
participate. “Relay For Life is a great opportunity for the U of R
community to hang out with friends, listen to some great entertainment,
and at the same time raise money for a disease that affects so many
families in this province.”
The U of R Relay for Life event is being held at the University of
Regina on April 27th at 7pm until 7am (on the 28th) at Gym 3 at the
University.
For students, faculty and staff who can't attend the launch on Tuesday
and want more information, please contact us or visit our website:
Mitch and Jared
Leadership Chairs
Relay For Life at the University of Regina uofrrelay@gmail.com
On Wednesday, February 1, the University of Regina campus was filled with the sounds of students making their voices heard during the National Day of Action as they went ALL OUT on FEB.1. The University of Regina Students’ Union (CFS Local 9) and the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) Students Association (CFS Local 90) joined together as they called on the government to reduce tuition fees and remove the two per cent cap on the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP).
“In Saskatchewan, tuition has gone up by 200 per cent in the last two decades, far outpacing anything else we have to pay,” said URSU President Kent Peterson. “Students are getting further and further behind. Student debt is at an all-time high, it’s a huge issue and it’s actually making [post-secondary education] inaccessible.”
The event began with a march through the halls of campus, led by Cadmus Delorme, president of the FNUniv Students Association, who encouraged all students to join the movement. “If you think aboriginal students get a free ride when it comes to education, then I’m sorry, but you are mistaken,” he said, adding that nearly 1000 First Nations students in Saskatchewan were denied funding in the last year.
Students and supporters gathered outside FNUniv to hear guest speakers and made their voices stronger. As a fog began to settle, the crowd began to rally and their message was clear: “Education is a right— we will not give up the fight!”
Those in Regina were joined by students across the country, as they came together to pressure provincial and federal government to focus on Post-Secondary Education. Although each province had demands specific to their regions, their aim was the same: make post-secondary education more affordable and accessible for everyone.
“If we make enough noise today, we’re going to make the federal government rethink what they’re trying to do to our Post-Secondary Education,” said FNUniv student Daphne Kay. “[This day is] for all students, not just aboriginal students.”
On January 19th, students at University of Regina voted in favour of a dedicated fee for the UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity. Out of all valid votes cast, 86% were in favour of the funding, with 14% voting 'No'. Students were asked to cast their vote regarding the following question:
“Do you support a dedicated fee of $1.00 per full-time student per semester and $0.50 per part-time student per semester for UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, with the ability for students to opt out of paying the fee in the dedicated opt-out period?”
The affirmative (Yes) position was represented by:UR Pride Centre and the opposing (No) position was represented by:Unopposed.
The Campaigning Period for the referendum began on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. and ended at Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
The polling period for the referendum ran from 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 19, 2012 until 9 p.m. the same day.
The University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) is looking for poll clerks for the UR PRIDE funding referendum, taking place Thursday, January 19th. The available shifts are for 9 am to 1 pm on Thursday and the wage is $10 an hour.
Students who are interested may contact Kathleen Wilson, the Chief Returning Officer at cro@ursu.ca.
With help from BetterWorldBooks, the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) collects used books to be donated or recycled. The aim of this partnership is to reduce the negative impact we have on the environment while also providing students with educational materials at a reduced rate. Occasionally, URSU receives a report outlining the environmental conversation resulting from the program for a particular period of time. Below you will find a link to the report from our most recent shipment to BetterWorldBooks:
I recently returned from Gatineau, QC site of the 30th Annual General Meeting for the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), a gathering of student unions from across the country. I was joined by the URSU (Local 9) Executive and delegates from the First Nations University of Canada (Local 90). The week-long conference included seminars, workshops, and committee meetings; where students, staff, and elected executives discussed ways to achieve change for the betterment of students everywhere.
As someone who never paid attention to Student Politics when I was an undergraduate, I was moved by the passion and conviction showed by all the delegates who chose to speak. Every conversation was a chance to improve the situation of students and every interaction made those voices stronger.
Even the social events provided the opportunity to discuss issues at other campuses, thereby learning from the experiences of others and finding possible solutions to our own problems. Meal times could quickly become planning/review meetings for your own Local or an opportunity to network with another Local from a different part of the country.
As a heterosexual male (who's whiter than winter), I never felt unwanted in, or excluded from, any of the Constituency meetings, which focused on issues surrounding marginalized students like those from the LGBQT* community; those living with disabilities; or those of Aboriginal decent. Participating in the International Students Constituency helped me see barriers faced by students from overseas other than language (health care, transit, higher fees). One of my suggestions was even repeated by the constituency chair Kimalee Phillip during Closing Plenary (final meeting of the conference), which made me feel like I contributed and that those contributions were heard.
Along with planning for the National Day of Action (ALL OUT – FEB. 1), there were four Sub-Committees at the AGM. Here delegates decided what motions to bring to the National Executive at Closing Plenary, the areas were: Budget, Campaigns, Operations and Policy. I sat on the Policy Sub-Committee, where the changing of one word in one sentence could lead to hours of debate, and I was thankful for the experience (and coffee). At first the debate was frustrating but then I realized why it was necessary: policy affects the actions of the CFS, and its Locals, and each word can have a profound effect on how that action is carried out. Not only were we discussing the merits of each motion and amendment but also the impact it would have on members, media, university administration and the government. Sentences had to be general enough to include everyone’s interests while being specific enough that when expressed there was little room for misinterpretation.
To see people spend hours defending the inclusion of a word or statement showed me the extent they will go to defend their rights and the rights of other students. If someone ever feels like their voice is not being represented or is going unheard, they should attend a policy meeting, or other sub-committee, where they will see all the effort that goes in before the slogans are even selected and the first button is pressed.
It's your voices that I and the URSU Executive want to hear as we plan the Saskatchewan part of the February 1 National Day of Action. Sharing stories of success and failure will allow us to inform and inspire each other so that in the future our voice will be stronger and more effective. I invite all students to attend the first planning meeting for the campaign, which takes place this Wednesday, November 30th in the Riddell Centre Crush Area (to the right when you use the main entrance).
Have your say and help tell the Saskatchewan side of a global issue with students across Canada. How will you go ALL OUT on FEB. 1?
Neil Petrich
Communications Coordinator,
University of Regina Students' Union
U of R Alumni
*As we determined in the Policy meetings the proper acronym is LGBQTTIQQ2SIAP*, which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/Questioning, 2 Spirited, Asexual/Allies, Pansexual with the * noting those who do not identify with the listed designations. I shortened it for space but felt the need to clarify.
The University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) would like to congratulate the Saskatchewan Party and Premier Brad Wall for winning their second majority government in the 2011 Saskatchewan General Election. The Students' Union looks forward to working with the provincial government and the Official Opposition which will be formed by members of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
During the election, the URSU's 'Our Future is Now' campaign highlighted several issues affecting students, and asked all political parties to implement our specific list of policy requests. Some of the issues that we highlighted were:
The skyrocketing rate of tuition;
The lack of affordable housing;
The need for additional childcare spaces;
Accessibility to post-secondary learning for Aboriginal people
It is the hope of the Students' Union that the Saskatchewan government will address these issues and implement programs or policies that reduce the financial burden on students. Making post-secondary education more affordable and accessible for everyone in the province must be a priority for any current or future governments.
"Lowering tuition fees or having a fully-funded tuition freeze is the quickest way to help students struggling with debt, but there are other options for easing the strain on students' bank accounts," said URSU President Kent Peterson. "Creating more affordable student housing and increasing daycare spots will allow more people to pursue higher education. We support the residence and childcare proposal that the University of Regina submitted to the government in May, and we're waiting for the government to approve the proposal as soon as possible."
REGINA – Today, the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) in coordination with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) launched “After the Freeze: Restoring University Affordability in Saskatchewan”. The report – which provides data on the current state of student debt in Saskatchewan, university funding, tuition fees, housing, childcare, and aboriginal accessibility to post-secondary learning – is a comprehensive study of accessibility to post-secondary education in Saskatchewan.
“The report confirms what many Saskatchewan students already know,” said Kent Peterson, the URSU President, “post-secondary education in this province has become less and less accessible,” he added.
The study found that many costs associated with attending university are on the rise, as well as student debt. “As the report outlines, tuition fees jumped 137 per cent in the 1990s, then 38 per cent from 2000 to 2005, and in the last four years the provincial government has thawed a tuition fee freeze and hiked tuition a further 11 per cent,” said Peterson, “the skyrocketing rate of tuition is contributing to record student debt, and Saskatchewan students have one of the greatest debt burdens in Canada,” he added.
The study found a lack of affordable housing and childcare spaces in Regina, as well as high costs for both. Since 2006, average rent in Regina has increased 43 per cent while the vacancy rate continues to be at, or below, one per cent.
“An issue identified in the study is the destitute lack of childcare spaces for University of Regina students,” said Peterson, “10 per cent of U of R students have young children, yet the wait list for a space at the university is over 400 families long – which would take approximately three years,” he added.
The study found the gap of university completion between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people is growing every year, and identified the arbitrary two per cent cap on the Post-secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) as a main source for the deterioration of First Nations education.
“This should be one final nudge for politicians to make post-secondary education a real priority in this election,” said Peterson, “the students' union has been running a campaign called Our Future is Now, which deals directly with many of the issues raised in this report – it's time that all political parties commit to implementing the recommendations we have made,” he added.
Ottawa— Saskatchewan Students are in Ottawa this week meeting with Members of Parliament and Senators to call for a high-quality and accessible system of post-secondary education in Saskatchewan and across the country. Students are in Ottawa as part of the Canadian Federation of Students' lobby week.
“The situation students are facing is becoming more and more unfair every year,” said Haanim Nur, Saskatchewan Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “We will be asking the government to take concrete action to ensure better access to high-quality post-secondary education for students across Canada.”
According to Statistics Canada, in Saskatchewan the average undergraduate tuition fees are $5,600, with graduate tuition fees at $3,504. Over the last three years, undergraduate and graduate students have faced tuition fee increases of 11% and 14% respectively.
On Monday October 24, the Canadian Federation of Students released a policy paper entitled Public Education for the Public Good, a national vision for Canada's Post-Secondary Education System. The policy paper contains five recommendations, the centerpiece being a postsecondary education act that sets out a national vision for post-secondary education.
“Students in Saskatchewan are paying higher fees and taking on more education-related debt than any previous generation,” added Nur. “Students are calling on the federal government to take meaningful steps to reduce tuition fees and eliminate student debt.”
Public Education for the Public Good is available for download at www.cfs-fcee.ca. Students will also be updating the website with tweets, photos, and videos throughout the week.
The Canadian Federation of Students represents students at the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan and more than one-half million students in all ten provinces. The Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations have represented students in Canada since 1927.
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For more information, please contact:
Haanim Nur, Saskatchewan Chairperson: (306) 351-8972
Alanna Makinson, Prairies Organiser: (306) 209-7304
REGINA – Today, political parties presented several education-related planks in their platforms as part of the provincial election campaign. The Saskatchewan Party announced two programs intended to alleviate some of the financial burden facing students attending or planning to attend a post-secondary institution — the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship and the Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings. The University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) believes the proposed programs will do little to make post-secondary education more accessible to the people of this province.
The Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship will provide every new Saskatchewan high school graduate with $500 per year, up to a maximum of $2,000 in total, which can be applied to tuition fees at any Saskatchewan post-secondary institution or any recognized training course in the province.
“A program of additional scholarships will not have a detrimental effect on post-secondary affordability,” said URSU President Kent Peterson, “but to make it fair for everyone and to encourage prospective students from other provinces to come to Saskatchewan, a tuition fee freeze would be far more beneficial,” he added.
The Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings would work in conjunction with the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) program. The program would attempt to assist parents with saving for their children's education, as a Saskatchewan Party-led government would match 10 per cent of contributions to a child's RESP account, to a maximum of $250 each year.
“Incentives such as government contributions to RESPs simply mean that those who have money to put aside will get more money to put aside,” said Peterson, “if it helps with education costs – that’s great. However, if a family cannot afford to set aside money in the first place this program will not help them whatsoever,” he added.
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party announced that it would eliminate family income and assets being linked to student loan qualifications. URSU welcomes this idea, as not all future or current students share in their family’s wealth. “Many students receive little or no support from parents,” said Peterson, “in fact there are many occasions when students are alienated from their families for one reason or another – a student’s sexual and gender identify being common a one,” he added.
Although the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party did not make any direct promises relating to post-secondary education today, the party previously announced that it would approve and fund the University of Regina’s Residence and Childcare proposal that was submitted in early May of 2011. URSU welcomed this announcement and hope the other parties will follow suit.
REGINA – Today, the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU), Local 9 of the Canadian Federation of Students, officially launched its student-issues campaign. The campaign, titled ‘Our Future is Now’, focuses on four main issues affecting students: the skyrocketing rate of tuition, a lack of affordable housing, the need for additional childcare spaces, and First Nations and Aboriginal accessibility to post-secondary education. Students at the University of Regina will be working with students across the province through the Vote Education campaign, a provincially focused student issues campaigns encouraging students get out and vote based on political parties’ education-related platforms.
“Our number one request is that all political parties in Saskatchewan commit to implementing a fully-funded tuition fee freeze should they be elected to government,” said Kent Peterson, URSU President, Saskatchewan Representative for the Canadian Federation of Students. “We want the freeze to be in place for at least one year, and that will allow the government to consult students on what form a ‘tuition management system’ should take.”
There are critical housing and childcare needs across the province, therefore a number of specific requests were made in those areas. Students are asking that political parties commit to approving the University of Regina’s residence and childcare proposal that was submitted to the Government of Saskatchewan in early May, 2011.
“The residence and childcare proposal that was submitted has been collecting dust on government shelves for far too long,” said Peterson. “It includes an additional 608 residence beds for the University of Regina and an additional 180 childcare spaces that are desperately needed,” he added.
Students are calling on the provincial political parties to commit to lobbying the federal government to remove the 2 per cent cap on the Post-secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) – the federal funding mechanism for status First Nations and Inuit students who attend post-secondary institutions. Students want to see a provincial program created to assist Aboriginal students in the form of grants, as well as increased funding for existing student-support services. Students also want to see a commitment to long-term, sustainable funding for the First Nations University of Canada.
“First Nations and Aboriginal accessibility to post-secondary education is key to our collective future,” said Peterson, “after consulting with Aboriginal leaders and educators we have developed a list of essential requests that political parties must commit to, if they want to make Aboriginal education a priority,” he added.
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For Additional Information, Contact:
Kent Peterson URSU President, 306.570.1855, President@URSU.ca
On September 13th, the Government of Saskatchewan announced plans to build 24 affordable housing units in Regina; the U of R Students' Union (URSU) sees this as a positive move toward providing sufficient living spaces for the province’s population. "We are pleased to see the provincial government increase the number of available houses in the city and we hope this announcement will be followed by further plans that help remedy the lack of affordable housing in the Queen City," said Paige Kezima, URSU VP External. "It is encouraging to see the Provincial Government address the housing needs in this city by providing quality housing to families in need."
The 24 townhouse style units will be located behind Third Avenue North in the Coronation Park area. The project is headed by Silver Sage Housing Corporation, a non-profit housing organization dedicated to housing First Nations people in well-maintained affordable rental units. According to the government’s press release regarding the announcement, these units will be located within walking distance of transit service and amenities such as a grocery store. "The fact that the units are intended for First Nations families shows that the government is looking to help those people who are in the greatest need for stable, affordable housing," said Kezima. "Also, the fact that proposed units will be by transit services and a grocery store, lets us know that the Provincial government is trying to not just build buildings but build communities."
"Projects that plan to convert underused space into adequate and affordable housing will always be welcome," said Kezima. "These types of developments are one the most efficient ways to combat a housing shortage so it would seem that the Saskatchewan Government has started to listen to those who, for years, having been calling on a effective housing strategy."
Kezima concluded that if more developments of similar style were in the works then this announcement is a positive first step, but if not, this will be a case of too little too late. "Other valuable and necessary projects were mentioned in the housing proposal the U of R submitted to the Government in May so it remains to be seen if this project is a result of that work or just a conveniently timed announcement prior to an election."
On Saturday August 20th, U of R students will have the unique opportunity to discuss educational issues with Rathika Sitsabaiesan, the federal critic for Post-Secondary Education (Human Resources and Skills Development) in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet.
The University of Regina Students’ Union (the Union) is pleased to welcome Ms. Sitsabaiesan, MP for Scarborough—Rouge River, and the Union encourages all students to attend. Ms. Sitsabaiesan will be on hand to discuss matters regarding Post-Secondary Education and other topics that affect students’ lives. She will also field questions from students and the media so visitors are invited to come prepared with questions for Ms. Sitsabaiesan.
The informal ‘meet-and-greet’ will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. in the URSU Boardroom (Riddell Centre Room 221).
For more information please contact Paige Kezima, URSU Vice-President External, at external@ursu.ca or call 586.8811 ext. 203
On August 8th, the Saskatchewan Government released their provincial housing strategy. A Strong Foundation – The Housing Strategy for Saskatchewan 2011-12 and the 2011-12 Provincial Action Plan outline key activities during the first year of implementation for the government’s eight-year plan. While the University of Regina Students’ Union (the Union) is pleased to see government acknowledge the province’s housing crisis, the lack of information in the proposal is discouraging, as vague promises do not equal concrete results.
“The lack of specifics makes the proposal seem more like an empty campaign promise than an actual initiative,” said Union President Kent Peterson. “The Saskatchewan Government has had four years to address the housing crisis yet very little has been done to fix the problem.”
The increased funding for the Affordable Home Ownership Program (AHOP) and the Rental Construction Incentive (RCI) program is encouraging as these units could provide students with more residence options. Where and when these units will be built was not specified, so the question of availability remains as there are no assurances that students will benefit from the funding.
The language used in the Government’s proposal fails to provide useful information such as dates or projected costs. “Words like ‘identify’ and ‘investigate’ seem to indicate that the Government’s plan is to develop a plan,” said Peterson. “This proposal seems more like a rhetorical remedy than a solid solution.”
Furthermore, the Union is looking forward to the increased collaboration mentioned in the announcement and hopes it will lead to affordable housing in Regina becoming an actual priority for this government. “We have been very vocal about the need for adequate housing, especially for students, so we welcome the chance to work with the Saskatchewan Government to address the issue,” said Peterson. “That being said, in early May the University of Regina submitted a residence and childcare proposal to the government and we are still waiting for a response.”
For further information please contact Kent Peterson, University of Regina Students’ Union President, by emailing president@ursu.caor calling 586-8811 ext. 206.
The University of Regina Students' Union is accepting applications for the position of Assistant General Manager. Interested parties should apply online by following this link, if there are any questions please contact General Manager Mike Staines at gm@ursu.ca.
On July 11, the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) Board of Directors approved a budget they see as positive, fair, and balanced. Total revenues are budgeted at $4,070,243.79, with total budgeted expenses at $4,040,693.23. This leaves a surplus of $29,550.55, or 0.73% of total revenue.
Below are some highlights of the budget, for more please visit President Kent Peterson's URSU blog post here.
· No free classes for URU President and Vice-Presidents (URSU executive), saving students $7,500
· No discounts on food and alcohol for the URSU executive at the Owl, saving nearly $2,000
· Student Sponsorship budget increased from $25,000 to $30,000
· President's Advisory Council (PAC) funding, which goes to student society groups, increased from $55,000 to $67, 600
· Funding for Social Issues Campaigns increased to over $8,000, in the previous two years $300 was spent on Social Issues Campaigns.
The total budgeted expenses was previously stated as $4,404,693.23, this was incorrect and has been revised to the correct total of $4,040,693.23.
Kevin Bishop, a Master of Fine Arts student at the University of Saskatchewan had 12 original prints and copies (72 editions) stolen from the Print Making Studio. He was preparing for his show in the fall. This is a major theft and as one can imagine, very disheartening for Kevin. He wants the work returned and in order to have that happen lots of people need to keep their eye out for the prints! Kevin asks that whomever stole the works return them to the Art & Art History Department of the University of Saskatchewan (Murray Building, 3 Campus Drive, Saskatoon SK S7N 5A4). Click here for images of the artwork along with more contact info.
With the need for childcare spaces increasing at the University of Regina (U of R) campus, the University of Regina Students' Union (The Union) urges the Government of Saskatchewan to approve a recent proposal put forth by the U of R. Following an article published by the Leader-Post on June 2, the Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration, Rob Norris, said the government is reviewing a proposal submitted by the University of Regina for a new residence.
"We at URSU implore the government to take this proposal, and the issues it addresses, seriously," said Union President Kent Peterson. "If approved the new residence would house hundreds of additional students, which is especially needed considering the context of Regina's current affordable housing crisis."
The proposal also includes the creation of 180 new childcare spaces. Present waiting lists at the university's childcare centres include 700 names —some that have been waiting since 2008— adding stress to an already strained system.
"To make matters worse," Peterson said, "on May 16 the provincial government announced the allocation of new childcare spaces, and absolutely zero went to the City of Regina, including the university."
"We see a rising need for more spaces, and much more needs to be done. Single-parents, families, graduate students, and many other students, including those enrolled at the First Nations University of Canada, depend on affordable childcare to start or continue their studies," he added.
The Union believes it is irresponsible for a province as rich as Saskatchewan to deny the University of Regina's proposal, and urges the government to accept said proposal as soon as possible.
The University of Regina Students' Union (the Union) is pleased with the Provincial Government’s recent announcement that minimum wage will be increasing in Saskatchewan to $9.50. The Union is thankful that the provincial government is supporting those workers who make minimum wage as many of them are post-secondary students.
“It is encouraging to see that the provincial government is concerned for the economic well-being of those entering the job market for the first time or those who juggle multiple jobs,” said Paige Kezima, VP External for the Union. “Many University of Regina students have jobs in the service industry or other sectors that make mostly minimum wage, this increase will help alleviate some of the financial burdens facing students, such as ever-increasing tuition and rent.”
Effective September 1, minimum wage will increase from $9.25 to $9.50 per hour, which results in a corresponding increase to the minimum call-out pay bringing it to $28.50. The 2.7 per cent increase is in response an average of the 1.4 per cent average increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the 4.0 per cent increase in the Average Hourly Wage (AHW).
Yesterday the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) criticized the provincial government for ignoring the University of Regina’s acute need for additional childcare spaces. According to a government news release, zero new childcare spaces out of a total of 513 will be allocated to the University of Regina. “This is a complete oversight on the part of the provincial government,” said Union President Kent Peterson, “the students of the University of Regina are in desperate need of additional childcare spaces, but today they were completely forgotten about by the government,” he added.
The Government of Saskatchewan has allocated up to 110 new childcare spaces to the University of Saskatchewan, and Minister Rob Norris said the government “wants to ensure that our post-secondary students are supported in their studies.” However, the government’s actions do not match its rhetoric. “This latest slight to the University of Regina, including the First Nations University of Canada, is just the latest in a pattern of decisions by the minister that disproportionately benefit the University of Saskatchewan over the University of Regina,” said Peterson, “it is unfortunate that the minister continually forgets that Saskatchewan has two universities, and that they must be treated with fairness,” he added.
Currently the childcare wait list at the University of Regina is over 700, some of which date back to September of 2008. Furthermore, there are only five existing spaces for children classified as toddlers, and zero spaces available for infants. The University of Regina childcare centres also have serious physical space constraints, potentially prohibiting its ability to increase service. “If physical space is the issue it should have been addressed a number of years ago,” said Peterson, “it also does not explain why the entire City of Regina was left out of any new childcare spaces,” he added.
To read the release from the Government of Saskatchewan click here.
For additional information, contact:
Kent Peterson
President, University of Regina Students’ Union
Office: (306) 586-8811 ext 206
Cell: (306) 570-1855
Email: President@URSU.ca
Recognizing the important contributions made to students by the UR Pride Centre, the University of Regina Students’ Union board of directors voted to give the centre an additional $3200 for specific programming initiatives. "At the meeting last night nearly all of the union’s directors voted to financially support the upcoming Canadian University Queer Services Conference (CUQSC), as well as the implementation of the Positive Space Network," said Union President Kent Peterson.
The UR Pride Centre will be hosting the 2012 CUQSC, a nation-wide gathering of representatives from many different universities. “We are so delighted to have CUQSC coming to Regina next year. Even the chance to host such a large event is testament to the hard work that is being done every day by the UR Pride Centre — students of this university are lucky to have such an active and significant centre,” said Peterson.
Part of the resources allocated will go towards implementing the Positive Space Network (PSN). This initiative, which is spearheaded by the UR Pride Centre, aims to educate individuals, groups, and organizations on issues surrounding gender identity and sensitivities. Positive space is an initiative to bring visibility to positive spaces on campus and to assure all members of this university that those that display the PSN mark have attended sensitivity workshops and training. This ensures that when help is needed, students know what to expect in a PSN environment. “The University of Regina is one of the last universities in the entire country to have a positive space network — that fact is shameful. Luckily for us we have an URSU board and a UR Pride Centre that is willing to take leadership on this matter and make it as easy to implement as possible,” said Peterson.
The University of Regina Students’ Union (the Union) is displeased to witness yet another tuition hike. Recently the U of R announced a balanced operating budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year; the budget includes a three per cent jump in tuition.
“Combined with the rising cost of living, higher tuition greatly increases the financial burden that is already too heavy for many students,” said Paige Kezima, VP External for the Union. “This regrettable scenario is forcing some students to put their education in jeopardy by finding numerous jobs, or even abandoning university altogether in order to pay rent and other expenses.”
“If the price of post-secondary education continues to sky-rocket, more students will have to change their career plans because they cannot afford schooling,” Kezima said. “How can people be expected to graduate and benefit from Saskatchewan’s current ‘boom’ if their education squeezes more money from their bank account every year?”
“How is it justified to have consecutive tuition hikes, given our province’s current economic situation? There was a three per cent increase in 2009, followed by five per cent in 2010 and now three per cent in 2011 — why are students being excluded from the Saskatchewan Advantage?” asked Kezima.
There will be no increase in tuition for graduate business courses but other graduate courses will see tuition fee increases ranging from three per cent to eight per cent. According to the most recent Statistics Canada data, Saskatchewan students pay the fourth highest tuition in the country, with a provincial average of $5,431. Currently a typical U of R student pays $4,410 in tuition, along with other course fees that can reach up to $931 for the school year.
“When you compare the need for food and shelter to the desire to get a degree, most people will choose the former for obvious reasons,” added Kezima. “We feel the choice should not have to be made between life and learning — education is a right, not a privilege.”
Students' Union recognizes and respects the efforts of Canada's nurses
All across this province and Canada, nurses are making a difference in the lives of those who are hurt or healing. These selfless individuals comfort the young and the old, calm the anxious and confront human suffering on a daily basis. The University of Regina Students’ Union (the Union), in celebrating National Nursing Week (May 9-15), wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the work done by nurses.
“Nurses are at their best, when others are at their worst,” said Kent Peterson, the Union President. “They can take a person who is at their lowest, physically or emotionally, and give them support, even if it’s just a smile, and that shows the best aspects of human nature — charity and compassion. Nurses give their time and energy but also themselves; they don’t just administer medication, they give us the help we need to heal.”
“This year’s theme, Nursing – the health of our nation, reflects the positive impacts our nurses and our profession have on the lives of every citizen, and the cumulative effects of those impacts toward building a healthy society,” said Judith Shamian, President of the Canadian Nursing Association, in a open letter. “It also speaks to the important advocacy work that nurses carry out in the public interest: spearheading action on patient safety and disease prevention, promoting healthy lifestyles, and working to address health and social inequities.”
“May 12th is an especially significant day as it not only marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale, but is also International Nurses Day,” said Shamian. “Closing the gap: Increasing access and equity, the theme for 2011, underscores the commitment of nurses globally to promote social justice and health equity, and to address social, environmental and economic determinants of health.”
In the spirit of maintaining high-quality health care for Canadians, the Union is looking forward to the new Faculty of Nursing program at the U of R, and is excited to be representing future nurses. “We are proud that the U of R can have a hand in teaching the next generation of nurses and we are honoured to have a part in ensuring the health care of those who need it now and those who will need it down the road,” said Peterson.
University of Regina student Andrew Konoff was recently announced as the Saskatchewanderer, and as such is currently travelling Saskatchewan to show off everything this province has to offer. The contest, put on by the Saskatchewan Government's Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, involved video submissions that were narrowed down to a handful of candidates that were then voted on by the public. The winner will trek across the province visiting different attractions, locales, or events while sharing their experiences through Facebook, Twitter and a video blog.
Konoff got the most votes by demonstrating his ability and likeability — not only is he adept at social media but his videos showed his wit, wisdom and ‘Where to next?’ attitude. The stage actor, event planner and all round nice guy took a break from the Saskatchewan sights to answer a few questions.
When did you know Saskatchewanderer was for you?
The moment someone sent me the link, I knew. The ideas started flowing. That same night I sat down with some friends and hashed out some ideas for the first videos, and the rest is history.
When you first heard you won the contest, what was your reaction?
I think I screamed. I was actually going to record my reaction, but totally forgot to because I was just too excited. After running around the house a bit, I calmed down and had to keep studying – I had a final that afternoon for a class on James Joyce. That was tough to pay attention to.
What aspect of Saskatchewan will you focus on: the cultural and sporting events, the food, the landscape, or the people?
All of it! And not just because I'm with the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport. There are things in Saskatchewan in each of those areas that deserve to be showcased and given a new audience. Saskatchewan is famous for lots already – but I'm out to show the world a side that has barely been seen. There are other music festivals than Craven; there's more to our sports than the Riders; there's more to our landscape than the big cities and the flatlands that you'll see on the main highways.
A lot of the position revolves around using social media, what’s the most effective way you can use social media to share Saskatchewan with the world?
Most important for me – especially since I'll be travelling to plenty of places I've never been to – is being able to ask my Twitter and Facebook followers what's worth checking out in a given area. Once I have a bit of a schedule, I can start to ask specific questions: What trails should I do in Cypress Hills? What should I have for lunch in Saskatoon? As I speak, I'm actually quite stuffed thanks to a recommendation made on Twitter that I get a burger at the Broadway Café.
What undiscovered or unknown element of this province do you hope to shed more light on?
I have to choose just one? That's tricky. Well, I think it's more of an attitude that I hope to shed light on. Saskatchewan is exactly what you make it, and I hope to show that with the right people, some unbelievable things can and do happen. I'd love to go sandboarding in some of our sand hills – hardly anyone knows about those! We have world-class wakeboarders and kiteboarders too: they use land that is easy to take for granted, and use it for a really cool purpose. And it's not just sports that do innovative things in Saskatchewan. It's everywhere, and if you follow along this summer you'll start to see what I mean.
What events or activities are you most excited about? What part of the job are you looking forward to the most?
I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie and a foodie – not in combination, though. I'd love to try some new extreme sports, and I hope to get to as many food festivals and hog roasts and so on as I can. There are also some really big events that I still have not had a chance to check out, like the Saskatoon Jazz Fest, Ness Creek Music Fest, and Taste of Saskatchewan.
In 2010, you participated in the Mongol Rally as a member of team Saskatchistan, how do you think that experience will help you be the Saskatchewanderer?
When you're stuck somewhere in the Kazakh desert, you ask local people for help. That's the main lesson I learned, and it was responsible for 100% of the fun I had on the Rally. I think I'll be doing exactly that as the Saskatchewanderer, and so far, asking people what I should check out has been awesome.
Besides being an enthusiastic and well-spoken individual, what other parts of your personality do you think make you an ideal Saskatchewanderer?
Thanks! Well, I guess I like to learn more about everything I encounter. Unfortunately, I can't always go into as much depth as I'd like, so it has been a bit tough so far – my boss will tell me that I should shoot a two minute video for a particular place, and then I'll get carried away while filming and end up with enough footage for a five minute vid. I'm learning tons, though, and I'm thrilled that I can
Is there a motto or a mantra that sums up your attitude towards travelling? How will that apply to being the Saskatchewanderer?
I figure that travelling is most fun when you actually throw yourself into a situation that will challenge you. Maybe I could plan out every detail of this summer from behind my desk, but the real great parts happen only when you keep your plans open enough for them to show up.
Obviously you have some kind of schedule or itinerary to stick to, but are you excited about the possible people and things you’ll find when you’re not even looking for them? You know, those random moments or events that make the trip unique and worth remembering…
Exactly! I'll be planning a couple things a day, but the whole point is to find the neat little unexpected things along the way, so I hope to have enough lee-way to get talking to people, and to find out what they think is worth checking out.
The executive of the University of Regina Students’ Union supports the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) and its members as they seek a fair deal from the provincial government. Union President, Kent Peterson, and Vice-President of External Affairs, Paige Kezima, attended today’s rally at the Legislature to join in solidarity with Saskatchewan teachers. “Many of our members are in the University of Regina’s world-class education program, so we have an obligation to ensure teachers are respected, valued, and presented with a fair collective agreement,” said Peterson.
This is the first time in over 75 years that there has been a province-wide teacher work stoppage. Although potentially inconvenient for some families, the Union President believes today’s one-day strike is important for the overall health of the education system. “It is important to remember that many of our members are also parents. Those individuals will have a vested interest in ensuring their children experience the best education possible,” said Peterson, “we have a responsibility to stand united for the education rights of our members’ children, and hopefully those students will be able to go on and become University of Regina students, and our union members,” he added.
The Union’s constitution states that the organization is committed to representing the educational interests of its members, and that it shall also promote and develop the social, economic, and cultural interests of its members. The President of the Union is the official spokesperson for the organization, and oversees its public relations.
Students of all political palettes came together April 20, speaking as one they expressed their love for our country and, more importantly, the freedom Canada offers its citizens. Draped in the colours of the Canadian flag and covered in maple leaf memorabilia, University of Regina students organized a Vote Mob (learn more here) through the hallways of campus and onto the Dr. Lloyd Barber Academic Green, where the gung-ho group spelled out ‘VOTE’— a living symbol of their commitment to attack apathy and influence the future of their country.
The event was organized by the group Regina Youth Vote and was part of a movement gaining momentum as the 2011 federal election heats up. The involved and informed U of R students are among thousands across Canada who are seizing the attention of media and politicians, making their presence felt and showing the world how an idea can ignite the power of the people. The agenda was simple: let young people know the importance their vote carries.
Motivated by Rick Mercer’s rants or just sick of the status quo, Vote Mob members put their preferred party to the side and embraced the banner of the youth. With spirits high and voices strong, these inspired individuals sent a message that will be felt by peers and heard for years.
See pictures from the Vote Mob on URSU's facebook page here and see video from the event on YOURblog.
URSU is seeking candidates to fill the position of Assistant General Manager. Details of the position can be found at ReginaJobShop.ca or by clicking here. Please apply through the website rather than in person.
In accordance with a motion passed on February 17th at the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) Annual General Meeting (AGM), URSU has published the total costs incurred for the Local 9 referendum on continued membership with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). The total costs of Administrative, Legal, Campaign personnel and material was $64,002.13. Further details will be available in URSU’s year-end financial report.
The following is the motion passed at the URSU AGM:
“Whereas the accountability and transparency of the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) is important for members; and
Whereas the only expense of the Canadian Federation of Students' referendum that has been disclosed has been the $3,000 towards campaign materials; and
Whereas the CFS referendum costs should be known to all URSU members
Be it resolved that URSU disclose all expenses incurred pursuing defederation from the CFS; and
Be it further resolved that these expenses be posted on the URSU website April 15; and
Be it further resolved that these expenses include the pseudo-referendum in early 2010 as well as the referendum in late 2010, staffing costs, legal expenses, and all campaign and advertising materials.”
URSU urges the CFS to follow suit by disclosing their expense amounts from the Local 9 referendum.
On Tuesday, April 4, 2011, the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) hosted a Federal Election forum where students and audience members could discuss issues and topics with candidates running in the Wascana riding. On hand was incumbent Ralph Goodale (Liberal), Dr. Marc Spooner (NDP), Bill Clary (Green Party), and Ian Shields (Conservative). The program began with opening statements from the candidates, followed by an audience Q&A, and ended with the candidates’ closing statements. All of the candidates stayed after the event for photos and to talk further with those who were interested.
Edits were made because of time constraints and technical difficulties. The angle was chosen to represent the perspective of the audience while being mindful of other media outlets covering the event. Apologies for the poor production quality; new camera + unfamiliar tripod = learning experience. Neil Petrich, URSU Communications Coordinator
Opening Statements Part 1
Opening Statements Part 2
Canadian Families
Aboriginal Students
Post-Secondary Education
National Identity
Childhood Poverty
Closing Comments
Bill Clary (Green Party) closing comments (re-recorded because of technical difficulties)
April 5, 2011 the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) will host a federal election candidate forum featuring candidates in the Wascana riding. Vice President External Affairs, Kayltyn Barber, states, “With students in their last week of classes, it is an important opportunity to engage with local candidates before their focus returns to exams.”
The forum will be held in the Multipurpose Room of Riddell Centre at the University of Regina beginning at 12:30 p.m., and the public is welcome to join. “We hope that candidates are mindful of the needs of students in our country, and the forum will provide a chance to discuss party platforms and what they mean for students and young people,” states Barber.
Candidates have agreed to be filmed for the duration of the forum, to be posted online by URSU for students unable to attend due to their academic commitments. Bill Clary (Green Party), Ralph Goodale (Liberals) and Marc Spooner (New Democrats) have confirmed attendance for the event. Conservative candidate, Ian Shields, has sent his regrets.
Students who have helped new students ease into the university experience were recognized for their efforts on April 1, when the University of Regina Ambassador program held an award presentation and pancake breakfast in the Campion College Commons. These young people take time out of their already hectic schedules to help others enjoy/survive their post-secondary education, Friday's event was a chance to say 'Thank You' and also introduce the program to others.
An Ambassador is an upper-level student who represents the U of R to prospective students and other visitors. Ambassadors give tours to prospective students, introducing them to the university. They also assist with special university events, such as Orientation, UR Connected! Campus Visit, and receptions. Ambassadors answer questions about their program, faculty, and the university.
Mason Foote was given the award for Long Standing Ambassador, click here for his profile.
Foote was joined by 10 others who were named Top Ambassadors:
Tonight the U of R Theatre Department will be presenting an interesting interpretation of William Shakespeare's Richard III. The Queens blends history with fiction while examining the dreams and ambitions of the women who surrounded the controversial king and Shakespeare villain. Offering a different perspective from a different period, The Queens is an insightful and intriguing story from women who may have had the king's ear but little voice in their era.
March 30 is opening night and the show runs until Saturday April 2. The production stars students from the 2011 graduating class of the Theatre Department in the last show of the semester. Admission is FREE with student ID. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Shu Box Theatre.
The University of Regina’s Students’ Union (URSU) is happy with the recent budget announcement from the Saskatchewan Government, who has considered many of the recommendations brought forth by URSU. Specifically the government of Saskatchewan has responded to requests to introduce a Saskatchewan Scholarship fund with a $3-million dollar investment to the ‘Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship’. The budget also addressed the need for additional childcare spaces on Saskatchewan campuses and included support for First Nations and Métis students, initiatives sought by URSU over the past year.
URSU Vice President External Affairs, Kaytlyn Barber, states, “we are grateful that the government has invested nearly $25 million to keep tuition costs low, although we have concerns that this is the third year in a row that students have faced tuition increases without any long term plan to ensure post secondary education remains affordable for the students of our province.” Steps made in Wednesday’s budget show that the Saskatchewan Government is supportive of students and is committed to helping graduates find gainful employment.
URSU looks forwarded to continuing to work with the provincial government on the initiatives announced in Wednesday’s budget to ensure that they move forward and provide funding directly to the students most in need, and that student input is considered throughout the process.
“We recognize there is more work to do, with Saskatchewan tuition fees expected to be in the middle of the pack among Canadian institutions, but we are grateful that the provincial government has taken steps to improve the accessibility of post-secondary education in our province and begun to break down many of the barriers students face,” says Barber.
Five University of Regina students took homelessness to heart and went without shelter this past week. The good-hearted group camped in front of the Riddell Centre main entrance from Sunday night March 13 until the afternoon of Friday March 18. Their efforts helped collect more than $21,000 in monetary donations and about two and half truckloads of clothing and food for Regina’s Carmichael Outreach. Although the totals are impressive, the real benefit can’t be measured in dollars and cents as the students not only accepted change but changed attitudes.
“The point of the program isn’t for the five of us to know what it’s like to be homeless,” said Ezekial Steve, a second year pre-medical student. “It’s about raising awareness and funds.”
“It is not the coin change that puts a smile on my face,” said Brady Johnson in a blog posting. “It is the change that I see for individuals faced with homelessness and the change of heart that many individuals experience after becoming educated.”
Steve and Johnson, a third-year kinesiology student, were joined by three other students: fourth-year business student Matt Styles; second-year business student Marit Johnson; and first-year pre-journalism student Khang Nguygen. The U of R was one of 23 universities and colleges across Canada responsible for raising close to $200,000 this year and has gathered nearly $700,000 since the project started in 2005, at the University of Edmonton. The local campaign was organized and supported by volunteers from the U of R's Paul J. Hill School of Business who held a press conference on Firday to announce the results.
The participants had to stay outdoors, only eat food that was donated and still attend all classes. Except for blogging about their experiences, the five students were not allowed to use social media of any kind or use cell phones or other devices. “I’m really into music so I miss my I-Pod a lot, along with my laptop,” said Steve. “But I think we kind of decided that the thing we miss the most is a nice glass of milk.”
“A glass of milk for sure,” said Styles. “I also miss the warmth and comfort of my own bed, the little things you don’t think of until you’re out here.”
“No amount of cardboard can equal the comfort of my bed,” said Nguyen. “The night time is real tough because it’s always cold, whether there’s wind or not. I’m also looking forward to a long long shower after this.”
The students helped educate those who stopped to talk but the ‘campers’ also learned from their experience. “We’re really just skimming the surface of what a person without a home has to go through,” said Styles, who was thankful for the support of fellow students. “I’ve learned that the U of R students are really caring in general, we’ve had people we don’t even know bring us food, even if it’s just coffee or donuts, but now we know them by name and it’s great to make that connection.”
“Our planning committee did a great job,” added Steve. “The support for us as a five person group has been insane, I’ve probably eaten better during these five days because of donations than I do during a normal week. It’s crazy that’s there’s this much generosity in the student population; it’s great to see because we’re not a big campus.”
“Campaigns like this are great for a direct response like when someone gives you the juice box from the lunch they brought, that means a lot."
Due to an error in the ballot, there will be a revote for URSU Women's Director taking palce March 23 and 24. Votes can be cast online at UR Self-Service. For more information visit the URSU elections page by clicking here.
Poll clerks are need for both days. There will be two poll stations, these are the shifts: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pay is $10/hour, contact the Chief Returning Officer for more information.
With the sun shining through the Riddell Centre windows, candidates in the URSU General Election took to the stage to illuminate their platforms and enlighten the audience during the final Candidates Forum. Questions boiled down to the ‘bilities’ of the candidates and their platforms, namely their plans for sustainability; the financial feasibility and affordability of their promises; their political accountability; and the visibility of candidates when the election is over.
Among other concerns, students want their URSU Executive to be visible and available — visible at campus events and available to students with questions. Tuesday’s forum certainly gave students the latter, as candidates were on hand to answer inquiries from the audience and illustrated how they would help all students. The attendance of URSU Executives at events around campus was discussed, as students asked for the involvement of elected personnel at as many events as possible and candidates pledged to do so but with the understanding that members of the Executive, Senate and Board of Directors have multiple responsibilities and hectic schedules.
The topic of tuition was ever present and the candidates for President outlined their approach for dealing with the rising cost of post-secondary education. Incumbent Kyle Addison, running as part of the For Students slate, said he is in favour of a tuition freeze but would also work to find an agreement that benefits the university and the provincial government. Kent Peterson, running on the Voice of Students slate, reinforced his position that a tuition freeze is ‘Plan A to Z’ for him and his slate-mates. He said they would present their plan for a freeze to the government in an academic and financial manner; but that activism is also an option. Independent candidate Reid Hill stated he would lobby strongly for a freeze, in person if necessary, but would also look to strike a balance between the needs of students and the policies of government.
Parking was also a hot topic as For Students,Voice of Students and independent candidates want parking services to stop over-selling permits and make more spots available for students. Peterson and Hill also touched on sustainability in their parking plans: Peterson wants better bus routes and more bike paths on campus and Reid discussed the value of a U-Pass, which could give students reduced rates and better access to the rest of the city and promote the use of public transport.
Since there was too much going on at the forum to discuss in this space, voters are asked to check out the Candidate Profiles at http://ursu.uregina.ca/elections/candidates.php and visit the facebook pages for those who have one. The voting period starts just after midnight on March 16 and closes at 9 p.m. on Thursday March 17.
The following is a signed document outlining the positions of URSU and the FNUniv Student Association during the recent CFS referendum, for more information contact URSU Communications at 586-8811 ext. 216.
Candidates faced questions, criticisms and kudos at forum
This past Thursday (March 10) candidates running in the URSU General Election answered questions and discussed pressing topics as the campaign heads into its final week. Thursday’s event will be followed by another similar event Tuesday March 15 before the voting period begins. Candidates presented their platforms and students voiced their concerns, developing into an enthusiastic and democratic debate.
While current URSU Executives had to explain their actions and defend their decisions, those seeking to unseat them were forced to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of their platforms and the practical ways they plan to keep their promises. Dozens of students gave congratulations and criticisms, as those who attended heard spirited debate and insightful questions. What few interruptions there were resulted in further analysis of the topics at hand and allowed the audience more opportunity to voice their concerns.
Among some of the many issues and initiatives brought up during the forum were:
· Increased funding and space for student groups such as RPIRG and URPride
· Parking (more spots for less cost, closer spots reserved for students)
· Tuition: a 5% increase was announced in 2010, forcing some students to stop studies part way through to take jobs while still left with debt from student loans
· A Tuition Freeze vs. a Tuition Cap
· A safer and more welcoming emotional environment for LGBTI students, including the designation of washrooms for transgender students
· Respecting the religion and ethnicity of all students
· A balanced approach to social issues and raising awareness of current events; giving equal funding/exposure to all sides of a debate or issue
· Accountability, visibility, and transparency of URSU Executive; Executive office hours online
Candidates running individually or as part of either the For Students or Voice of Students slates spoke on the possibility of a mixed executive made up of people from different campaign slates and platforms. Candidates for President assured the audience that they would work together to make sure all ideas were heard but that their individual platforms would take priority.
Those who attended left with a better understanding of where candidates stand on election issues and an impression of the candidates themselves, as questions were fielded without preparation. Those thirsty for knowledge also left with URSU reusable water bottles in honour of Canada Water Week (March 14-22). The final Candidates Forum is on Tuesday, March 15 at 12 NOONin the Riddell Centre crush area (the carpeted area next to the main entrance). This is the last day of campaigning and will give candidates their last chance to present their platforms and take questions from students. Have your questions heard by the candidates before you head to the polls March 16 and 17. For more information check out the Candidate Profiles at http://ursu.uregina.ca/elections/candidates.php.
The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) is pleased the students at the University of Regina have the results from the referendum on Local 9’s continued membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). “As happy as we are that our members finally have the results, were disappointed by CFS’s tactics of refusing to work with us” states URSU President Kyle Addison, “We’ve been contacting CFS to try and work with them to resolve the outstanding issues since December when we counted the final ballots.”
In the end 51.6% of students voted to remain members, 48.4% voted to leave CFS. A motion will be presented to the URSU Board of Directors on March 21st, 2011 to ratify the results, the URSU executive will be encouraging to the board to accept them and vote to remain members of the Canadian Federation of Students. Addison worries now that the results are public, after the CFS broke the agreement they forced on URSU, they will not work with URSU or commit to repairing the relationship. As the results indicate, this was a very divisive issue amongst the student population. “We communicated to them the campus was very split and even though they can claim victory the margin indicates there are a large number of students who are unhappy with the level of service they receive for their membership fees” he added, “URSU’s communication to CFS contained requests which we believed would help repair the relationship and demonstrate it’s willingness to win over the people who opposed their presence on campus. The CFS never responded to our repeated requests to work together and resolve the issues.”
URSU continues to assert the results being released less than a week before voting for the general elections is a deliberate attempt by CFS to interfere in the democratic process at the University of Regina. According to the documentation (which URSU has made public) delivered to URSU by the counsel for CFS, CFS has asserted they have been in a position to release the results since they were counted on Dec 17th 2010 but didn’t not attempt release the results until March 9th 2011. URSU believes based on paragraph 3 of the Dec 15th 2010 agreement the parties agreed to not release results until determination of FNUC provisional ballots was agreed to by both organizations. The CFS has refused repeated attempts by URSU to bring this matter to a close.
Because of CFS’s reluctance to return and count the provisional ballots, in December of 2010 URSU filed an injunction that helped force CFS back to Saskatchewan to determine the final outcome. With the results now public, URSU will be instructing it’s consul to immediately stop the notice of motion.
In October of 2010 the URSU Board of Directors took an official stance to not continue membership in the CFS due to the poor level of service being provided to students at the University of Regina. It is the organization’s hope that both parties are prepared to move forward and work together to ensure the fees paid by the University of Regina students are rewarded with the quality of service CFS is capable of offering.
On Monday, March 14 at 11 a.m. there will be a Soup Kitchen and Press Conference in support of 5 Days for the Homeless. A minimum donation of only $5.00 will get you soup, a bun and an iced tea. All donations are going towards 5 Days for the Homeless and will support Carmichael Outreach in Regina.
The following is the letter URSU received in response to our Media Release sent out Wednesday, March 9. The CFS notified us that they would be releasing the referendum results sometime after 12 noon on Thursday, March 10. To the best of our knowledge, as of 11 a.m., Friday, March 11, the results have not been released. Click on the file name below to view the document:
Timing of CFS results release convenient and suspicious
URSU arguments unanswered
The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) is disappointed to learn that the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) intends to release the results of the 2010 Local 9 Referendum on Continued Membership as early as Wednesday, March 9, 2011, despite prior issues remaining unsettled. This action is a breach of the agreement, imposed upon URSU, to get the final ballots counted on December 17, 2010. URSU has continually contacted the CFS in the hopes of coming to an agreement and releasing the results. After numerous phone calls and emails, URSU attempts to resolve the issues have gone unanswered.
On March 7, 2011 URSU received a letter from Todd Burke, legal counsel for CFS, stating their intent to release results breaching previous agreements. “We’ve wanted the results released and have been attempting to do so for months,” stated Matt Steen, URSU Vice President of Operations and Finance. “But we have serious concerns about the course that has been taken and find the timing questionable at best.”
With campaigning underway for URSU’s General Elections, and ballots being cast in just one week, on March 16 and 17, it appears the CFS is willing to break its previous agreements with URSU and release the results. URSU interprets this as an attempt to interfere with a local student election, which violates CFS’ long-claimed policy of non-interference with local student politics.
URSU has and continues to be committed to releasing the results to students as soon as possible. After CFS imposed an embargo on results until all outstanding issues were resolved, URSU has been unable to release results due to legally binding contracts: a confidentiality agreement and a jointly signed letter dated December 15, 2010. URSU has always operated under the belief that protecting student interests cannot be done through violating legal agreements with working partner organizations. URSU continues to be open to negotiating an agreement to release the results as is illustrated by multiple attempts to contact CFS. It comes as a surprise that CFS will release results without attempting to resolve outstanding issues from the 2010 referendum. According to the letter from the CFS’ lawyer, URSU has until 5:00 PM this Wednesday (March 9) to acquiesce to a joint statement releasing the results without a proper resolution to the issues or fulfillment of the jointly signed agreement.
“URSU’s aim has always been to abide by the processes agreed upon by both parties prior to ballots being cast and we’re disappointed the CFS is releasing the results in this manner,” says Steen. “We’re wondering why the CFS has decided not to work with URSU and has failed to honour an agreement they themselves agreed upon. This appears to be the pattern of behaviour in our relationship with the CFS over the past several years. We’re also questioning why CFS decided to release the results at this specific time. Why now? Why not before or after the Election?”
Please note that one line of the referendum letter and supporting document has been redacted. This has been done because it is URSU’s position that the results are still under embargo.
Students at the University of Regina are getting ready for Five Days for the Homeless(March 13 – 18) and need your help. People are still needed at the various donation drop-off points that will be set up around campus. If you are able to spare even an hour to assist please contact Allison Pilkey at uofr5days@gmail.com
During the campaign five students will live outside on campus for five full days. They will have no income, only eat what is directly donated to them, and be required to attend all of their classes.
Last year the campaign raised more than $17,000 for Carmichael Outreach. To view a video about Carmichael Outreach click here.
As the weather starts to (sort of) warm up, several sports on the University of Regina campus are starting to cool down. Here’s a roundup of what’s up with the U of R Cougars, for more information visit www.reginacougars.com:
The men’s basketball season has come to an end after a 92-75 loss to the U of S Huskies. The Cougars bid farewell to four veteran players at the end of the 2010-11 season: forward Marek Downarowicz, forwardKris Heshka, forward Lynn Gee, and guard Jeff Lukomski. Downarowicz, Heshka, and Gee contributed to the Cougars in many ways through their careers: grabbing rebounds, getting in opponents’ faces, and giving their all every game. Lukomski secured his place in Cougar history by setting team records for total career points (1504), field goals attempted (1262), and three-pointers made (308).
The women’s basketball team is making tracks for Saskatoon to take on the University of Alberta Golden Bears at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 4 as part of the Canada West Final Four. The Cougars split the season series against Alberta, winning a close game 77-74 on December 3 followed the next day by a 58-81 loss.
On Saturday March 5, they will face either the U of S Huskies or the Fraser Valley Cascades. The teams are competing for the chance to represent the Canada West conference at the CIS Regionals and the CIS Championship. The Cougars hope to extend their season, grab a Championship and give Gabrielle Gheyssen more memories to cherish as this is the final season for the gutsy guard/forward.
The U of R men’s track and field team won its second consecutive conference championship on Saturday, February 26 at the Canada West Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Manitoba. The Cougars finished with 106 team points and a comfortable 27-point cushion over second-place Calgary, winning their second Canada West title in two years.
Jeremy Eckert led the way for the Cougars, finishing first in both the pentathlon and the high jump and being named the Canada West Field Athlete of the Year. Eckert also finished in third in the long jump and scored a team-high 21 points for the Cougars. Chris Pickering(weight throw), Kelly Wiebe (3000-metre run), David Walford (triple jump), and the 4x200-metre relay team also grabbed Canada West gold for the Cougars.
On the women’s side, the Cougars finished fourth in the overall standings with 58 team points. Chelsea Valois (pentathlon) and Nicole Breker (triple jump) both led the U of R with second-place finishes, while Merissa Margetts scored in three separate events.
The Cougars will be back in action at the 2011 CIS Championships, which begin on March 10 in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The Championships mark the final event as a Cougar for Valois, Amanda Ruller,Lisa Benz,Caitlin Fowler, and men’s distance runnerDale Wig.
The University of Regina’s men’s wrestling team finished in third place at the CIS Championships after the two-day event wrapped up last Saturday at the Lakehead University Field house. Connor Malloy won gold for the Cougars, finishing in first place at 76 kilograms, winning his third CIS medal in as many years. The men’s team was able to clinch its ninth conference title and first since 2002. With many of wrestlers only in their second or third year, the men’s Cougars are looking forward to building on this season’s success.
At the same event, the women's team was led by Trisha Elliot whosnagged a fourth-place finish at 48 kilograms. Shelby Moranfinished in sixth place at 72 kilograms for the women’s Cougars, who placed 11th in the team standings at the event. Elliot’s hardware will join the gold she won at the 2010 Canada West Wrestling Championships held in Saskatoon, during the second weekend of February. Elliott was named the Canada West Female Rookie of the Year following the meet, after going 3-0 in her conference championship debut.
Cougars are typically solitary animals but when they’re in Regina, they’re sure to draw a crowd. This past weekend the University of Regina’s Alumni Association hosted ‘A Slam Dunk of Evening’, giving Cougars (past and present) a chance to share in the spirit of community that surrounds the campus.
On Saturday, February 19, parents and past players got the chance to socialize and relax; while the kids had fun shooting hoops, scarfing down food and goofing around with Reggie, the U of R mascot. The University of Regina’s Racing Team’s Baha Dune Buggy was also on hand, offering family and friends photo opportunities with the newest ride of the Cougar Racing Team. The price of admission included tickets to the night’s games against the University of Manitoba Bisons, food and refreshments in Gym 2. The crowd was treated to a 71-60 victory for the women, followed by a 93-82 win for the men.
Coaches Taylor and Hillis were on hand to give an inside look at the men’s and women’s basketball teams this year and shared their postseason picks (Hint: they both start with ‘C’ and end in ‘ougars’). Former Cougar star Kevin Gilroy spoke to the crowd and shared his impressions on his time as a Cougar. “I look back at my days in university and I see that it laid the foundation for other things I’ve gone on and done since then,” said Gilroy, who played with the Cougars from 1993-1998. “When I first came to the U of R, from a small town, I was very shy and unsure of myself. I didn’t know what to expect but my time at the U of R gave me confidence.”
A multiple First Team and All-Star selection, Gilroy’s name is in the top five for a number of single-season team records and he is tied for first in scoring average with 25.7 points per game. However he is quick to give credit to his coaches and teammates as he knows those stats came from a team effort.
“Coach James Hillis played a very up-tempo style which suited my skills well. I scored a lot of baskets in transition when we were getting up and down the court. The teammates I had helped a lot, sometimes when players don’t know their responsibility or can’t accept their roles it can make it hard to have success. We all knew our roles and helped each other out so we were able to rack up wins. Any success I had was a direct testament to the support of my teammates.”
Gilroy also said that although records are nice, it’s the recognition from fans and former players that make him most proud. “When you start playing ball you never really think about records but it’s great to have those when you want to look back but without the help of my teammates those records likely wouldn’t exist.” And even though he was an aggressive competitor Gilroy was also an approachable person, earning the respect and admiration of the competition, coaches and crowds. “Over the course of my career people have said I’m a nice guy and that’s a big compliment for me. If was important to me that I be not only a good player but a good person.”
Now working as an Administration Mangers for SaskSport, Gilroy is happy to run into fans and former players, whether out grocery shopping or out on the golf course. “There’s a huge a basketball community and a big alumni community at the University so even though I’m not from Regina, the support and recognition I’ve experienced makes me feel like I was from the city,” said Gilroy, who grew up in Eastend, SK. “The fans care and they show a great interest in the team and its players, which makes you feel like part of the community.”
A portion of that community will be cheering the Men’s Cougars on as they visit Saskatoon to take on the U of S Huskies in a best-of-three CIS Canada West quarterfinal playoff series, starting Friday. Gilroy thinks the Cougars have a chance against the higher-ranked Huskies, as long as the whole team puts forth an effort. “Consistency has been a bit of a problem and (despite wins over the Bisons on the weekend) they’re entering the postseason on kind of a down note. Even though the U of S is a better ranked team, this is a provincial rivalry so all the stats go out the window. The Huskies laid a licking on the Cougars before so that might act as motivation.”
The Cougars Women’s team will be at home this weekend to face the visiting University of Victoria Vikes in the CIS Women’s Canada West quarterfinal, which starts Friday February 25 at 7 p.m. in the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport. The third place Women’s Cougars (19-5) are looking to take a bite out of the sixth place Vikes (15-9).
Come out and catch the Cougars in action this weekend, anything can happen when there’s plenty of paws clapping!
The Nominations Period for the By-Election for the Mature and Part-Time Students' director's seat on the URSU Board of Directors is open from January 26 until February 2. The Nomination Period will close at 4:30 PM on February 2nd. If you are interested in running in the By-Election please pick up a nominations package from the Students' Union Front Desk, Room 221 in Riddell Centre.
CORRECTION: The director's seat contested in the by-election for the URSU BoD is actually for the Par-Time Students' Director, not the "Mature and Part-Time Students Director". We apologize for any confusion.
The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) today announced that it will seek a court injunction against the Canadian Federation of Students’ (CFS), in an effort to push forward the CFS referendum ballot counting process.
Members representing the Canadian Federation of Students on the Referendum Oversight Committee (ROC) have not returned to Saskatchewan to finish counting the provisional ballots, which means University of Regina students have been forced to continue to wait for the final results of the CFS referendum which took place in late October.
While provisional ballots have been verified by the U of R Registrar’s Office, the counting delay comes as a result of a disagreement between URSU and the CFS regarding the eligibility of First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) students to vote in the referendum. An agreement was reached by members of the ROC to count all agreed upon eligible voters prior to ballot counting the morning of October 29, 2010, including the provisional non-FNUC student ballots. The decision on eligibility of the FNUC student votes was to be left undecided until it was determined that the FNUC student votes held the balance of the outcome. The CFS is now claiming that they will not continue with the ballot counting process until the eligibility of FNUC student votes is decided, despite the prior agreement that was reached on October 29, 2010.
“It is unfortunate that students have to wait this long to find out what the end result of the referendum is,” URSU President Kyle Addison said. “This court injunction application we are pursuing against the CFS comes as a last resort; we are only doing this to get all the agreed upon eligible ballots counted, in hopes that students will be able to find out the end result before Christmas.”
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For more information, contact:
Brennen Schmidt
University of Regina Students’ Union
Communications Co-ordinator
Office: (306) 586-8811 Ext. 216
Email: communications@ursu.ca
The University of Regina Athletics department needs your help! The University of Regina Athletics department has entered into the Adidas University Challenge. Currently, they are up against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, which is why they need your help.
Please help the U of R Athletics department by voting; this will help us beat the University of Lethbridge to advance to the next round!
More information about the Adidas University Challenge:
The adidas University challenge is a bracket-style competition between 19 Canadian universities that are adidas partners. Students vote for their school and the winning school will receive $25,000 for their athletic department. In the first round, 16 schools with the most votes as a percentage of their student population will advance. Each subsequent week, your school will go head-to-head with another university. The school with the most votes as a percentage of their student population will advance to the next round. The process continues each week until only one school is left standing.
Students at the University of Regina will be taking part in the international “16 Days of Activism” campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10, 2010; the campaign kicks off with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and concludes on the International Human Rights Day.
The Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG) has partnered with the UR Pride Centre, the U of R Women’s Centre, and the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) to launch an awareness campaign about the social and environmental events happening on campus and in Regina over the next 16 days. The four groups will be working together to enable students to participate in a variety of ways including: fundraisers, lectures, workshops, world-cafés, and film screenings.
“16 Days of Activism aims to raise awareness about how students at the U of R can be active on campus, in their community, and personally in a variety of social and environmental ways,” RPIRG Executive Director Jenn Bergen said. “As we have already seen at RPIRG this year, students working together are a powerful force, and can have positive effects on their campus and in their community. This campaign seeks to open up different avenues for students to become involved.”
For more information on the campaign schedule, please see the attached backgrounder.
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For more information, contact:
Jenn Bergen
Regina Public Interest Research Group
Executive Director
Office: (306) 337-2420
Email: info@rpirg.org
Kaytlyn Barber
University of Regina Students’ Union
Vice President External Affairs
Office: (306) 586-8811 ext. 212
Email: vpext@ursu.ca
URSU Awaits CFS to Return to Saskatchewan to Count Ballots
The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) is waiting for the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) to return to Saskatchewan to finish counting the provisional ballots of the referendum which took place more than three weeks ago. All ballots were counted on October 28, 2010, save for those cast provisionally. Provisional ballots have been verified by the U of R’s Registrar office. The Referendum Oversight Committee (ROC) agreed on October 28, 2010 to embargo the results of the referendum until the provisional ballots were verified, and eligible votes counted.
University of Regina students went to the polls from October 26–28, 2010 to answer the question, “Are [students] in favor of continued membership in the Canadian Federation of Students?” Since this time, students have been awaiting the final result of the referendum. The only response by the ROC was an update to students on its website, dated October 29, 2010, identifying that provisional ballots had yet to be verified.
“Unfortunately, the CFS’ representatives on the ROC returned to Ottawa before the provisional ballots were verified, and have yet to return to Saskatchewan,” URSU President Kyle Addison said. “It is not fair to students to have to wait in the dark while the CFS sits in Ottawa, delaying the provisional ballot process. We are calling on the CFS to come back to Saskatchewan to finish the referendum process.”
Another aspect of the referendum that was called into question was the eligibility of First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) students. URSU’s position has been that FNUC students are represented by CFS Local 90, not Local 9 which held the referendum; FNUC students would continue to be represented by the CFS regardless of the outcome of the Local 9 referendum.
URSU has continued its lobbying efforts with the Saskatchewan Students’ Coalition (SSC), a grass-roots organization that is at no additional cost to students; it will also ensure the Government of Saskatchewan has students’ best interests in mind when making decisions related to post-secondary education.
NOTE TO EDITORS: URSU President Kyle Addison will be available for comment today, Wednesday Nov. 24, at 11:15 a.m., Room 221, Dr. William Riddell Centre, University of Regina.
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For more information, contact:
Brennen Schmidt
University of Regina Students’ Union
Communications Co-ordinator
Office: (306) 586-8811 Ext. 216
Email: communications@ursu.ca
Centennial Matching Scholarship Fund Creates New Opportunities
The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) would like to officially thank the University of Regina for the development of the new Centennial Matching Scholarship Fund.
“The new Centennial Matching Scholarship Fund demonstrates the University of Regina’s commitment to its students,” URSU President Kyle Addison said. “We would like to thank President Timmons, and her team, for allowing this fund to come to fruition.”
Individual donors who support students through the Centennial Matching Scholarship Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the University of Regina, up to the first $10,000. The Centennial Matching Scholarship Fund was established to create more than $1 million in new scholarships for students.
“Scholarship funds, like this, will allow for the continuation of the University of Regina’s commitment to helping both its students and the Regina community,” Addison said. “It is not surprising the U of R chose ‘100 years of Excellence’ as its slogan, because it is doing just that by offering such a great scholarship fund to its students.”
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For more information, contact:
Brennen Schmidt
University of Regina Students’ Union
Communications Co-ordinator
Office: (306) 586-8811 Ext. 216
Email: communications@ursu.ca
The main Remembrance Day service will be held in the Brandt Centre at Evraz Place at 10 a.m., Thursday, November 11, 2010. Those attending are asked to be seated by 9:55 a.m.
The service will include a parade with military personnel, veterans and community groups as well as a memorial service and a marchpast. There is no charge for parking as the facilities of the Brandt Centre and parking around it are provided without cost by Evraz Place.
There will also be a memorial service and wreath-laying at the Cenotaph in Victoria Park beginning at 10:45 a.m., Thursday, November 11, 2010.
The service will be followed by an open house at the nearby branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, located at 1820 Cornwall St.
Student Referendum Officially Underway at the U of R
The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) Board of Directors has announced that they are taking an official stance against continued membership with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS).
Students at the University of Regina will be at the polls from October 26–28, 2010 to answer one question, “Are (students) in favor of continued membership in the Canadian Federation of Students?” The referendum comes as a result of large sums of student money going toward membership in an organization that has a record for having an inadequate value of service in Saskatchewan.
“The Students' Union Board of Directors is strongly opposed to students handing over $89,000 of their hard-earned dollars, and seeing very little from the CFS in return,” URSU President Kyle Addison said. This number reflects the combined national and provincial membership fees. “The referendum is yet another way for students to let their voices be heard.”
Unlike other schools, Saskatchewan has been without the support of a staff organizer for many years; this results in an unequal level of service, compared to other post-secondary institutions. In addition, the CFS has a long-standing history of not showing transparency to its more than 600,000 members – they have failed to publicly provide executive minutes and financial statements in an easily accessible manner.
“I encourage all students to exercise their right to vote, and to stand up for what they believe in,” Addison said. “The URSU Board is strongly opposed to the CFS putting their interests before the needs of University of Regina students.”
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For more information, contact:
Brennen Schmidt
University of Regina Students’ Union
Communications Co-ordinator
Office: (306) 586-8811 Ext. 216
Email: communications@ursu.ca
The University of Regina Students' Union is in need of poll clerks to help in the conducting of a referendum.
Schedule:
The dates of work will be from Tuesday, October 26 to Thursday, October 28, and all candidates must be attend a training session on Monday October 25th.
Wage:
$9.25/hour.
Duties:
Job duties are to assist the referendum voters in registering their votes, and answer questions about the voting process.
If interested, please respond with resume and a class schedule or schedule of availability for the week of October 25 to October 29 to:
URSU is looking for someone to collect and sort campus recycling from the gray bins around campus.
Schedule:
Recycling must be collected and sorted twice per week, schedule can be tailored to fit the availability of the student.
Wage:
$10.00/hour.
Duties:
Collect, sort, and bag recycled bottles, cans, glass and paper from all of URSU's recycling bins on campus, so that they are ready to be returned to SARCAN.
If interested, please respond with resume and a class schedule or schedule of availability to:
The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU), in partnership with the Saskatchewan Students’ Coalition, is in the process of developing plans for a tuition management system to aid the University of Regina in preventing substantial tuition increases in the future.
In 2010, the University of Regina requested that the provincial government provide a nine per cent increase in funding. The University of Regina did not receive the full amount requested; therefore, a five per cent increase in tuition occurred. The Government of Saskatchewan, however, provided a 3.5 per cent net increase in funding to the University of Regina in this year’s budget.
“Although the provincial government gave an increase in funding to the university, it seems this wasn’t enough, and, instead, the university decided to put the five per cent difference on the shoulders of its students,” URSU President Kyle Addison said.
The URSU President is the only student who is a sitting member on the University of Regina’s Board of Governors. As such, the URSU President is granted full voting privileges on all items during meetings, including final budgetary decisions. Addison was strongly opposed to the U of R’s budgetary increase, which is why he voted against the tuition increase.
“Now is the perfect opportunity to plan for the full implementation of a tuition management system, so as to ensure that student’s aren’t being faced with such large tuition increases in the future,” Addison said.
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For more information, contact:
Brennen Schmidt
University of Regina Students’ Union
Communications Co-ordinator
Office: (306) 586-8811 Ext. 216
Email: communications@ursu.ca
Notice: A Poster Board Blackout will be in place starting Friday, September 3rd to Saturday, September 12th.
All non-URSU posters will be removed on Friday. Posters that were approved prior to Friday will also expire and be removed on that date. Posters can be re-approved and posted on September 12th.
Students looking to rent a locker for the Fall need wait only a little longer. The URSU is planning to launch the beginning of the locker rental program on September 3rd. This time, students will be able to visit our website to register for their lockers. Just point and click to select a building and locker, enter your information, read and agree to the policy and terms of use, and pay online! Fast, simple, and you can do it without even getting out of bed.
For students who cannot pay online or wish to pay in person, we ask that you visit the Students' Union front desk where staff will walk you through the procedure.
For students that require a wheelchair accessible locker, please call or visit our front desk so that we help make arrangements. Wheelchair accessible lockers are now clearly marked in on the outside of the locker door and will only be rented out to students that require them.
The locker program was put in place to help distribute lockers fairly to students, ensure security on campus, help create the capital to repair or replace lockers and increase the number of lockers on campus, and to ensure lockers designed for wheelchairs are made available to students that need them.
For more information about the URSU Locker Rental Program, please email contactus@ursu.ca
The University of Regina Students' Union operates a week-long Used Bookstore which gives students the ability to sell and buy books at prices set by other students. The URSU Used Bookstore is open during the first week of the Fall and Winter semesters. This Fall, it will be open on September 7th until the 13th. The bookstore will be in the Multipurpose room in the Riddell Centre building. Students can start consigning their books on Monday August 23rd at the Students' Union front desk (2nd floor Riddell Centre).
If you have further questions about the Bookstore or any other URSU Service, please call the Students' Union at 306-586-8811.
The Students' Union is currently undergoing an upgrade to its servers that host our Email and Web services. Due to these upgrades, you may experience difficulty accessing our websites and/or contacting us by email. If your matter is urgent, we request that you contact us by phone or in person (1-306-586-8811 or the 2nd Floor of the Riddell Centre building). We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience.
The following services are expected to be affected by our changes:
@ursu.uregina.ca email
http://ursu.uregina.ca websites (including Orientation and Welcome Week pages).
The following services are expected to remain functional throughout our changes:
http://www.ursu.ca webpages
As the beginning of the Fall 2010 semester quickly approaches, URSU and our friends at Student Affairs are working around the clock to bring you an awesome Orientation and Welcome Week. If you're new to the campus, definitely check out our Orientation page at ursu.ca/orientation and EVERYONE is encouraged to check out the Welcome Week page (coming soon) to see the line-up of events we have for you! Stay tuned for more Orientation and Welcome Week info.
