The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is a council composed of a body of students elected by their peers, who are in charge of running the Acadia Students’ Union. The Council meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 5:15 PM in the Beveridge Forum which is located off of the Michener Lounge in the old Students’ Union Building (SUB). Every meeting is open to the public and students are encouraged to attend the meetings to learn more about the decisions being made on their behalf.
On January 29th, Council primarily met to discuss the proposed Kings Transit UPass, presented by ASU general member and Councillor for the Municipality of Kings, Meg Hodges. In addition, two projects were proposed in the meeting, one presented by Councillor Sebastian Farkas and the other presented by Theology Senator, Zach Goldsmith. The meeting ended with a short announcement from George Philp, ASU President.
Kings Transit University Bus Pass
Council spent the majority of the meeting listening to and discussing the Kings Transit University Bus Pass (UPass). Meg Hodges, an elected Councillor for the Municipality of Kings and Board Chair for King’s Transit Authority, presented the UPass to Council with hopes that the pass will move forward to a referendum. The proposed UPass is a bus pass that allows students to ride transit between September 1st – April 30th for a small fee that will be added to yearly student fees, saving a regular transit rider a significant amount yearly. The UPass will increase access to various activities in neighbouring communities as well as increasing the potential for students access jobs outside of Wolfville. Hodges managed to get an impressive 10% of the population’s signatures within two days and is asking that the UPass petition moves forward to a referendum and that a vote for the UPass be issued on the general election ballot scheduled for February 10th – February 14th.
Responding to Hodges proposal, George Philp, ASU President, announced that the ASU needs to deeply consider all proposals that will require student fees. In accordance with the consultation agreement between Acadia University and the ASU any requested fees must be brought to the attention of the University before December 31st of the previous fiscal year to be placed into effect for the next one. Due to the fact, the UPass requires student fees, it is too late for the UPass to come into effect for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Although Philp stressed the importance of nailing down the specifics regarding the UPass before it moves to a referendum, he assured Councillor Hodges that there will be a fall by-election and it is likely the UPass petition will move to a referendum with enough time for the UPass to be placed on the fall by-election ballot.
The UPass will be taken over by the incoming executive team for the 2019-20 fiscal year. If things go according to Hodge’s plan and the UPass is approved in a referendum and by the majority of the students, then the UPass will be in effect for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
Project Proposals
Councillor Sebastian Farkas proposed a guest lecture by Dr. Victor Muniz-Fraticelli, associate professor of law at McGill University, titled “What is freedom of religion? A pluralist view”. This event will be co-hosted by the ASU and Acadia Pre-law Society in conjunction with the Institute for Liberal Studies. The event will take place in the KCIC Auditorium 6:00 March 21st. The Council accepted the proposal unanimously.
Theology Senator Zachary Goldsmith proposed an organized panel discussion, that talks about the perceived conflict of Science and God. Goldsmith believes it will benefit students by providing an academic perspective on a public point of conflict. It will be moderated by three professors within the science and theology departments and there will be snacks provided at the discussion. The panel will be held on Wednesday, February 27th at 6:00pm in the Fountain Commons. The Council accepted the proposal unanimously.
Announcements
George Philp made one short announcement before the closed session, Zach Goldsmith has been appointed to continue to serve as Theology Senator. Goldsmith is the first official member of the 2019-20 Students’ Representative Council.
Rylie Moscato is a first year English student and Columnist for The Athenaeum
