The Athenaeum

Tag: SRC

  • Councillor Alyssa Hall Resigns

    Councillor Alyssa Hall Resigns

    Alyssa Hall, Councillor on the Students’ Representative Council has resigned from her position effective on January 10th, 2019.

    In a statement, ASU President George Philp noted that “On behalf of the ASU Executive I would like to thank Alyssa for her contribution to the Acadia Students’ Union”.

    ASU Chief Returning Officer Sacha Russo has been notified of Hall’s resignation and a by-election will be called no later than February 9th, 2019 to fill the vacancy. Hall’s position as Councillor will remain vacant for the time being.

    President George Philp added that “Alyssa has championed many important causes including sexual violence prevention, throughout her year and a half serving on council, and our campus is better because of it. We wish Alyssa all the best in her future endeavours.”

    Rylie Moscato is a first year English student and Columnist for The Athenaeum

  • SRC Decoded: What You Missed December 4th

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed December 4th

    The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is the body of students who are elected by their peers to run the Acadia Students’ Union. Council meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 5:15 PM in the Beveridge Forum which is located off of the Michener Lounge in the Students’ Union Building (SUB). All of their meetings are open to the public and students are encouraged to attend to learn more about their representatives and the decisions that are being made on their behalf.

    Council met on December 4th to discuss the financial update as of November 30th, to vote on the new bylaws and to discuss the creation of an ad-hoc committee. Council also received a project proposal from Blake Steeves, First Year Officer. George Philp, ASU President, presented changes to co-op student membership of the Union, and Makenzie Branch, VP Academic and External, informed council of her involvement in CASA. The meeting received a large audience turnout, composed of students and Town of Wolfville Mayor Jeff Cantwell.

    Financial Update

    Jared Craig, VP Finance and Operations, presented the ASU’s financial update for the last fiscal year (April to November). While most services were operating at an expected net income loss, such as the Info Desk and the Union Market, there were a few areas that saw a loss greater than anticipated. Bar services saw a profit of $26,277, which Craig attributes in part to the bar ban that took place at the beginning of the school year. Perkins was also an area of concern, with a net income loss of $8,234. Overall, Craig states that the Union is pleased with Cajuns, the Info Desk, and the Union Market.

    By-Law Discussion and Voting

    The Council spent a fair portion of the meeting discussing the new bylaws, which are a result of an extensive $10,000 dollar review. The Council was informed by Molly Anderson, in her role as Chair of the Governance Committee, of the creation of an ad-hoc committee, that will consist of either the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson, four non-executive council members, and two regular union members (i.e. students). Councillor Chis Vanderburgh expressed his disappointment with the decision to move forward with voting, and Arts Senator Katie Winters defended this decision, stating that the creation of the committee would result in more extensive research into these issues. Following these discussions, all three By-laws were moved to be accepted as is, bylaw 1 (Council Positions) and Bylaw 2 (ASU Committees) come into effect of May 1st, 2019 and Bylaw 3 (Elections, Referendum, and Plebiscite) come into effect immediately.

    Ad-hoc Committee

    An Ad-hoc committee was created specifically to conduct research and consult with students about the controversial changes made in the by-law review, which removed the petition process, and the process of impeachment by constituents. This committee will be composed on the Chairperson, four non-executive members of council, and two regular members of the union. Dahlia Chahine, Student Board of Governors Representative, motioned to amend this committees’ terms of reference to include three regular constituents instead of two to enhance student involvement. This motion was passed unanimously, and Council also decided to include a mandatory progress report, to be presented to Council at the first meeting in March of next semester in hopes of keeping students engaged and ensure that progress is being made. Council then appointed Molly Anderson as Chair of the committee, as well as Chris Vanderburgh, Katie Winters, Zach Goldsmith, and Dahlia Chahine to fill the four council member positions.

    Co-op Student Membership

    George Philp informed council that in the past, co-op students have not been considered members of the ASU, despite their enrolment in one course during their work terms. Philp noted that the University still considers them students, and therefore motioned that the ASU also “interpret” them as students. This would mean that co-op students would be changed the part time membership fee of $10.30 per work term. This would ensure that these students can vote, sit on Council, and access student services offered by the ASU. Philp notes that he has consulted with the co-op office on this issue, and states that they support this change. The motion was unanimously accepted by council.

    Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA)

    VP Academic and External Makenzie Branch informed Council that over the break, George Philp and herself attended meetings in Ottawa to discuss the current focuses of  CASA. The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations is a federal advocacy group, which represents over 350,000 students across Canada. Branch listed the main issues that this organization is advocating for this year, which is the improvement of Study Permits for international students, as well as recommendation that Canadian post secondary institutions be allowed to assist students with immigration consultation. The organization is also focusing on increasing funding for work integrated learning, since current funding is mostly going towards STEM students. Brach was admirably passionate about the group’s involvement in Sexual Violence Prevention. The organization is hoping to instate a minimum requirement for post secondary institutions to provide resources for victims of sexual violence. CASA’s other main focuses revolve around student research, which would increase the amount of funding that goes directly towards students, as well as changes that would allow graduate students to apply for grants.

    Project Proposal

    First Year Officer Blake Steeves proposed a “Last Class Movie Night” which will be taking place in the KCIC, on Dec 5th at 7:30pm. They will be screening the 2011 version of Footloose, and Steeves states that this event is a “Last Class Bash” for people who aren’t in the mood for the bar scene, are underage like himself, or are die hard Footloose fans.

    Announcements

    George Philp made several announcements to Council, the first of which being that a request has been put out for food service providers. Prospective companies will be coming in to tour the facilities before the break and will hopefully put in bids. Also, Philp announced a new policy, approved by the President’s Advisory Council, which allows students to change all university documents to show the name they prefer. This is a monumental change for students whose given name is not the one which they choose to go by. Finally, Philp announced that the budget advisory process for the university has begun, and there is talk of a 3% tuition increase. Philp states that Council will be highly involved in this process.

    Following these announcements, Molly Anderson announced that there will be an event on Dec 6th at 4:30, for the Nation Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

    Town of Wolfville Mayor Jeff Cantwell also announced that on New Years Eve, there will be several events going on around town to ring in the new year, including a free brunch provided by local businesses and chefs! Cantwell encourages any students who will be around to join in on the festivities.

    Ailish Bergin is a second year Politics student and Columnist for The Athenaeum

  • SRC Decoded: What You Missed November 20th

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed November 20th

    The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is the body of students who are elected by their peers to run the Acadia Students’ Union. Council meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 5:15 PM in the Beveridge Forum which is located off of the Michener Lounge in the Students’ Union Building (SUB). All of their meetings are open to the public and students are encouraged to attend to learn more about their representatives and the decisions that are being made on their behalf.

    Mayor of Wolfville Speaks to Council

    Mayor Jeff Cantwell had a brief discussion with Council, primarily to acknowledge the difficulty of conducting of a by-law review and to acknowledge the hard work put in by ASU President, George Philp, along with the rest of the SRC. Cantwell mentioned the current petition in favour of implementing a Kings Transit U-Pass, which would provide students with unlimited use of enhanced Kings Transit services for $20 per month per student. With this suggestion, ASU President George Philp laughed and stated that “it never goes away”. Cantwell concluded his talk by encouraging everyone to contact the Town of Wolfville and Town Council Members with any comments, questions and/or concerns. He also shared that the Town has a wide variety of staff and programming that can provide quick and easy answers for students and community members alike.

    Students Nova Scotia

    Tristan Bray, Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia, and Makenzie Branch, VP Academic and External and one of Acadia’s representatives to SNS, shared information Founded in 2003, Students Nova Scotia is a member-driven non-profit organization that represents over 20,000 students across the province. The organization aims to identify and research student issues, come up with solutions, and lobby the provincial government to seek better learning environments and supports for post-secondary students across the province. Their four main pillars are accessibility, affordability, quality, and student voice and these values guide the organization throughout its decision-making process. The current priorities of the organization including student financial aid, health care for international students, sexual violence prevention and promotion, increased mental health supports, and increased student employment opportunities.

    Project Proposals

    With the semester coming to a close, several council members brought forward their project proposals to be accepted by council. The first was from VP Finance and Operations, Jared Craig, who proposed a financial literacy event that will teach students about budgeting, credit card use, student loans, debt, etc. This will be taking place on Thursday, November 22, 2018 at 5:00 PM in the Michener Lounge and will be facilitated by representatives from Enactus Acadia.

    The second proposal was by Theology Senator, Zachary Goldsmith, who proposed the promotion of Chapel Lunch on Wednesday, November 21st, 2018, which takes place from 11:30 AM-12:15 PM the Acadia Divinity College.

    Student Board of Governors Representative Dahlia Chahine proposed a semester re-cap, which will go over the main events that have taken place so far this year. It will be a document which will be circulated around to students, to be completed by the end of the semester.

    Councillor Alyssa Hall proposed putting condom containers in the bathrooms of The Axe, which will run for a two-week trial period.

    Arts Senator Katie Winters and Councillor Sebastian Farkas are planning a career building event primarily directed towards Arts students. There will be professionals available to review cover letters and resumes, help with interview preparation skills and take professional headshots for participants. It will take place on Monday, November 26th, 2018 from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM in BAC 138.

    Professional Studies Senator Amar Randhawa proposed a student meet-and-greet at the Axe Bar & Grill on either November 26th or 27th, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The goal is to allows students from all faculties to build relationships with one another.

    Science Senator Mackenzie Jarvin will be bringing in therapy dogs from St. John’s Ambulance. It will be taking place on December 3rd in the MacKeen Room, from 4:30 PM to 7:30PM.

    Sustainability Officer Hannah Machat will be organizing a workshop involving “The Tare Shop,” which is a waste free shop in Halifax, NS. Kate Peppler, owner of the shop, will be present at the event, and the goal is to teach students about plastic free initiatives that focus on a waste-free holiday season.  It will be taking place on December 1st, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Wolfville Farmers Market or the SUB.

    Equity Officer, Kate Hamre, will be showing “The Hunting Ground”, a sexual violence film series, followed by a discussion period. It will take place in the KCIC Auditorium on November 26th, 2018 at 6:00 PM.

    All events will be promoted through Acadia Students Union social media with location and dates/times to be confirmed in the near future.

    By-Law Overview

    The majority of the meeting consisted of discussion with ASU lawyer, Tom MacEwen, about the current By-Law Review and the draft by-laws. For a full overview of the proposed changes, check out the ASU website.

    For the most part, MacEwen provided his rationale behind each change in the proposed by-laws. Discussion ensued with several Members of Council expressing their displeasure with proposed changes that remove the petition process for referenda and impeachment of Council members by their constituents. MacEwen stated that the decision was made to prohibit the potential logistical issues that may come with vague referenda questions. An example that was given was the Kings Transit U-Pass Program, which, if passed, will require the Acadia Students’ Union to set up a new student fee, collect fees from students and remit these fees to Kings Transit.

    Councillor Chris Vanderburgh contested the removal of the process stating, “you don’t set up a framework for democracy because it is easy, you do it because it is right.” Students who attended the meeting, Ruvimbo Chipazi and Kyle Thompson-Clement (Arts and Culture and Opinions Editors of The Athenaeum, respectively) also raised concerns with this decision. Chipazi pointed out that, even though most Council members are elected, only roughly 35% of the student body votes, so the Council may not reflect the true wishes of the student body. Thompson-Clement stated the possibility of a future Council being complicit, thereby reducing the opportunity for impeachment. MacEwen raised the point that if enough students are willing to get together to complete the process of impeachment by petition, it is likely that they should be able to convince at least one Council member to bring it forward instead. The discussion concluded with ASU President George Philp motioning to send this issue to the ASU Governance Committee to review and consult with students.

    Council adjourned without completing the entire overview of all by-laws, which will continue on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 at 5:15 PM. The proposed bylaws will be considered for adoption at this same meeting after being introduced on notice of motion at this meeting.

    Ailish Bergin is a second year Politics student and Columnist for The Athenaeum.

  • ASU Releases Proposals for By-Law Changes

    ASU Releases Proposals for By-Law Changes

    In advance of the By-Law Revision Consultation, the Acadia Students’ Union released the finalized drafts of By-Law One (Positions), By-Law Two (Committees), and By-Law Three (Elections) prepared by the ASU lawyer, Tom McEwen. This is the final consultation opportunity, outside of SRC meetings, before the by-laws are adopted in early December 2018.

    Read the by-laws and make your own comments here.

    By-Law Review Process

    The By-Law Review process was started in the final months of the 2018 Winter Semester after the tumultuous 2018 General Election. Student representatives at the time stated that the desire of the review was to ensure that our by-laws are clear, concise and effective for the organization moving forward and to ensure that the documents reflect the values and mission of the Acadia Students’ Union, including diversity and inclusiveness.

    Funded with a $10,000 budget from the ASU Wellness Fund, the By-Law Revision Project was pitched as an opportunity to fix the by-laws, eliminate contradictory language and reduce redundancy in an effort to make it easier for future student leaders to understand and interpret.

    The project was pitched to include substantial student consultation to centre around the size and composition of Council and the opportunities to increase diversity and inclusivity within the Acadia Students’ Union. These consultations were held in early April 2018 with handful of students and Members of Council in attendance. Drafts were circulated during the summer among Members of Council; however, the first publicly released documents were released on November 8th, 2018, hours before the final consultation.

    Major Proposed Changes to Council Composition

    Two Councillors and the Student Board of Governors Representative would be eliminated, shrinking Council to sixteen (16) voting representatives. The Executive Board would be maintained at its present size and composition.

    The VP Finance and Operations would be elected in the General Election along with the other Executive Team members. Currently, the VP Finance and Operations is hired by the outgoing Hiring Committee to ensure that the position is filled by someone with a strong skillset and background to be successful in the role.

    The Diversity and Inclusion Representative (now known as the Equity Officer) would be hired by the Hiring Committee to ensure that it can be filled by an individual who represents a minority group on campus.

    Major Changes to Committees

    The Presidential Affairs Committee and the SUB Renewal Committee would be eliminated entirely, and the Student Funding Committee would be merged into the Financial Affairs Committee. There is also no mention of the Accessibility Advisory Committee which was constituted in 2017/2018 as a temporary ad hoc committee.

    The Student Life Committee would lose its authority to ratify campus club to the VP Student Life.

    The Campus Representation Committee would be renamed the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to reflect the name change of the current Equity Officer and the President would be added to the committee.

    The Environmental Sustainability Committee membership would be amended to add two additional Members of council and to eliminate specific voting membership for representatives of specific campus clubs, including the ESST Club, Outdoors Acadia, the Acadia fork and Farm, the Environmental Science Students’ Association, the Fletcher Geology Club and Slow Food Acadia.

    The Chairperson would be reduced to a non-voting position on the Review Board, Governance Committee and the Hiring Committee.

    Major Changes to Elections

    The campaign period would be shortened to ten (10) days, including five (5) days for voting. The nomination period would also begin on February 1st and end on the Friday two weeks before the Winter Study Break. Under these proposed rules, the 2019 General Election would commence and end on the same day (Friday, February 1st, 2019).

    The by-law would create rules of fair play and community standards that are aimed at ensuring that elections remain fair and free for all candidates and accessible for all voters. These guidelines would set the standard for candidates and their supports to maintain throughout the campaign.

    The complaint process would change to eliminate the disciplinary power of the Chief Returning Officer (CRO) who would be required to present their recommendations to the Elections Committee who would decide on disciplinary action against any candidate, side or election official. They would also entertain appeals of their decisions.

    The referendum section would be consolidated into By-Law Three (Elections). Currently, a petition of 5-10% of the student body or a vote of Council could initiate a referendum; however, the proposal would allow only Council-initiated referenda. The proposal would also grant significant authority to the Elections Committee to set spending limits and campaign restrictions.

    Oliver Jacob is a third year History and Politics student and News Editor of The Athenaeum and former Chairperson of SRC

  • SRC Decoded: What You Missed on October 30th

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed on October 30th

    The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is the body of students who are elected by their peers to run the Acadia Students’ Union. Council meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 5:15 PM in the Beveridge Forum which is located off of the Michener Lounge in the Students’ Union Building (SUB). All of their meetings are open to the public and students are encouraged to attend to learn more about their representatives and the decisions that are being made on their behalf.

    Council met on October 30th, 2018 to discuss the upcoming By-Law Review, which was presented by ASU President, George Philp. There was also discussion around the Acadia University Strategic Planning Task Force, Provincial funding for electronic Mental Health Resources and Upcoming On-Campus Events and Consultations.

    By-Law Review Update

    Started at the end of the last academic year (2017/2018), the Acadia Students’ Union authorized funding in the amount of up to $10,000.00 for the ASU lawyer to conduct a thorough review of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Acadia Students’ Union to eliminate redundancy and contradictory language and to ensure efficiency and equality moving forward. ASU President George Philp brought the results of that review forward to Council and highlighted the main proposed changes.

    Under the proposed changes, By-Law One (Students’ Representative Council Positions) would be amended to replace the existing elected Equity Officer position with a hired Diversity and Inclusion Representative. By hiring this representative, Philp shared that this would allow the ASU to ensure that they represent a minority group on campus. He also shared that he believes that such a position would ensure the diversification of Council into the future. The proposed changes would also aim to shrink the size of Council by eliminating two Councillor positions and making the Student Board of Governors Representative non-voting. Other proposed amendments would require the election of the sustainability officer, the mandatory attendance of certain executive members at Council meetings, and an improved changeover process between the outgoing and incoming Councils in April of each year.  Members of Council would also not be allowed to hold any other positions in the ASU to avoid conflict of interest.

    By-law Two (Students’ Representative Council Committees) would be amended to eliminate redundancies and to increase efficiencies on some committees. It is proposed that the Presidential Affairs Committee be eliminated, and the Financial Affairs Committee be combined with the Student Funding Committee. It is also proposed that the Review Board, instead of the Integrity Commissioner, will be the body to review complaints under the Council Code of Conduct, enacted under the 2017/2018 Council to govern the behaviour and conduct of Members of Council and Committee Members during their terms.

    In By-Law Three (Union Elections Act), the electoral process will undergo extensive changes with the expansion of campaigning locations and the shrinking of the campaign period to ten (10) days. The proposed changes will also separate the Deputy Chief Returning Officer position from the Deputy Chairperson position, institute a coin toss in the event of a tie, and allow for acclamations, instead of yes/no votes for positions where only one candidate has come forward by the deadline.

    By-Law Four (Referendum and Plebiscite Act) will undergo changes that will attempt to mirror By-Law Three (Union Elections Act) as close as possible. It will remove the petition process entirely, redefine the spending limits for referenda campaigns and eliminate the requirement that Members of Council remain officially neutral during referenda campaigns. Philp shared that this is because Members of Council are typically the ones leading such campaigns and are also the most knowledgeable on these subjects.

    Acadia University Strategic Planning Task Force

    Acadia University is in the process of creating a new Strategic Plan for the university and the ASU has appointed VP Academic and External Makenzie Branch to sit on the committee to represent students. The committee, comprised of Acadia faculty, staff, students and administrators, will discuss what Acadia University will look like in 2025. More information on the Strategic Plan Process can be found on the President’s website.

    Upcoming Campus Events

    ASU President George Philp shared that there are multiple upcoming events later this week and early next week where students could share their comments, questions and concerns on issues ranging from sexual violence on campus to food services and quality to the ASU By-Law Review.

    Update on Electronic Mental Health Supports Funding

    VP Academic and External Makenzie Branch provided an update to Council on her meeting with representatives from the Province of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has approved funding for electronic health tools for Acadia’s campus with more information to be shared on ASU social media channels in the near future.

    Ailish Bergin is a second year Politics student and Columnist for The Athenaeum.

  • SRC Decoded: What you missed October 16

    SRC Decoded: What you missed October 16

    The Students’ Representative Council is the body of students who are elected by their peers to run the Acadia Students’ Union. Council meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 5:15 PM in the Beveridge Forum located off the Michener Lounge in the Students’ Union Building (SUB). All of their meetings are open to the public and students are encouraged to attend to learn more about their representatives and the decisions that are being made on their behalf. 

    On October 16th, the SRC was presented multiple updates from council members. VP Finance & Operations Jared Craig presented a financial update. VP Student Life Kyle Vandertoorn presented the Student Life committee update. ASU President George Philp gave updates on the Student Government Round Table and the Board of Governors. VP Events and Promotions Gabrielle Bailey gave an update on the success of Homecoming. Graduate Studies Senator, Sarah Dunn, presented an event to teach students how to get their work published. Council members read and discussed their goal documents, and they voted to fill positions of the Bookstore Advisory Committee and the Town and Gown committee.

    Updates

    VP Finance & Operations Jared Craig presented a financial update as of September 30th. Craig stated that many services offered by the ASU did better than the budget predicted, such as Cajuns, and the Bar Services. However, Perkins saw large losses, which could be due to their efforts towards fair trade. In total, the net income of all services was $67,400. The financial update was unanimously accepted by the Council.

    VP Student Life Kyle Vandertoorn notified the Council that the Student Life Committee has ratified the almost all the clubs for the year, with a few pending ratifications due to form or fee submissions. Vandertoorn noted that clubs can be ratified at any time throughout the year.

    ASU President George Philp and VP Academic and External Makenzie Branch informed the Council of their attendance at the Student Government Roundtable. They met with the Deputy Minister of Education to discuss funding for mental health initiatives, in hopes of securing future funding. Philp and Branch also discussed improving MSI coverage for international students, due to the fact that a student must stay in Nova Scotia for 12 consecutive months to obtain as of right now. They also presented the Memorandum of Understanding, which would recognize the ASU as a valid voice at the table when in discussions with Acadia University and the Town of Wolfville.

    VP Events & Promotions Gabrielle Bailey updated the council on Homecoming celebrations, which took place on October 13th. Bailey stated that the Backyard Bash went well, with a few hundred people in attendance, and no major issues or injuries occurred. Bailey also noted that she received good feedback from the Town of Wolfville, the RCMP, and Food Services, who all said that most students were polite and respectful.

    Philp also notified the council that the documents concerning cannabis legalization, and its regulation on campus, have been approved by the Board of Governors. Philp emphasized the portion of the document that stated students will not be written up or fined for seeking help from campus staff.

    Student Board of Governors Representative Dahlia Chahine, along with George Philp and Jared Craig, attended the Board of Governors meeting at which they passed the MOU and the Tuition Consultation Agreement. Both documents will be made available on the ASU website. Acadia University President, Peter Ricketts, notified the Board that Acadia is now in stage 2 of planning for the 2025 campus planning process.

    Project Proposal

    Graduate Studies Senator Sarah Dunn presented a project proposal by Dr. Pier Pufahl, who is a professor at Acadia and the Editor in Chief of a major Earth Sciences magazine, Sedimentology. Pufahl suggests giving a talk on how to publish a successful paper. Its aim is to help students navigate the peer review process, and what constitutes a good paper. The event will take place at the University Club, 17 Westwood, on October 25 from 4:30-7:00pm. The Council voted to accept the proposed event.

    Goal Documents

    Each SRC member was required to submit a goal document, outlining what they hope to accomplish during the fall semester. The goal documents were read and discussed by Council, and then unanimously approved.

    Position Appointments

    First Year Officer, Blake Steeves, was appointed to the Bookstore Advisory Council as the student representative.

    Community Relations Officer Gordon McLaughlin was appointed to the Wolfville Town and Gown committee, after being nominated by Philp and unanimously voted in.

    Announcements

    Philp notified the Council that the Campaign for Acadia, a $75 million-dollar campus improvement initiative, was launched on Thursday at a private event, and that a public event for students and community members will happen on November 27th. All are encouraged to attend.

    Philp also stated that on Nov 5th, there will be a public consultation for food services, from 5:00-6:30pm.

    Kyle Vandertoorn informed the Council of an event taking place on Thursday, Oct 18th, in the Innovation Pavilion to show support sexual assault survivors. There will be an open mic for poetry, singing, etc. This event was sparked by the outrage after a StFX student’s sexual assault case was poorly handled and resulted in her leaving school.

    Chairperson Molly Anderson announced that application have closed for the volunteer associate positions, however, due to a low number of applications, they will likely all be reopened at a later date.

    Ailish Bergin is a second year Politics student and a columnist for The Athenaeum

  • ASU Election Results Released

    ASU Election Results Released

    At 4:32 PM today, ASU President George Philp sent out an all-student email announcing that the following candidates had been elected to the ASU Students’ Representative Council in the 2018 Fall By-Election.

    First Year Officer – Blake Steeves

    Equity Officer – Kate Hamre

    The Students’ Representative Council is the body of student who are elected each year to run the Acadia Students’ Union. More information on what they do and how you can get involved is available at www.theasu.ca. 

  • SRC Decoded: What you missed September 25

    SRC Decoded: What you missed September 25

    The Students’ Representative Council is the body of students who are elected by their peers to run the Acadia Students’ Union. Council meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 5:15 PM in the Beveridge Forum which is located off of the Michener Lounge in the Students’ Union Building (SUB). All of their meetings are open to the public and students are encouraged to attend to learn more about their representatives and the decisions that are being made on their behalf.

    On September 25th, 2018 at 6:00 PM, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) began their meeting by reading the new Statement of Autonomy for the first time since its recent adoption.  Council then discussed an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Acadia Students’ Union and the success of Welcome Week. Finally, following a closed session, Council unanimously voted to accept the Review Board’s recommendation to adopt Executive Board and Chairperson honoraria for the summer semester.

    Amendment of Articles of Incorporation

    Council began discussions about the amendment of Article 5(b)of the Articles of Incorporation (An Act to Incorporate Acadia’s Student Union). Currently, the provision states that “The Union may make by-laws not inconsistent with this Act or any law in the Province of Nova Scotia relating to: … (b) The election of officers of the Unions and the Council and the election and appointment of members of the Council;” The proposed amendment is to clarify the provision, in order to align itself with the ASU’s process of appointing certain officers and Members of Council (VP Finance and Operations). According to George Philip, ASU President, this item will again be brought up at next week’s meeting.

    Welcome Week

    Gabrielle Bailey, VP Events and Promotions, informed Council that Welcome Week, called “FestiVally”, was an overall success. Bailey stated that most events had higher turnouts than expected, and that she had received much positive feedback. She added a special acknowledgement to Acadia Athletes who helped on move-in day.

    Adoption of Honoraria

    After deliberations in closed session, Council unanimously voted to adopt a motion to accept honoraria disbursements which acknowledge the work done over the summer by the Executive Board and the Chairperson in accordance with the Constitution of the Acadia Students’ Union.

    Meeting Dates

    Council will be meeting again next week on October 2nd, 2018 at 5:15 PM, where an official vote will take place to solidify the bi-weekly schedule of meetings (as opposed to weekly meetings). The rationale behind this decision centers around a lack of discussion items for Council to consider during weekly meetings.

     

    Ailish Bergin is a second-year Politics student and staff writer for The Athenaeum.

  • SRC Decoded: What you missed September 18th

    SRC Decoded: What you missed September 18th

    The Students’ Representative Council is the body of students who are elected by their peers to run the Acadia Students’ Union. Council meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 5:15 PM in the Beveridge Forum which is located off of the Michener Lounge in the Students’ Union Building (SUB). All of their meetings are open to the public and students are encouraged to attend to learn more about their representatives and the decisions that are being made on their behalf.

    The September 18th, 2018 Regular Meeting of Council touched on several items brought forward by ASU President George Philp including a Tuition Increase Consultation Agreement, an ASU Statement of Autonomy, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the ASU, Acadia University and the Town of Wolfville.

    Tuition Consultation Agreement

    Following last year’s tuition increase of 6%, ASU President George Philp explained that questions had been raised about how proper consultation with students can be ensured in the future, which is a requirement for any tuition increase above 3% under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Acadia University and the Province of Nova Scotia.

    A draft Tuition Consultation Agreement, unanimously approved by Council, was brought forward by Philp and VP Finance and Operations Jared Craig in hopes of protecting the student body when it comes to future tuition changes. The memorandum addresses three specific instances where student consultation should be prioritized: increases in tuition, changes in ancillary fees (including residence, meal hall and other student fees) and the introduction of new fees. The document aims to create more accountability when it comes to implementing adequate student consultations.

    ASU Statement of Autonomy

    ASU President George Philp also brought forward a Statement of Autonomy for ratification by Council that outlines the legal autonomy of the Acadia Students’ Union and its authority to collect student fees, carry on businesses and to represent the student body of Acadia University. Philp suggested that this statement be read at the beginning of every future meeting to give it more recognition. Philp explained that the purpose of the statement was to ensure that it was understood by the university that the ASU has a legal right, especially when the Students’ Union Building is renovated.  

    Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Wolfville, Acadia University, and the ASU

    This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the first of its kind in Canada according to Philp, will ensure that the Acadia Students’ Union has “a seat at the table” when it comes to making decisions and planning events that will be equally beneficial to the community and the university. The MOU is a relatively broad document that will be helpful in the future because it acknowledges the validity of the ASU’s perspective. It is worth noting that the original draft did not include the ASU but has since been re-negotiated to involve the interests of the Acadia Students’ Union and its members.

    Not all Members of Council were supportive of the draft MOU, with Christopher Vanderburgh and Alyssa Hall voting against its adoption. There were specific concerns about individual provisions and the impact of them on the university community that were identified; however, the document is slated to be adopted by the Town Council later in the evening and by the Acadia Board of Governors at their October meeting.

    Ailish Bergin is a second-year Politics major and Columnist for The Athenaeum

  • SRC Decoded: What You Missed February 27th

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed February 27th

    Every week, your elected student government meets on a Tuesday night to talk about issues concerning the ASU. Agenda items can seem long, mysterious and confusing without the proper background, making it difficult to see how these issues affect students. Here’s what happened at the last meeting on February 27th:

    SUB Renewal Proposal

    Student Board of Governors Representative Colin Mitchell put forward the proposal to renew the Student Union Building (SUB) earlier this year, at the Council meeting on January 16th. Tonight, the proposal was approved with the condition that it becomes a permanent standing committee pending a review of ASU committees. Colin says that he’s “excited that this committee has come to fruition. It will be a long process, but starting now will bring Acadia students into the future by investing in our infrastructure and the students that support it.”

    Government Grant for Accessibility

    Acadia has received a grant from the government to improve accessibility in the SUB. President Grace HB announced that the ASU will be receiving $50,000 from the Federal Government, $57,000 from Acadia, and ~$32,000 from the Wellness Fund. It will allow for a ramp to be built to the Beveridge Forum, where Council meets, to allow those with accessibility needs to run for Council. This will also assist in as improving the front ramp into the SUB.

    Hiring Committee

    Discussion on the Hiring Committee for Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and VP Finance & Operations proved inconclusive, as President Grace HB is unable to attend. 

    Madison Hathaway is the Student Politics Correspondent for The Athenaeum and a third year Honours student in Politics & French

  • SRC Decoded: What You Missed February 13th

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed February 13th

    Every week, your elected student government meets on a Tuesday night to talk about issues concerning the ASU. Agenda items can seem long, mysterious and confusing without the proper background, making it difficult to see how these issues affect students. Here’s what happened at the last meeting on February 13th:

    Changes to House Council Constitutions

    There have been some changes made to the hiring process for executive members on House Councils, including the inclusion of a VP Events and VP Communications. There have been some slight changes to the elected representatives on House Council, mostly regarding titles.

    SUB Renewal Proposal

    The SUB Renewal Committee Proposal was tabled to the next regular meeting of Council.

    Appointment to the Policy and Research Advisory Committee

    VP Finance & Operations Liam Schreiter was appointed Vice Chair of the new Policy and Research Advisory Committee aimed to come out by the end of this academic year. His appointment was confirmed along with 2 non-executive members to sit on the committee alongside Liam.

    Nova Scotia Heritage Day Speaker

    This Saturday, February 17th, at 3:00pm in the KCIC, there will be a talk discussing Mona Parsons who is this year’s Nova Scotia 2018 Honouree, with speaker Andria Hill-Lehr, author and play wright, who will be leading the discussion.

    Madison Hathaway is the Student Politics Correspondent for The Athenaeum and a third year Honours student in Politics & French

  • SRC Decoded: What You Missed October 31st

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed October 31st

    Every week, your elected student government meets on a Tuesday night to talk about issues concerning the ASU. Agenda items can seem long, mysterious and confusing without the proper background, making it difficult to see how these issues affect students. Here’s what happened at the last meeting on October 31st:

    CASA/SNS

    Sam Nixon, VP Academic and External, discussed the work she has been doing with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and Students Nova Scotia (SNS). SNS is the provincial advocacy organization comprised of 6 schools, 3 of which are universities and the other 3 are NSCC. Sam Nixon is the Vice Chair for Nova Scotia students this year. The organization works to advocate student needs to the province, such as financial aid.

    CASA is the federal organization which voices the Nova Scotia students’ voices on a national level. It is made up of 22 schools, along with five full time staff members. This organization has a main focus on research and policy.

    Alumni Mentorship Network Proposal

    Colin Mitchell, the Student Board of Governor Rep, and Chris Saulnier, Community Relations Officer, have passed their proposal for an Alumni Mentorship Network. Council was updated by Sam Nixon and Oliver Jacob, Chairperson, as the proposal had been sent to their respective committees, Academic Affairs and Governance. The proposal was passed with amendments. The proposal is a plan to create a network between Acadia Graduates and Acadia Alumni to create potential career connections.

    ASU Green Food Services and Retail Procedures Proposal

    George Philp, Sustainability Officer, wants to create guidelines to make campus greener by investing in Fair Trade Coffee, reducing the use of plastic bags, and investing in items like reusable cups and glasses to reduce the use of straws. He wants Chartwells to have stricter guidelines to follow and work with ASU staff as well as Executive members to make way towards these changes.

    Madison Hathaway is the Student Politics Correspondent for The Athenaeum and a third year Honours student in Politics & French

  • SRC Decoded: What You Missed October 24th

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed October 24th

    Every week, your elected student government meets on a Tuesday night to talk about issues concerning the ASU. Agenda items can seem long, mysterious and confusing without the proper background, making it difficult to see how these issues affect students. Here’s what happened at the last meeting on October 24th:

    Cover at The Axe

    Decisions about how much the cover charge at The Axe will be is still under debate between the SRC and the Executive Board. The overall decision about the cost will be decided by the Exec Board, composed of the President and four VPs, with approval from SRC. While The Axe is the only bar that does not increase cover on their busiest day, which is Friday, they are working on coming up with an option that makes it sustainable and reasonable for the students. They have come down to three options:

    1.  No cover, which is the least sustainable and will not allow for bands to play or for clubs to have fundraisers.
    2. $5 cover every night, which is sustainable but not the preferred option from students.
    3. The preferred choice between the Exec Board and SRC was to have each night at a different cost. Thursdays and Fridays would be open to clubs to have fundraiser nights where all of the cover goes towards the club. Costs of Thursday would be $2 and $3 on Friday. On Fridays, if a club has not signed up to decorate and fundraise at The Axe, there would be a food drive. Cover would be non-perishable canned food to be donated to local food drives and charities. On Saturdays, the cost could either be $5 if there is a band playing, or no cover if there is no band.

    Madison Hathaway is the Student Politics Correspondent for The Athenaeum and a third year Honours student in Politics & French

  • SRC Decoded: What You Missed October 17th

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed October 17th

    Every week, your elected student government meets on a Tuesday night to talk about issues concerning the ASU. Agenda items can seem long, mysterious and confusing without the proper background, making it difficult to see how these issues affect students. Here’s what happened at the last meeting on October 17th:

    Homecoming Update

    Homecoming weekend went very well. One of the main events, the Backyard Bash held between Cutten House and Eaton House, was the first event held on campus by the ASU during an event like Homecoming with high turnout. VP Events & Promotions Malcolm Anderson noted that people from off campus and on campus, drinking or not, were able to have a great time and the worst incident was a rolled ankle. A new initiative this year was the shuttle bus that drove around Wolfville all day Saturday to pick up and take people to events across town.

    Bus Pass

    Kings Transit, the bus company throughout Annapolis Valley, presented to SRC about the possibility of a student bus pass. This built on a proposal last year from President Grace Hamilton Burge and Tzomi Burkhart. The pass could go for as little as $80 a year ($10 per month over 8 months) which was noted to be cheaper than taking a cab or driving a personal vehicle. King Transit would expand their bus routes upon approval of the project, with shorter circuits and extended hours to accommodate for long nights of studying at the BAC or partying at the Vil. Upon receiving funds the busses would have high-speed wifi and real-time bus tracking through an app developed by Kings Transit.

    Madison Hathaway is the Student Politics Correspondent for The Athenaeum and a third year Honours student in Politics & French

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