The Athenaeum

Tag: Student Politics

  • An Open Letter to the Incoming SRC

    An Open Letter to the Incoming SRC

    An Open Letter to the Incoming SRC.

    This open letter is meant to bring forward our concerns, suggestions, and foster collaboration. It will address our views on student democracy, leadership and journalism.

    Democracy

    By definition, any student union or government is required to serve and represent students.  Representatives are here for students of the ASU. These students, from presidents to councillors, are here to serve everyone at to the best of their collective ability.  These students are members of the union in the same way that each and every student who pays student fees is. Elected members have a duty to consider more than just their own opinions on issues when determining the interest of the union as a whole.  This is where problems arise.

    The best unions must embrace democracy to its fullest. This means laws and practices that adhere to democratic principles of fair and free elections, ethical governance and always promoting students’ democratic rights. These should be the top priorities of any union.

    It is no great secret that we, Kyle Thompson-Clement, Chris Vanderburgh, and Josée Léger, strongly believe that the ASU has systematically weakened students’ rights. It was brought to our attention that students can no longer impeach ASU representatives nor bring forward referendum by petition. Adding these restrictions means students with enough support from other union members currently have no guarantee that they could remove a representative from their position or submit a question for a referendum.

    To incoming ASU representatives, understand that the 10+ people sitting around the table are not the union. The union is each and every student and it is your job to serve these students. If members of your union, non-elected members and those around the table alike, show support for an idea like a bus pass or impeachment and referendum rights, it is your job to find out how to make that work for the union.

    It is your job to contextualize your positions and solicit feedback, both positive and negative. Again, we remind those who are elected that it is your job to promote everyone’s right to fair and just governance. This year we feel the union has failed to do so.

    Leadership

    Often the term leadership is connected to elected members of the ASU. We would strongly agree that every one of the students elected to the ASU as representatives is in some form a leader. Part of this leadership entails educating students on what being a member of a union means, and what they are supposed to be privy to as paying members. As leaders, we urge, nay beg, all representatives of the ASU to lead by example.

    Check your colleagues. Do not be afraid to speak out against any authority on the ASU. If an elected member is fearful of speaking out, it is clear the union is flawed.

    Do the hard work. Protect student rights. Explain from the day they are accepted to Acadia University that their representatives are there to protect everyone’s rights.

    The following message is just for the incoming Executive. The Executive sets the tone for how union members will be governed. If you lead by example the whole elected representative body is stronger. Please, for every union member, eliminate with the strongest sense, any thoughts or feelings of thinking you know better than students.  

    Please keep communication open to anything you do that will have an impact on the student body. Transparency is key to educating a union on matters that affect them. If students show enough support or vote favourably on a referendum question to see something actioned it is your job, especially as the executive, to make that happen.

    Secondly, we get it. We understand that all union members are not always informed enough to make decisions on their union’s future. However, as a governing body, it is also your duty to educate students and present the most whole thought out plan for how to achieve a particular goal. This means putting in the work to find the most effective way of implementing these changes regardless of personal bias.

    It is up to every union member to decide whether they agree or disagree on substantial changes. Leadership means constantly putting effort in by presenting all the options with the most detail and clarity. This will allow the union at large to fully consider decisions and show the rest of the representatives that the union is more than just the individuals who sit in the council room. A more engaged approach to union governance will boost election participation and promote a more active union.  

    Journalism

    Incoming ASU representatives need to understand the importance of journalism. In every modern society, journalism plays a critical role in being the check and balance of power, corruption, and ethical governance. The Athenaeum is here to educate students on all social issues. Sometimes, our job is to foster a conversation on the governance of our union.

    Any attempt to undermine the duty we have as journalists is a threat to governance and pushes us towards an authoritarian government. We know it sounds overwhelming, but we exist to bring forward any issues within the union.

    We’re not looking to ruin the reputation of the ASU. We love our school and we love our newspaper. However, it is our job to stand up and be watchdogs for policy changes or events within the ASU that represent significant changes to how students are governed. Articles that shed light on messy issues may not always make your job easier. Certainly not. That’s not why we are there.

    Instead of trying to silence voices of dissent, representatives themselves must use the same medium we do to convince students otherwise. Journalism, especially pieces that shed light on policy issues, represent an opportunity to think critically about the decision being made in the council room. Please, embrace what journalism represents: checks, balances, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and a means to educate the very union you represent.

    Throughout our time at Acadia we have learned a lot about the inner workings of politics. We can confidently tell you that your representatives work towards making the lives of its union members lives better.

    However, to the incoming ASU representatives, please advocate for students’ rights. Put the students first and actively work hard by setting petty grievances and personal bias aside. Work towards giving students the most democratic and sound governance we all deserve. Lead by example. This means setting a tone that students rights are of the highest importance, exploring all options, and educating other union representatives on why democracy is essential for the union.

    Finally, attacks on student journalism can and should be met with hostility and dissent. It can be a bitter pill to swallow but it does not change our job as student journalists. We will continue to do the hard and sometimes confrontational work of exposing incidents that run counter to students’ best interests. Again, this opposition through The Athenaeum can be embraced as an opportunity to reflect on representatives’ choices and standard governance practices.

    The Athenaeum is willing to meet regularly with the ASU in hopes to actively work out future tensions. The Athenaeum and the ASU are here to work for the students.

    Let’s not lose sight of that.

    Sincerely,

    Josée Léger

    Kyle Thompson-Clement

    Chris Vanderburgh

  • 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 April 10th

    SRC Decoded: What You Missed April 10th

    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 April 10th:

    New Council

    This was the first meeting of the 2018-19 SRC. Power was delegated by the previous Council to ensure the first meeting was legitimate and that their authority holds for the summer meeting, as the Executive Board has authority until the first day of the Academic Year.

    Executive Goal Documents

    Council Members adopted the goal documents of the Executive Board, comprised of the President, VP Finance & Operations, VP Student Life, VP Events & Promotions, and VP Academic & External. The goal document of the Chairperson was also adopted, emphasizing the ongoing ASU Bylaw revision as an important goal for the upcoming year.

    Committee Appointments

    Council entertained appointments to standing committees. These committees include:

    • Presidential Affairs Committee: Tasked with handling issues pertaining to the Office of the President but meets rarely
    • Events & Promotions Committee: Tasked to develop communication and promotion strategies over the year, including events like SuperSUB and Frost Week
    • Academic Affairs Committee: Tasked with dealing with issues pertaining to the University and student life, including representation on the University Senate and running events like the Propylaeum Cup. This is a very active committee
    • Student Life Committee: Deals with clubs, internal organizations, and general student affairs as chaired by the VP Student Life
    • Financial Affairs Committee: Proposes the annual budget to Council and deals with other financial matters
    • Campus Representation Committee: Ensures representation pertinent to diversity on campus
    • House Presidents Committee: Composed of all House Presidents and the VP Student Life to discuss residence affairs
    • Governance Committee: Tasked with ensuring that the ASU functions well. This is an active committee because of the persistent revisions to the ASU Constitution and bylaws
    • Review Board: The only ASU Committee that has legal power. This committee deals with Council honoraria and payments to other ASU employees
    • Student Funding Committee: Deals with approving transactions from the Student Activities Fund and Wellness Fund
    • Environmental Sustainability Committee: Chaired by the Sustainability Officer and works with other environmentally inclined clubs and organizations on campus to promote sustainable practices
    • Hiring Committee: Hires Union employees and members within the Office of the Chairperson
    • SUB Renewal Committee: The most recent Standing Committee tasked with ensuring the process for redeveloping the Student Union Building stays on track

     

  • $10,000 ASU By-Law Review Financed by Wellness Fund

    The ASU is meeting today on Tuesday, March 27th at 5:00pm in the Beveridge Forum (off of the Michener Lounge in the SUB) to discuss plans for an upcoming by-law revision.

    The ASU, by way of the Student Funding Committee, has approved $10,000 from the Wellness Fund to revise ASU by-laws. Students contribute $30 annually to the Wellness Fund, which can be drawn upon by Acadia students and organisations with the purpose of “accommodat[ing] the individual needs of students and enhanc[ing] their overall sense of wellness through various initiatives.”

    In the meeting, Council will hear a presentation on the by-law revision process from the ASU lawyer and provide input on the process. There is speculation that the ASU Executive team has already likely contributed extensively to the process.

    The ASU plans to expedite this by-law revision, condensing the process to a couple of weeks in length. This would outpace previous changes made to the ASU by-laws: for example, the Elections by-law alone took months to revise. With this condensed timeline, it is a concern that there may not be adequate time or opportunity for comprehensive student consultation, resulting in the general student population having only a limited say in processes that impact them and that are being funded with their money.

    Such large funding decisions need to have student input in the first place to ensure that the decisions represent the will of the students. If the ASU were to take the time to engage the student body in these processes, they may have access to individuals and services who can offer consultation or non-profit by-law revision expertise for free or at low cost.

    The process is irregular in the way it is being done as the Governance Consultant retained by the ASU will not be used, and neither will the Governance Committee, which was set up for this very purpose and would be free of cost. It is concerning that regular processes are being sidestepped.

    Although the $10,000 expenditure is irreversible, student engagement with this process is still imperative. By actively participating in upcoming meetings, we can demonstrate to the ASU that students are watching and are holding the ASU accountable–that we care about the outcome of this process, and how our valuable money is spent. Students should question this lack of transparency by the ASU, and should advocate for more sound decision making regarding funding.

    Participate in the Council meeting this evening, or otherwise let the ASU know how you feel. It is important to have student voices heard. The meeting is at 5:00pm, Tuesday, March 27th in the Beveridge Forum, off of the Michener Lounge in the SUB.

    Ellie Valle is a 4th Year Community Development major and the current SRA of Crowell Tower.

  • 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

  • George Philp wins race for ASU President

    George Philp wins race for ASU President

    George Philp has won the race for ASU President.

    He won with 67% of the ballot for a total of 934 votes. In a statement provided to The Athenaeum, George noted that his major commitments are to “enhance the services that all of us as students depend on – to ensure the academic, social, and personal success of the student body. My focus throughout the year ahead will be on you – improving the social and medical supports that we depend on, promoting the environmental sustainability of the ASU and university, enhancing the food security of the student body, and ensuring that the Executive team is listening and responding to you.”

    Voter turnout was approximately 35%, with approximately 1400 students voting online.

    George will start his term on May 1.

  • 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

  • ASU Chief Returning Officer Resigns

    ASU Chief Returning Officer Resigns

    ASU Chief Returning Officer Harrison Paul has resigned effective 7:53PM on February 1st, 2018.

    His duties as Chief Returning Officer, in charge of the 2018 General Election, will pass to the Deputy Chair and Deputy Chief Returning Officer Aodhan Murphy. He will take his place as Acting Chief Returning Officer.

    In a statement from ASU President Grace H-B, she noted how the “Acadia Students’ Union accepts the Chief Returning Officer’s resignation. We appreciate his work for the Union and wish him luck.

    We have confidence in the Acting Chief Returning Officer, Aodhan Murphy, to conduct the elections and are grateful to him for stepping into this position.”

     

  • ASU General Election: What You Need to Know

    ASU General Election: What You Need to Know

    The 2018 ASU General Election has begun, promising two weeks of exciting campaigning. The entire Students’ Representative Council is up for election for the 2018-19 academic year, with changes in the dynamic of our student government expected.

    What is the Students’ Representative Council? 

    The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is the governing body of the Acadia Students’ Union, responsible for representing students across campus. All students are automatically members of the Union by virtue of paying student fees. SRC is responsible for determining major policy initiatives, such as referenda, the appointment of certain officials like the VP Finance & Operations, hosting programs, and sending recommendations to larger forums like the University Senate or the Board of Governors.

    Which positions are up for election? 

    The Executive Board, consisting of:

    • President
    • Vice President Student Life
    • Vice President Events & Promotions
    • Vice President Academic & External

    The VP Finance & Operations position is not elected but appointed by the ASU Hiring Board. 

    Non-executive positions include:

    • Student Board of Governors Representative
    • Community Relations Officer
    • Sustainability Officer
    • Equity Officer
    • Arts Senator
    • Science Senator
    • Professional Studies Senator
    • Councillor x4

    First Year Officer is elected in a by-election in the fall, along with any other unfilled positions. 

    Are there debates? 

    Executive candidates will debate on the Main Level of the SUB at 5:30 on Monday February 5th. Non-executive candidates will debate at 5:30 on Tuesday February 6th. The Athenaeum and Axe Radio are co-sponsoring a debate held on Axe Radio on Friday February 9th from 5:30-8:30. The schedule is as follows:

    • 5:30-6:15 VP Student Life
    • 6:15-7:00 VP Events & Promotions
    • 7:00-7:45 VP Academic & External
    • 7:45-8:30 President

    When can I vote? 

    Every student will receive an email on the morning of February 13th. Voting will commence at 8AM and continue until 4PM on February 14th, with the official results announced at 4:30PM by the Chief Returning Officer.

  • 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

  • Co-op Students: The Forgotten Party in the ASU Election

    Co-op Students: The Forgotten Party in the ASU Election

    Since I arrived at Acadia in the fall of 2014, I have had the privilege of voting in the Acadia Student’s Union General Election. I have always been a proud supporter of the ASU, and all that they provide to Acadia students. When election time rolls around, I read the candidates platforms, attend the candidates’ debate, and eventually cast my vote for who I feel will best represent me for the following academic year.

    This year was no different, despite being on a Co-op work term in Saint John, New Brunswick. I was ecstatic when the ASU live streamed the candidates debate, as I thought it was such an amazing way to give those who could not attend, including students currently on exchange or in co-op, a chance to be present at the debate. Throughout the month of January, I spoke with many of my friends who are running for positions in the ASU, read their platforms on their Facebook pages, and became educated on the issues that they care about. When the day came to log onto Acadia Central and cast my vote, I felt that I was well educated on many of the issues brought up, and I knew who was receiving my vote. When I went to log on, I was greeted with a message under “ASU General Election: “there are no questions for you to answer.”

    I was confused by this post, so I reached out to many of my other friends to see if they too were having this technical glitch. My friend who is also on a co-op term reached out to me to say that the message I was getting wasn’t a mistake, Co-op students are not eligible to vote in the ASU election. I was incredibly confused. I didn’t understand why I wasn’t eligible to vote, as I was always told that I was still considered an Acadia student while on a Co-op work term. After all, I pay $800 in Co-op fees for the semester, and am working towards a university credit. I decided to reach out to the Chief Returning Officer of the ASU to discuss the issue, and voice my concern over not being allowed to vote.

    Shortly after, I received a reply. I was told that because Co-op students don’t pay winter fees to the Student’s Union, they are ineligible to vote. A brief apology was given, and I was told to reach out the Student Representative Council when I returned to Acadia in September. I was slightly baffled, so I went onto the ASU constitution to understand what she meant.

    The ASU Constitution states that only Ordinary and Associate members are eligible to vote in the ASU General Election. An Associate member is defined as:

    Associate members, who shall be all students who are registered at Acadia University as part-time students and have paid the prevailing membership fee for part-time student. Associate members defined: Any student registered in fewer than 3 courses.

    So to clarify, if you are taking fewer than three Acadia courses, you are considered a part-time student, and as long as you pay your ASU membership fee, you are eligible to vote in the election. I then went on to see what the ASU fee for part-time students is. Financial services states that part-time students are required to pay $10.30 per 3H course taken at Acadia as a membership fee. With this conclusion, the $86.45 that I had paid in the fall semester to be part of the Students Union makes me less eligible to vote in an ASU election than the minimum $10.30 paid by part time students, because I had paid that due in a semester where the general election had not taken place.

    One of the things about the Co-op program at Acadia that I am most thankful for is how it allows you to leave and develop as a professional in a working environment, while still holding close ties with the Acadia community and the wonderful resources that come with it. Co-op students are so tightly connected with Acadia while away, with many even taking additional courses through the university. By neglecting to include Co-op students as eligible members able to vote in the ASU election, they are seriously forgetting an important part of our small but close-knit community. Co-op students represent nearly every faculty at Acadia, and bring an important voice to the ASU. In addition, if a Co-op student is on a winter work term, more than likely they are currently third year students. They know the candidates well, and have experienced Acadia alongside them for many years. Most importantly, moving into their graduating year, they are directly affected by all of the decisions made by the ASU. By not allowing them to vote, they are taking away the opportunity for them to have their voices heard, and have a say in what really matters.

    Every student, whether part time, full time, Co-op, or on exchange, deserves to have their voice heard in the ASU election. I love Acadia, and I truly care about the student body chosen to govern over it. I look forward to bringing this issue forward to the SRC in the 2017/2018 school year, and working to have this issue resolved.

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