Council Forum — January 24, 2012
April Hudson
Staff Reporter
Jan 26, 2012
Students’ Council meets every second Tuesday in the Council Chambers in University Hall at 6 p.m. Council meetings are open to all students. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7, where free food will be provided for all attendees.
This week’s council forum offered offered the typical serving of stomach-churning L’Express wraps. So if you’re at all interested in student politics, swing by, fill your belly, and get your democracy on.
Renovating SUB
Vice-President (Operations & Finance) Andy Cheema and SU general manager Marc Dumouchel gave a co-presentation to council on the SUB Renovation Feasibility Study. The presentation focused on proposed architectural concepts for renovating SUB.
A concern was raised about the proposed renovations cutting into SUB bookstore space. Dumouchel replied that the Bookstore has agreed to look into the renovations.
Food Issues
Vice-President (Student Life) Colten Yamagishi gave a presentation about the university’s food policy. The Policy Committee has been investigating methods of increasing food options on campus for students. Yamagishi told council that the Policy Committee conducted a survey that showed 48 per cent of students disagree that there are convenient healthy food locations at the University of Alberta.
A few of the arguments raised are that food is expensive, there is a lack of healthy options, a lack of variety, and a lack of food preparation resources on campus, such as microwaves.
Sustainability Initiatives
President Rory Tighe gave a presentation on his sustainability assessment and what steps the SU can take to ensure that sustainability remains a priority. The assessment provided a list of areas to focus on including buildings, paper, solid waste, and hazardous materials.
Tighe’s presentation recommended a student referendum to determine whether or not students are still interested in paying a sustainability fee.
Executive Committee’s Report
Vice-President (Academic) Emerson Csorba gave a quick report on managing to get 60 exams added to the university’s exam registry.
Yamagishi gave a report on the upcoming Break the Record dodgeball game. Yamagishi said that he is wanting to contact 20,000 students within the next week concerning the game, and handed out red dodgeball wristbands to council.
Question Period
A question was posed about the new SU brochure, which features the executive members but leaves no space for councillor names. Tighe answered that he wants to put the names of the councillors on the back of the brochure.
Yamagishi fielded a question about potentially creating an option to register online for the Break the Record dodgeball game. Yamagishi replied that there is actually no need to register for the game, or sign a liability waiver. He added that Onecards will not be checked at the game due to alumni not necessarily possessing them, and said that he has sent out a request for prospective U of A students to also join the game.
General Orders
The ISSS proposal to create a $6 per term FAMF fee passed, allowing ISSS to take the proposal to student referendum.
The BSA proposal to renew their FAMF fee of $7.50 per semester passed.
Council approved a referendum question for the creation of Spring/Summer U-Pass and a referendum question for the SU’s renovation plan.
Comments
Hey April,
This isn’t a big deal but I just wanted to let you know that the policy committee did not run the survey that the food statistic was taken from. That was taken from the National College Health Assessment that was run at the UofA this spring.
Cheers!
Posted by Colten Yamagishi on Jan 26, 2012
“A question was posed about the new SU brochure, which features the executive members but leaves no space for councillor names. Tighe answered that he wants to put the names of the councillors on the back of the brochure.”
Yes, this sums up Students’ Council nicely, doesn’t it?
Posted by Jimbo on Jan 26, 2012
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