USSU Executive Blog

As I was sitting in my office the other day I was struck by a thought. I was listening to my colleague’s inane rambling about his brother this and his niece that and his grandma’s triple hip replacement blah blah blah. Anyways, he got me thinking about my own mysterious and dark past full of evil secrets. I was born Oswald Cobblepot and during my formative years I was incessantly bullied by my classmates for my strange appearance (short stature, chubby physique, pointed, beak-like nose and so forth). It didn’t help that my overprotective mother forced me to carry an umbrella everywhere I went after my father died of pneumonia he caught after being drenched in a downpour. Anyways my best friends were always my mothers birds, they were so cute and non-judgmental. I wish I could say the same for my incredibly wealthy family, they regarded me as an outcast and their painful rejection obviously forced me into a life of crime. However, owing to my family’s tradition of wealth I perpetrated my crimes in high style. For example, I always wear a monocle, tuxedo, snazzy top hat and of course my umbrella that also doubles as a rifle, because I figure why let go of my traumatic past? What good would that do? Once I had my new career up and running it took me somewhere I never expected, I moved to Gotham…… I moved away.

After I had settled into my new life in a different city I hatched a masterful plan to frame a bothersome vigilante for the murder of a mob boss AND pin a series of ingenious heists on him as well. That ended up going pretty badly though as my plan was thwarted. However, I did manage to escape the clutches of the caped crusader and after all that had blown over, I moved here into this office and began listening to the boring and utterly mundane strings of events that compose the lives of my friends and co-workers. Hmmmmm as I write this I am struck by another thought, whatever happened to that old rifle umbrella……………

Kelsey

Posted by jbv373 at 11:26 AM | Permalink

Hey there,

This semester is shaping up to be quite an exciting one.

I am currently working on setting up a number of events and initiatives that are sure to be super sweet! The Comment Couch took place this past week on January 30th in the biology building and once again features us four executives along with coffee and muffins! I hope to meet many of you avid blog readers in future Comment Couch dates. It’s always great to meet new students with different grievances and ideas in regards to our campus.

Another event that is in the works is “We Are All Treaty People”. It will be taking place at the end of this month and will feature some great talks by notable professors. With the Aboriginal population in Saskatchewan projected to increase dramatically in the next three decades, it is imperative that it be understand what treaties are and how they affect all of us. I am excited to both learn about these important issues and meet new people through the process. The CBC is currently airing a show called 8th Fire, which does a great job of detailing how both aboriginal and non-aboriginals people can learn to live in better harmony with one another. Announcements for the dates will be released shortly and I hope to see many of you there!

Something that has been on the table for a quite a while in the position has been the process of becoming a Fairtrade designated campus as UBC has recently become. I am pleased to say that there has been substantial progress on this initiative and I am hoping to have it either completed or lined up so the next executive and future Engineers Without Borders U of S chapter have a streamlined chance of making this initiative a reality.

A separate, but equally as important item on the agenda has been the attempt of bringing back some form of what was Campus Legal Services. I have both personally and in my position met many students who would benefit from either a solid form of legal information or legal advice on campus. This typically has been in regards to landlord issues, but there has also been other pressing legal matters students face. As it stands the USSU would most likely not be able to commit a significant amount of funds to the project due to the rebuilding of Place Riel; however, with partnerships with the University and the College of Law I believe that this service could once again see the light of day.

Something that is in my portfolio, but I have not spent too much time talking about is parking. This summer there was a bit of a kerfuffle in regards to the parking "lottery" that the university has been running for the past few years. The problem was that students were supposed to pay a 20$ entry fee to enter the lottery even if they didn't end up getting a spot. Upon hearing this I got in touch with staff over at the parking services division. The reason that was given for the 20$ fee was that if it was free to enter into the lottery then students would be able to get their friends to enter in along with them even if they weren't looking for a spot--thus, having a better chance of getting a spot. This seemed fairly reasonable to me, but still didn't justify the students who were paying to end up potentially with nothing in way of parking. The suggestion that I gave to parking services, which I have now learned will be implemented next September, is that those who have payed the fee will have priority over the spots that were not collected to those who gained a spot from the randomized draw. I am glad the university has taken my suggestion and hope that future unreasonable fees get vetted through students first.

Finally, there will be some super sweet sustainability events going on around World Water Day, which will take place March 22nd. The University has recently committed to a substantial climate action plan I am hopeful that with the help of the U of S office of sustainability, which in currently in the process of attempting to pull themselves out from facilities management division and into a more appropriate role as an administrative department unto its own this can be made to happen. Seeing as sustainability is something the university has included in its second and draft version of the third integrated plan I am hopeful this important aspect of our campus will be properly valued.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns with things that are going on around campus or the USSU--my office is always open!

---Alex Ferwerda

Posted by jbv373 at 11:16 AM | Permalink

Why are we here at the University of Saskatchewan? I’m not talking about some larger philosophical or existential question; I am talking about why we are really here. As students we come to school everyday, day after day, first and foremost to learn (and to pick up good looking people, but mostly to learn). Some classes we take because we must, some we take because they seem cool or interesting and some we take because we would rather not take something else. Whatever the case classes need professors to mark our exams, answer our questions and bore their abundant knowledge as deeply into our brains as possible. However, like all human endeavours, some people are much better at this task than others and that is where I come in.

In my experience here at the USSU so far, I have found nothing more satisfying than my involvement with our USSU Teaching Excellence Awards. Nominations for term two professors opened this past Monday (January 23) and close on Friday February 3. Nominating a professor is easy, just fill out a nomination form (available online from our website, in our main office and any of our USSU Centres) and submit to the USSU main office. It takes only one student to nominate a deserving professor for one of these awards.

In a job that is as long, multifaceted, demanding and thankless as a professor’s, it is as important that we as students take the time to give back even a fraction of the attention that they bestow upon us everyday in so many ways.

Kelsey

Posted by jbv373 at 10:08 AM | Permalink

Below is a position paper concerning creation of a new dedicated student fee to be used for the purpose of funding a Childcare Centre on campus. This position adopted by the USSU Executive and ratified by University Students’ Council (USC) on January 12, 2012.

Preamble

The University of Saskatchewan currently has two on campus daycares totaling 110 Childcare spaces between them: the USSU Childcare Centre and the Campus Daycare. These serve a total campus population of around 25,000 comprised of students, staff and faculty; however the USSU Centre is dedicated exclusively to undergraduate student.

In the 2011 Provincial budget the University of Saskatchewan received $1.36 million towards adding 110 new childcare spaces. This would double the number of spaces on campus.

The University has examined its options to implement these new spaces. The option it is pursuing involves two parts. The first is a renovation of the Campus Daycare facility in the Education Building. The second option is to develop a new or re-purposed building located on the College Quarter. The total cost of these projects is estimated at $4.3 million.

USSU Position

While the plans have been formalized, proper funding has still to be assembled. The University has yet to make their funding commitment to this project. Many stakeholders, including the USSU, have been approached and asked for a financial contribution.

Due to the recently completed Place Riel renovation and expansion project the USSU needs to operate in a fiscally conservative manner. With this in mind the USSU does not have the funds or reserves to make a financial contribution to this project.

It has been suggested that the USSU implement a small Childcare fee to its members for a limited number of years to raise funds to contribute to the capital portion of the project. As per the USSU Bylaw, introducing a new dedicated student fee would require a referendum to be held and the proposition passed by USSU members. The Executive does not feel there should be a referendum, but rather that if the University wants a fee that they should institute a fee themselves. Imposing a general student fee, rather than a USSU specific one, would ensure that all students, undergrads and graduates, would be subject to the fee and would support the childcare spaces that ALL students will use.

The USSU does support the initiative for more childcare for students on campus. However, at this time does not have the resources to financially contribute and does not feel it appropriate to seek another dedicated student fee.

Reid

Posted by jbv373 at 03:47 PM | Permalink