Your Tuition Dollars At Work

A bi-weekly eye-witness report on the inner workings of your Student Representative Council

By Simon Jack

The Student Representative Council meeting on November 6th was, as always, a thrill-a-minute exercise in daredevil antics and excitement. Friends were made, enemies crushed ruthlessly, and tears shed.

Of course, I didn’t see any of this. But I’m sure it happened, nonetheless. You can tell, when you’re a reporter.

Still, despite the furious subtle back-and-forth between people through raised eyebrows, bored expressions and vacant gazes, the actual discussion was brief and confined to only a few topics.

Student Financial Assistance

Guest Susan Montague addressed the Council on the subject of the University’s Student Financial Support Strategy. Ms. Montague has been tasked with determining student’s financial needs and providing the university with a report on the subject so that the university can better address those needs and encourage donors to do so. She asked the council for their input on what those needs were.

VP External Celia McDermott pointed out the difficulties of student debt, while President Melissa Colwell explained how she found that many students are forced to cut back their attendance to cover costs find those costs increasing because of the need to pay back student loans, which places them in a difficult position. Ms. Montague agreed, and mentioned to the council that part-time student support for both UNB campuses totals only twenty-five-thousand dollars. VP Student Affairs Leah Richardson mentioned that the university’s insistence that students pay for parking seems unreasonable.

The council generally agreed that they would be able to come up with more ideas given some time to consider, and so Ms. Montague left them with her contact information (which she also agreed to provide to you, loyal Baron readers): montague@unb.ca. She invites comment from any and all students on what they see as needs which should be addressed. The report will be compiled in December, so e-mail her soon.

Student Survey
After Ms. Montague had left, discussion turned to the Council’s ongoing project – the survey of student needs. Each councilor was asked their views on what needs and issues were facing students that the student council could take action on.

Residence Representative Brenna Hodgins suggested that the cafeteria’s closure at 6 was hardly convenient for residence students, and that there is currently insufficient residence parking.

Athletics’ Representative Colin Rouse suggested that further exposure for athletic events would be greatly appreciated.

Arts Representative Amanada Sadleir mentioned the variety of ongoing problems with Aramark and the possibility of regular transport between the Saint John and Fredericton campuses, so that students could take advantage of opportunities on both.

Science Representative Taryn ONeill explained that the library’s early closure on weekends is detrimental to student study efforts, and that the cafeteria’s charging for debit card use is indefensible.

Science Representative Katie Ellsworth also suggested that student parking could be made free – and that the perennial idea of a student bus pass could be combined with this program for a choice between either a free bus or free parking pass. She also mentioned the idea of working water fountains, which was met with great approval from all.

Arts Representative Isaiah Richardson suggested further cooperation with New Brunswick Community College and their student government, and free campus parking after 6PM, while the VP External mentioned larger issues like expensive textbooks and issues surrounding graduate student copyrights. VP Finance Jake Beal suggested that longer gym hours in the various workout rooms and the weight room would be a good idea.

International Representative Isaac Asonya proposed what may have been the most interesting idea. He suggested a common free time in the campus schedule (an idea which he says has apparently been raised before with the university). A common free time would consist of a few one or two hour blocks every week which are not scheduled for classes – thus providing clubs and sports teams with times when they could schedule meetings and practices with the assurance that all members could attend without interrupting academic life (it would also allow students an actual opportunity to eat, which class scheduling this year has handily avoided). All the ideas were noted by the President, who still hopes to present the survey in the new year.

All in all, the survey appears well on track, though the ideas proposed raised the concern that, quite simply, the SRC may get responses back from the students just in time for graduation. This year’s student council, like many past student councils and many other student organizations, faces the problem that a large portion of the movers and shakers disappear each year. The student government this year may end up producing a report that the next government will have to act upon, and it’s an open question whether that government will do so.

Meeting adjourned

Finally, the council asked for an update from the finance committee, which the VP Finance Jacob Beal reported had not yet met, because there “wasn’t really anything to talk about”. The President suggested they do so soon, and the meeting was adjourned.

Simon Jack is a Baron staff writer and commentator on the CFMH radio program Anarchy Later