Council meeting tonight

The TRUSU council meeting is tonight because of the Easter holiday. It starts at 6pm in the boardroom.

CFS documents found online

Normally I would not post anything about the Canadian Federation of Students on this blog, but over the past few weeks I've discovered more and more links that I have decided to share here.

On studentunion.ca, a blog by Titus Gregory, CFS national general meeting documents can be found. Now don't expect them to be entirely accurate. I found out from a journalist who was at the AGM that motions were made to amend the budget during the November 2009 AGM and I could not find a finalized budget on Titus' document page. But it's a place to start if you are in need of some information.

And the second link is an anti-cfs website, but regardless it has links to all university campus newspaper articles about the CFS. A one-stop-shop when looking for written articles about the CFS (just click on the media page).

International students on same plan as domestic students at other schools

March 24-26, TRUSU is holding a health and dental referendum for international students, as stated in an article published in the Omega ("International students to vote on health, dental benefits", March 17).

At TRU, international students are not currently on the same extended health and dental benefits plan as the domestic students and will be asked the question of whether or not they would like to join.

Rob Nagai, general manager of the UBCSUO, said that the UBC Okanagan does not separate international students from domestic students. He said that the benefits act like a fee.

"Same with the media fees. If you pay the fees, you read the Pheonix," he said.

At the University of Manitoba, Sid Rashid, president of their students' union, also said that international students and domestic students are the same.

In Manitoba and Saskatchewan he said that international students are required to have basic coverage that is administered through the University, as well as extended benefits.

"We work together with a national student network to provide health coverage for all students, including international student," Rashid said.

He said that students with alternative coverage are also able to opt out of the plan.

TRUSU should take note

In a previous post, I mentioned that I asked TRUSU if they had considered posting documents on their website. They responded that they had discussed it and had decided not to.

Today, I was browsing the UVSS website and thought I should share. While I am not trying to attend their meetings and have no way to verify that their schedule is accurate, I wanted it to be noted that both their meeting minutes and financial documents are posted online. How convenient.

The calendar is still not fixed?

TRUSU still hasn't done anything about the incorrect dates listed on their calendar.

It should read:
March 22 council meeting
March 24, 25, 26 International Students' Health & Dental referendum
April 5 council meeting
April 19 council meeting

TRUSU takes part in Kamloops Homelessness Action Plan

An individual considered "at risk" to homelessness is one that spends more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, explained Nathan Lane, executive director of TRUSU, to the TRUSU council on March 8.

Nathan Lane is a member of the Kamloops Homelessness Action Plan committee, as a representative from TRUSU. He said that some of the goals of this action plan would also benefit students, as well as the Kamloops homeless, by making more rental housing available at an affordable rate.

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation stated that the average cost of a two bedroom rental unit in Kamloops was $825 per month in 2009 (according to "Housing Market Outlook" 2009 report).

Students who share an apartment (at $412.50 each per month) would need $1,375 per month to keep their housing costs at the recommended 30 per cent. Does the average student enter a semester with $5,500 in savings for living expenses?

Surveys of Kamloops shelter users, presented in the action plan, made it apparent that some of the users were former TRU students. Current shelter users that had been interviews said that their goal was to return to TRU.

"You can't say that tuition fees don't have an impact on the access," said Natalie Reisle, TRUSU VP External, to the council.

The Homelessness Action Plan aims to eliminate homelessness in Kamloops within five years, Nathan Lane explained to the council, with these six goals:

1) Establish a Local Housing Board

• Discussion of more secondary suites in the Kamloops area.

2) Reduce evictions and have greater housing stability

• Landlords are often hesitant to take on individuals that do not have steady employment and rely on social services.
  

3) Connect people with the help they need.
4) Concentrate on building basic life skills.
5) Improve fairness, accessibility and responsibility
6) Take recommendations from the public

• Hold a forum in April or May

Manitobans stoop to "dirty politics"

In an article published in the Manitoban it was reported that students have taken their elections to a whole new level: vandalism, stalking, and violence.

Here at TRU, the elections have already been wrapped up and not even a debate was held to hear members of each slate. While it would have been nice to for the TRUSU candidates to campaign and get the students attention, I am glad that no one felt it was necessary to stoop to the level of the students at the U of M.

International students' co-op fees will be reduced

TRUSU sent a letter to the Board of Governors stating their support for a reduction in international students' co-op fees.

On Monday, Feb. 22, the Board of Governors voted and unanimously agreed that a reduction would be made.

Nathan Lane, executive director of TRUSU, explained that the international students at TRU pay a percentage of their tuition in co-op fees. This means that, as tuition has increased over the past years, the portion of co-op fees that international students pay has increased to a much higher portion, in comparison to domestic students' co-op fees.

Election results for the 2010 - 2011 representatives

The election results are out. TRUSU has yet to post them on their website. But these are the results according to the TRUSU posters displayed around campus:

President
Dasha Moryakova (TRU United)
577

Neville Obbu (United We Stand)
174

VP External
Jamshid (Jambo) Mirzabekov (TRU United)
Yes 615
No 102

VP Finance
Ricardo Iraheta (United We Stand)
210

Sadriddin Mirkhodjaev (TRU United)
508

VP Internal
Abdallah El Chami (TRU United)
Yes 603
No 99

Aboriginal Students Rep
Nicole Joseph (TRU United)
538

Ursal Williams (United We Stand)
169

International Students Rep
Aisha Musa (United We Stand)
216

Zhiwei Zhou (TRU United)
522

Women's Students Res
Crystal Hunt (United We Stand)
200

Jennifer Palma (TRU United)
532

Grad Studies
Muteb Alanazi (TRU United)
Yes 617
No 87

Arts, Science, Education, and Advanced Technology Rep
Albert Ajatuewo (United We Stand)
172

Dustin McIntyre (TRU United)
558

Business and Economics, School of Tourism Rep
Jordan Phelps (TRU United)
Yes 629
No 92

Social Work, Nursing, Trades, Division of Student Development Rep
Jordan Harris (TRU United)
571

Karl Koziura (United We Stand)
134

Here's an interesting blog post I found a few days ago:

I came across this blog post by Kailey Willetts, from Victoria. Her blog is covering the University of Victoria Students' Society elections.

TRU United candidate receives Psych club funding

This past Monday, TRU United candidate Jennifer Palma and a fellow Psychology club member presented to the 2009/2010 council requesting $2500.

The money is to help the club, a group of Psychology majors, go to the APS conference in Boston, MA this year, where they will get to see research presentations and meet some major contacts working in the Psychology field.

Both Palma and her partner organized the proposal, which covered many of the questions TRUSU council had.

The club has fundraised on numerous occasions, including a paintball tournament, bake sales, and they also collect membership fees. The two explained to the council that they diligently compared prices for travel and accommodations to ensure the best option for the club.

But one has to wonder, isn't it a conflict of interest for Jennifer Palma to present to a council where four of the members are running under the same slate as her in the current election?

Nathan Lane doesn't think so.

"Just because she's a candidate doesn't mean she can't present," said Nathan Lane, TRUSU executive director. "If she won, she couldn't vote to give money that would directly benefit her."

Dasha Moryakova (Presidential candidate for TRU United) abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest. But, in an interview to follow, she explained that it was because she is the "Signing Authority" for the Psychology club. She said it was not because Palma is on the same slate as her in the election.

The proposals are also due the Friday before the Monday meeting, but a source (who wished not to be named) explained that the Psychology club had decided three weeks ago which club members were to present at the TRUSU council meeting. Jennifer Palma would have had to put in her candidate application a week and a half later. The Psych club had also made the decision as a group. It was not a personal decision for Palma to elect herself to present, the source said.

The TRUSU council voted in favor of giving the Psych club the $2500 (minus Dasha's abstention).

TRUSU increases club funding

On Feb 8, 2010 TRUSU's executive director Nathan Lane presented to the council that they overspend $10,500 to allow for more club funding this year.

"Essentially what happened was, we changed our club policy at the beginning of this year," Lane said, in a telephone interview Tuesday.

Prior to this year every TRUSU club needed to re-apply to be a club each year. Now, TRUSU clubs have a one-time application and each club is given a start up grant of $250. TRUSU budgeted $25,000 for clubs this year, but the new restructuring meant that TRUSU has already spent $21,000+, leaving $3000 and change left for one-time funding grants.

Clubs can apply for grants for up to $2500 to TRUSU to help them fund various activities, but almost half of the budgeted club fund was taken up by the start up grants.

"We do have money in our surplus," Lane said to the council during his presentation. He said that he did not want to penalize TRUSU clubs for their new club restructuring.

TRU United executive candidates meet for questioning

Sadriddin Mirkodjaev (running for VP Finance), Dasha Moryakova (running for President), Abdallah El Chami (running for VP Internal) and Jambo Mirzabekov (running for VP External) met for questioning in the Independent Centre Tuesday.

TRU United executive candidates met to answer questions about their slate, which hopes to: "Enhance Student Life, Promote Unified Campus Culture, Fight Increasing Tuition, Create a Green Campus, and Develop a Parking Plan."

Three of the candidates (Dasha, Jambo, and Sadriddin) are already on the 2009/2010 council. But Dasha explained that that doesn't make things easier for them, as some might assume. She explained that they still have to do their office work, their school work, and have time to campaign.

"Both [slates] are regulated under the same policy," said Jambo Mirzabekov (VP External candidate). "We did not even use a staple from the office to staple our posters."

The group slate includes continuation of projects that TRUSU is currently working on, but they also have some new ideas. Abdallah El Chami, who is not currently on the council, said that they will be working on communicating with the students in new ways.

"The big thing we have to understand is that we are dealing with a new generation of students," said El Chami. He explained that he intends to use new social media online to communicate with the students, such as twitter and facebook.

"This month we'll be engaging in conversations with students," said Dasha Moryakova (Presidential candidate). She said that each week they want to walk around and talk to the students, ask them any questions they may have about the union.

"I'd like to add, we've been busy developing the students' union building," said Jambo Mirzabekov. "Now our main goal is to increase awareness in membership. Introducing ourselves and talking to students face to face."

The students' union building only fully opened up this past September, after some major renovations. Now, TRU United said that they will have more time to take part in other projects because there are no longer unanticipated surprises that require their attention. The Common Grounds coffee shop is open and the building is fully useable again.

"My thoughts are that I think we are on the right track," said Sadriddin Mirkodjaev (VP Finance candidate).

Dasha Moryakova said that her door is always open.

"The purpose of the building was to bring students here, and I'm here," she said. "I have never ever locked the door in front of someone and said I'm busy. I think what is most important is to be working with students. We could close ourselves in this building, but we put ourselves in a tiny place," she said of the office portion of the Independent Centre.

There is potential for low voter turnout this year, because the polling station has been moved to a single location in the Independent Centre, but TRU United hope that it means more educated voting.

"If a voter walks from Old Main, then they want their vote to count," said Abdallah El Chami. "It takes an effort to come [to the Independent Centre]."

Sadriddin Mirkodjaev said that the Independent Centre is an appropriate location.

"I'd like to add that the building was build to represent a student movement, not just a student union," he said. Last year people were forced to vote because they couldn't walk around campus without being given pamphlets and asked to vote at poling station, he explained. This year students who wish to vote will vote because there is a candidate that they wish to vote for, not because they are forced to do so by campaigning candidates.

Click here to read what the opposing candidates had to say

United We Stand candidates meet for questioning

From the left Crystal Hunt (running for Women's rep), Yemi Obbu (running for President), Albert Ajatuewo (running for Arts and Science rep), Ricardo Iraheta (running for VP Finance), and Aisha Musa (running for International rep).


With two days left before the poles open for voting, United We Stand met to answer some questions.

The group expressed concern about the short amount of time to prepare their slate and begin campaigning, but their message is certainly clear.

"We just aren't looking at sitting in a desk doing our paperwork," said Ricardo Iraheta, VP Finance candidate. "We're looking to be active with the students."

Their slate: "Accountability, Transparency, Pro-Activeness, Informative, Diversity, and Affordable Tuition."

The five slate members present (minus Ursal Williams and Karl Koziura) agreed that, if they get into council, they will work closely with the students, so that TRU students know what is going on.

They recommended more forums with the executives so that students can get involved.

Iraheta said that by talking to the students they can get the word out about what TRUSU is actually doing. They don't want to solely rely on the TRUSU website and the student newspaper to inform students about activities of their students' union.

"It's all about the fact that we don't know what's going on in the students' union," said Aisha Musa, International rep candidate. "For example, there are still a lot of people that don't even know that elections are take place."

Yemi Obbu, Presidential candidate, said that he is concerned not enough students will show up to vote. This year polling is scheduled to take place in the Independent Centre.

"I don't know who's going to vote," said Obbu. "If people won't walk upstairs in Old Main to vote, you think they will walk over here [to the Independent Centre]?"He explained that he wants all the students to vote, not just friends of the candidates.

"One thing I am really proud of is that, with the limited time we had, we can actually show the students that we are professionals by our posters," said Obbu. He explained that United We Stand put information on their posters to show the students that they are qualified for the positions.

"That is the basic theme about the election," said Obbu. "Not about just thinking vote for me, but about the students, giving them the reason why they should, not actually vote for you, but employ you. Because they are the boss of the students' union and their votes employ you into the students' union."

Polling is set to take place Wednesday and Thursday (Feb 10th and 11th) from 8am to 4pm in the Independent Centre.

Click here to read what the opposing candidates had to say

Win by default? Not according to TRUSU bylaws

While I try to hunt down the potential student reps for comment, I thought I'd do some light reading...

Thompson Rivers University Student's Union Constitution & Bylaws

With the new candidates announced there has been some concern about the positions that only have one candidate running. I was told yesterday by a TRUSU staffer (who works the desk) that some people have already "won". Cam on Campus also stated in his blog that there are already "default winners."

I would like to bring him some reassurance: TRUSU bylaws state otherwise.

According to the TRUSU bylaws:

BY-LAW VII - ELECTION OF COUNCIL

6. Voting
b) If only one (1) nomination is received for a particular office, members shall be asked on the ballot to approve or disapprove of the nominee. The nominee must receive the approval of the majority of the ballots cast to be declared duly elected.

So Jambo, Abdallah, Muteb, and Jordan will still need to win the students approval.

TRUSU candidates announced

Well it's that time of year again, when optimistic students get to stand around handing out pamphlets trying to encourage the other students to vote for them.

Yesterday (Feb 2) at 4pm was the deadline for candidates in the upcoming TRUSU election. The candidates are split into two parties: TRU United and TRU Alliance "United We Stand". Let's try not to confuse the two.

Here they are:

TRU United

President: Darya "Dasha" Moryakova (currently on TRUSU as the VP of Finance)
VP Internal: Abdallah El Chami
VP External: Jambo Mirzabekov (currently on TRUSU as the International student's rep.)
VP Finance: Sadriddin Mirkhodjaev (currently on TRUSU as Business and Economics, School of Tourism rep.)

Aboriginal Rep: Nicole Joseph
Women's Rep: Jennifer Palma
Grad Rep: Muteb Alanzi
Business Rep: Jordan Phelps
Vocational Rep: Jordan Harris
Science/ Arts Rep: Dustin McIntyre
International Rep: David Zhou

Their platform:
"Enhance student life, promote unified campus culture, fight increasing tuition, create a green campus, and develop a parking plan."

United We Stand

President: Neville Yemi Obbu
VP Finance: Ricardo Iraheta

Aboriginal Rep:Ursal Williams
Women's Rep: Crystal D. Hunt
Social Work, Nursing, Trades and Division of Student Development Rep: Karl Koziura
Science/Arts Rep: Albert Ajatuewo
International Rep: Aisha Musa

Their platform:
"Accountability, transparency, pro-activeness, informative, diversity, and affordable tuition."

Four of the candidates don't have any competition. Those are Jambo Mirzabekov, Abdallah El Chami, Muteb Alanzi, and Jordan Phelps. All four are from TRU United and two of the positions are executive positions.

Now, for the challenging part! Trying to track down all of the candidates to get them to say something other than what is already listed so neatly on all their posters. Stay tuned...

TRUSU budget stays in the office

January 28,2010 at 11am TRUSU held it's Annual General Meeting. I was highly anticipating the AGM for several reasons: the first being that I predicted this would be the only opportunity this year to sit in a room full of students who would pose questions about the student unions' activities and spending.

And...no one showed up.

The second reason I was looking forward to it: receiving the budget. I was looking forward to having this small, relatively vague document, in my filing cabinet, so that I would freely be able to reference the TRUSU budget at any time.

And...they collected the budget back. I only had it in my possession for a few minutes and was madly chicken scratching down as much as I could.

I asked Nathan Lane, TRUSU executive director, after the meeting if I could please have a budget document to keep. He told me that any time I would like to see the budget I can schedule an appointment and sit down with him and he can explain it to me.

But that's not what I was looking for.

The budget is a very simple document that sets out a rough estimate of what TRUSU predicts it will collect and spend over the next year. I don't need a TRUSU executive to explain to me that they collect $850,000 in Membership Fees. I just thought that if I went to the meeting I was allowed to take a copy of the budget, and obviously if I had any questions I would be sure to call him up.

The reason I thought the budgets were handed out openly is because I have a copy of last years budget and I did not attend last years AGM. Where I got it? I have no idea. But obviously it should be treasured.

My two biggest questions that I wanted to ask TRUSU this year:
1) Has TRUSU discussed putting the CFS fees through TRUSU, so that the fees can appear on their yearly audit?
"Yes we've discussed it. We don't get to classify what fees go in our budget," Nathan Lane said.

It should be noted that Kwantlen Student Association asked permission at their school to have the CFS fees go through their audit this year and were successful in doing so.

2) Has TRUSU discussed posting their meeting minutes online like many other student societies do in British Columbia?
Again they've discussed it, but they have decided not to.

TRUSU gives SIFE $2000 to run one of Kamloops’ Thirsty Thursdays

In an article I wrote, published to the Omega website ("Thirsty Thursday stirs up controversy", theomega.ca), it was revealed that Kamloops will have two Thirsty Thursdays beginning February 4th, 2010.

Thirsty Thursday, has been a weekly pub night at TRU’s Heroes pub, and has been run successfully by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) for the past seven years.

Now, SIFE has decided to take their fundraising event, Thirsty Thursday, to Cactus Jacks (as written in the Omega article).

In a proposal made at the TRUSU council meeting on Monday January 25, 2010, SIFE stated that it needed $2500 to ensure that it could continue running Thirsty Thursday, now to be held at Cactus Jacks. It was understood by TRUSU that Heroes pulled the plug on SIFE fundraising and that without the money Thirsty Thursday would be no-more, as discussed during the TRUSU debate.

However, there are a few things everyone should know:

1. SIFE is the only TRUSU club that has a closed bank account. In the debate at the TRUSU council meeting it was brought up that no one knew how much revenue they made, and there would be no way of knowing how SIFE would actually spend the proposed club money.
2. In an article written by the Kamloops Daily News (“Help from higher learning” December 22, 2009), it was stated that SIFE generates a revenue of approximately $15,000 in a 25-week period.
3. According to Gerard Hayes, TRU director of ancillary services, SIFE was not told that it was no longer allowed to host Thirsty Thursday at Heroes. SIFE chose to leave because one night, out of seven years, was taken away from them, so that the Adventure club could host a fundraiser Thursday January 21, 2010.
4. Thirsty Thursday will also continue to run at Heroes, on campus, only now other clubs have the opportunity to take a stab at it. Heroes is already receiving applications from clubs vying for a chance to host the event.
   

After some debate by the TRUSU council, the motion to give SIFE $2500 was denied, but a following motion was made by Jambo Mirzabekov, International Students representative, to grant the club $2000.

“Thirsty Thursday has been going on for quite awhile,” said Dan Erickson, Graduate Studies representative. “It will be a good investment for us.”

The motion passed and SIFE was granted $2000 to help them start-up Thirsty Thursday at Cactus Jacks.

But TRUSU was not aware that Thirsty Thursday at Heroes will also continue. SIFE does not have rights to the name Thirsty Thursday said Gerard Hayes. According to him the event will continue at Heroes as well.

So, I believe that any branding that Erickson thought would be an investment will remain with Heroes.

In fact, I would predict that because Thirsty Thursday at Heroes has been going on for so long, people will continue to go, indifferent about which club name is listed on the poster.

These TRU students will have to be awfully thirsty to sustain the two events.

Council Meeting Schedule

Last week I had every intention of going to the TRUSU council meeting, as scheduled on the TRUSU calender on their website(trusu.ca). Unfortunately the dates on the website are incorrect. The calender should read as follows:
January 25, 2009 - Council Meeting 6pm
January 28, 2009 - Annual General Meeting 11am
February 8, 2009 - Council Meeting 6pm
February 22, 2009 - Council Meeting 6pm
And continues to follow every other Monday in this manner.

The council meetings are held at 6pm in the Independent Centre. The Independent Centre is attached to the TRU Campus Activity Center.