U1O vs. UMSU-O

Negotiation breakdown

U1O director Blais has on file U1’s initial offer for UMSU ‘s involvement in orientation. She explained the eight things offered, adding that UMSU’s repsonse to these offers asked too much — forcing her to cut off negotiations.

Sran declined to speak to specific offers, saying that they were “off the record,” but said that the main points of divergence were the request to approve UMSU’s scripts (6) and the Welcoming Ceremony (8).

1. Speaking in homerooms
Blais said there were problems last year with UMSU “putting down” U1O, so they asked to see UMSU’s scripts in advance.

2. Speaking at volunteer training sessions
Blais said U1O offered UMSU five minutes of speaking time at volunteer training sessions.

3. Brochures and mailout materials
UMSU traditionally pays to get space in U1O brochures and mailouts, but didn’t purchase any this year.

4. Student e-mails
Privacy laws prevent the university from giving UMSU students’ umanitoba.ca e-mails or those provided in registration, but Blais said U1O helps UMSU administer student e-mail sign-up sheets.

5. Tables in the quad during U1O

6. Speaking in classrooms
“UMSU could say what they wanted to say,” said Blais.

7. U1O training manual page
Would have been written by UMSU.

8. Welcoming Ceremony
This year, the deans and directors of all faculties and schools will be called on stage, in time with a presentation explaining the programs available — “to show the students that there’s a whole world out there.” In past years, it was only university president Emöke Szathmáry and UMSU on stage; now, only a representative of Shinerama will share the formal podium with Szathmáry.

Blais said that U1O offered UMSU a place on stage with the deans. “They didn’t want that. They didn’t want any of this. They wanted to have what Emöke had.”