UMSU council notes

JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF

The latest University of Manitoba’s Students’ Union (UMSU) council meeting took place on the Bannatyne Campus in the Basic Medical Sciences building and for the first time since the beginning of the term, quorum was almost not met.

By 6 p.m., the usual meeting time, only 16 council members had shown up to this Oct. 12 meeting, leaving the required quorum of 18 people, two short.

Council members went ahead to have what UMSU president Garry Sran called an “informal discussion,” as reports of councillors were read. There was concern that the two motions on the agenda would have to be set aside until the next meeting.

However, after more than half an hour of “discussion,” two more council members showed up and formal council meeting proceeded.

Sran included an explanation in his report that he and Cathy Antsey, UMSU’s executive director, met with Debbie McCallum, vice-president (administration) of the university, to discuss a name change request that was made to some student groups last month. He admitted that due to a miscommunication he had been under the impression that students were being asked to take the words “University of Manitoba” our of their student group name. However, it was cleared up at this meeting that the only time the “U of M” association must be removed from the group’s name is on a bank account.

UMSU vice-president (internal) Amanda Jonson that UMSU will be airing a weekly radio show on U of M’s radio station UMFM every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.. They’re hoping to have guest speakers and people are encouraged to call in to ask questions.

In vice-president (advocacy) Christian Butera’s UMSU report it was stated that the Food for Fines program is underway. Students will be able to pay up to $15 of their library fines in the currency of one non-perishable food item per dollar.

Two motions were passed at the meeting. The 2005-06 audited financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2006 were presented and approved by council and BDO Dunwoody were approved as auditors for the 2006-07 fiscal year.

According to Antsey, the audit cost about $22,000 and was finished in four days. BDO Dunwoody has been doing the audit for two years now. “For the past two years we’ve had a clean audit,” commented Antsy.

The union’s fund balances at the end of the 2006 year were $1,536,957, compared to last year’s year-end balance of $1,477,711 and 2004’s year-end balance of $1,308,559.

UMSU’s yearly revenue came to $10,259,000, with over $4.5 million of that amount coming from gross student fees (which includes amounts received on behalf of faculty and other associations. Their expenses came to $10,199,754 after cost of goods sold, operating costs, health and dental premiums, interest, amortization and their Helen GlassBuilding contribution.





Volume 94 Issue 9	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	October 18, 2006

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly UMSU council notes JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF The latest University of Manitoba’s Students’ Union (UMSU) council meeting took place on the Bannatyne Campus in the Basic Medical Sciences building and for the first time since the beginning of the term, quorum was almost not met. By 6 p.m., the usual meeting time, only 16 council members had shown up to this Oct. 12 meeting, leaving the required quorum of 18 people, two short. Council members went ahead to have what UMSU president Garry Sran called an “informal discussion,” as reports of councillors were read. There was concern that the two motions on the agenda would have to be set aside until the next meeting. However, after more than half an hour of “discussion,” two more council members showed up and formal council meeting proceeded. Sran included an explanation in his report that he and Cathy Antsey, UMSU’s executive director, met with Debbie McCallum, vice-president (administration) of the university, to discuss a name change request that was made to some student groups last month. He admitted that due to a miscommunication he had been under the impression that students were being asked to take the words “University of Manitoba” our of their student group name. However, it was cleared up at this meeting that the only time the “U of M” association must be removed from the group’s name is on a bank account. UMSU vice-president (internal) Amanda Jonson that UMSU will be airing a weekly radio show on U of M’s radio station UMFM every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.. They’re hoping to have guest speakers and people are encouraged to call in to ask questions. In vice-president (advocacy) Christian Butera’s UMSU report it was stated that the Food for Fines program is underway. Students will be able to pay up to $15 of their library fines in the currency of one non-perishable food item per dollar. Two motions were passed at the meeting. The 2005-06 audited financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2006 were presented and approved by council and BDO Dunwoody were approved as auditors for the 2006-07 fiscal year. According to Antsey, the audit cost about $22,000 and was finished in four days. BDO Dunwoody has been doing the audit for two years now. “For the past two years we’ve had a clean audit,” commented Antsy. The union’s fund balances at the end of the 2006 year were $1,536,957, compared to last year’s year-end balance of $1,477,711 and 2004’s year-end balance of $1,308,559. UMSU’s yearly revenue came to $10,259,000, with over $4.5 million of that amount coming from gross student fees (which includes amounts received on behalf of faculty and other associations. Their expenses came to $10,199,754 after cost of goods sold, operating costs, health and dental premiums, interest, amortization and their Helen GlassBuilding contribution.


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