2007 news in review

Chelse McKee, Magally Zelaya and Tessa Vanderhart, Staff

Now that 2007 had come to a close we can finally take stock of the year as it happened at the University of Manitoba; we can reflect on the scandal, vandalism, advancement, and change that shaped the university for the year 2008. As people’s faith in higher education continues to grow, how will the U of M fare in 2008? With a new president, crumbling infrastructure, and rising technology, the potential for change at the U of M is great.

STRIKING UNIONS

The contracts of every union on campus expired this year, making 2007 the year of negotiations.

On Oct. 5, the Canadian Auto Workers U of M chapter — representing janitors, engineers, and food services workers — went on strike. After a week of striking and three days of 24-hour, closed-quarter negotiations, the strike was resolved.

During the CAW strike, and more than three months after their collective agreement expired, the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) settled with the administration, preventing a disruption of classes.

Graders, markers, and sessional professors are still without a contract as the two U of M sections of CUPE are still in contract negotiations.

Prediction: New lawyers, new president, new strike infrastructure — the university should be ready for the next rounds of strikes in three years. But will they let them lapse again, as happens every time?

CUPE won’t fare well in their upcoming negotiations — graders and markers will stay at the bottom of the barrel in terms of wages, because let’s face it: we’re in Manitoba.

CONSTRUCTION ON CAMPUS

2007 was the biggest year ever for construction on the U of M campus — at least in terms of jobs. One thousand construction workers (the most ever) worked on $74 million worth of projects (down from last year’s $94 million), including the 30-years-in-the-making Aboriginal Students’ Centre, Bannatyne campus pharmacy building, St. John’s College lecture theatre, all slated for completion in 2008.

Even Elizabeth Dafoe Library got a facelift, with new archives added (and a new Starbucks, too, in the newly available space).

After a year of negotiations, the university contributed $4 million to a $12.5-million indoor soccer complex, to be located just west of University Stadium, and purchased the Southwood Golf Club directly north of the Fort Garry campus — plans to make a plan for the 120-acre course are forthcoming.

PC MLA Myrna Driedger discovered that U of M has an infrastructure deficit of $211 million, and the university stated that 13 of campus buildings are in “critical condition.”

Prediction: How much new construction is too much? The university will have to address its infrastructure deficit before much longer, but capital campaigns — the way the university pays for most of new buildings, through donations — don’t work for unsexy maintenance work. Money will have to be diverted.

CAMPUS LEADERS

In the 10th and final year of the university’s president, Em?ke Szathmáry, a committee headed by Terry Sargeant discussed what ought to be sought in the 11th U of M president.

After a nine-month search, the winner was announced: David Barnard, current CEO for IQMedX and former president of the University of Regina. He starts in July 2008.

Garry Sran ran and won uncontested his second term as the student union president.

CASA, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, began the process of suing UMSU over alleged unpaid membership fees totalling $28,808. The matter was resolved in November, when the two parties agreed that UMSU would simply pay the dues — which it had sitting around in a special bank account — and not an estimated $300,000 in interest.

It was reported in February of last year, that returning chief returning officer (CRO), Caitlin Brown, for the UMSU elections, was familiar with multiple UMSU executive members, including Garry Sran, a presidential candidate for the 2007 election. Despite accusations of biased election practices from past presidential candidate Patrick Smith, Brown remained CRO.

The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), after 41 years, succeeded in winning autonomy from UMSU.

Prediction: UMSU will hold elections again, as they do every February — two slates will run (including the incumbents), and the 10 per cent voter turnout barrier will not be broken.

Prediction No. 2: The new president won’t be much more exciting. Henry Kissinger said an administration only has four to six months to make changes, but that’s not how it works at U of M — plus, Barnard has said he’s not looking to make (m)any changes.

TUITION INCREASES

In March 2007, engineering students voted to increase their tuition by 38 per cent, citing too many classes being taught by TAs, brand-new laboratories without any equipment in them, and the threat of losing accreditation. Although the referendum was first suggested by the dean’s office, 57 per cent of students turned out to vote 64 per cent in favour of the increase, worth $40 per credit hour — that’s almost the same number of students in total that voted in the 2007 UMSU election.

The Board of Governors increased tuition in another way — by mandating new laboratory fees of $30 for wet labs and $25 for dry labs, in all faculties. The fees raised $920,000. Engineering students were exempt because they’d already voted to raise their fees.

The faculty of graduate studies and the university aimed to increase graduate student enrolment — anticipating a slight decline in undergraduate enrolment — by encouraging students to complete their degrees more quickly. A proposal to charge more than $2,000 more than is currently charged for years of study after a student’s first — vehemently opposed by students — was tabled and then abandoned.

The provincial government increased funding to Manitoba universities more this year than any other year. The U of M received a 7.2 increase to its base operating grant from the Council on Post-Secondary Education.

The tuition fee freeze entered its eighth year.

Prediction: The tuition fee freeze will end shortly after its ninth anniversary. The NDP government, fresh off of its biggest win since 1999, has the power like never before — to make a reasonable, regulated plan by which tuition increases by a maximum of five per cent each year.

Graduate studies are becoming more important, and we predict much, much more discussion on how to recruit, retain, and pay for expensive graduate students.

FOOD SERVICES

In April 2007, the university signed Aramark to a new seven-year contract. The food service provider updated its image to beat out other contenders despite a banana in the face incident at an earlier presentation.

As part of the new image, Aramark began operating under the name University of Manitoba Food Services and added healthy and more varied options including home-style and freshly made foods. The food service makeover also included renovations that were scheduled for completion in early September, but students in res.idence were forced to eat from a limited buffet table for a week due to pushed dates.

In October, the CAW strike forced U of M Food Services to operate on limited hours and management to make up for the 480 food workers that had walked.

Predictions: Don’t expect more Starbucks; food services manager Darryl Lucyk has said he’s not interested in having more franchises on campus, especially not until this summer’s renovations are complete. The proposed Tim Hortons in Frank Kennedy that was supposed to be completed in September 2007 will most likely open this year.

SCREW-UPS

The Manitoba labour board ruled that U of M violated labour laws by changing the job classification of five coaches to no longer fall under the terms of the collective agreement. The U of M says it will pursue a second appeal.

The transition to the Aurora student registration system continued to hiccup, as students enrolled in UMSU’s health and dental plan weren’t able to access some of their benefits in early 2007. For the 2007-08 year, UMSU reorganized, instead charging everyone for health insurance and offering refund cheques to students with other insurance — at a cost of $10,000.

Students railed against parking-pass complications spurred by Aurora: the registration date was rescheduled twice, and eventually students each individually e-mailed the parking office their preferences and the passes were coded, one at a time — 2,773 times.

Predictions: The Labour Board will rule again, finally, against the U of M, despite the university’s contention that more screw-ups will happen.

CRIME

In October 2007, three U of M track athletes were reported to be involved in a confrontation with university security. The matter was settled internally.

In February, a painting by Miriam Rudolph, on display in the tunnel under the Duff Roblin building, was slashed by a still-unknown assailant.

Prediction: The U of M has to beef up its security, but it’s likely that you’ll never know how. More training, more cameras around campus, more guards and a new text messaging system will keep us safe, quietly.

HEALTH AND TECH

September 2007 marked a notable step forward in health care, as female students under the age of 26 were eligible to have the newly developed HPV vaccine covered by the UMSU health plan. The vaccine, which costs up to $500 without insurance, protects against cell changes caused by the human papilloma virus that can lead to cervical cancer and genital warts.

In the same month, 2,500 students in various chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology classes were introduced to the IClicker — a remote polling device used by professors to get instant feedback during lectures and quizzes. At a price of $37.95, 90 per cent of the devices ordered by the bookstore had been sold by November 2007.

More than 4,000 students took distance and online courses, the most ever.

The university held a funeral for its mainframe computer system, more than 50 years old, which was replaced in 2006 by Aurora.

Predictions: the use of IClickers will only get more widespread, as the university continues to look at ways that technology can improve education.

---

The final verdict? The U of M is moving forward, but slowly. We lag behind in many areas — where’s the U of M’s learning commons? Fourth Tim Hortons? International acclaim?

Our most important, and last prediction, is that 2008 will be a stable and much-needed building year.

A new president at the university won’t change everything, or perhaps even much. 2008 could well be a boring year — but let’s hope not.





Volume 95 Issue 17	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	January 09, 2008

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly 2007 news in review Chelse McKee, Magally Zelaya and Tessa Vanderhart, Staff Now that 2007 had come to a close we can finally take stock of the year as it happened at the University of Manitoba; we can reflect on the scandal, vandalism, advancement, and change that shaped the university for the year 2008. As people’s faith in higher education continues to grow, how will the U of M fare in 2008? With a new president, crumbling infrastructure, and rising technology, the potential for change at the U of M is great. STRIKING UNIONS The contracts of every union on campus expired this year, making 2007 the year of negotiations. On Oct. 5, the Canadian Auto Workers U of M chapter — representing janitors, engineers, and food services workers — went on strike. After a week of striking and three days of 24-hour, closed-quarter negotiations, the strike was resolved. During the CAW strike, and more than three months after their collective agreement expired, the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) settled with the administration, preventing a disruption of classes. Graders, markers, and sessional professors are still without a contract as the two U of M sections of CUPE are still in contract negotiations. Prediction: New lawyers, new president, new strike infrastructure — the university should be ready for the next rounds of strikes in three years. But will they let them lapse again, as happens every time? CUPE won’t fare well in their upcoming negotiations — graders and markers will stay at the bottom of the barrel in terms of wages, because let’s face it: we’re in Manitoba. CONSTRUCTION ON CAMPUS 2007 was the biggest year ever for construction on the U of M campus — at least in terms of jobs. One thousand construction workers (the most ever) worked on $74 million worth of projects (down from last year’s $94 million), including the 30-years-in-the-making Aboriginal Students’ Centre, Bannatyne campus pharmacy building, St. John’s College lecture theatre, all slated for completion in 2008. Even Elizabeth Dafoe Library got a facelift, with new archives added (and a new Starbucks, too, in the newly available space). After a year of negotiations, the university contributed $4 million to a $12.5-million indoor soccer complex, to be located just west of University Stadium, and purchased the Southwood Golf Club directly north of the Fort Garry campus — plans to make a plan for the 120-acre course are forthcoming. PC MLA Myrna Driedger discovered that U of M has an infrastructure deficit of $211 million, and the university stated that 13 of campus buildings are in “critical condition.” Prediction: How much new construction is too much? The university will have to address its infrastructure deficit before much longer, but capital campaigns — the way the university pays for most of new buildings, through donations — don’t work for unsexy maintenance work. Money will have to be diverted. CAMPUS LEADERS In the 10th and final year of the university’s president, Em?ke Szathmáry, a committee headed by Terry Sargeant discussed what ought to be sought in the 11th U of M president. After a nine-month search, the winner was announced: David Barnard, current CEO for IQMedX and former president of the University of Regina. He starts in July 2008. Garry Sran ran and won uncontested his second term as the student union president. CASA, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, began the process of suing UMSU over alleged unpaid membership fees totalling $28,808. The matter was resolved in November, when the two parties agreed that UMSU would simply pay the dues — which it had sitting around in a special bank account — and not an estimated $300,000 in interest. It was reported in February of last year, that returning chief returning officer (CRO), Caitlin Brown, for the UMSU elections, was familiar with multiple UMSU executive members, including Garry Sran, a presidential candidate for the 2007 election. Despite accusations of biased election practices from past presidential candidate Patrick Smith, Brown remained CRO. The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), after 41 years, succeeded in winning autonomy from UMSU. Prediction: UMSU will hold elections again, as they do every February — two slates will run (including the incumbents), and the 10 per cent voter turnout barrier will not be broken. Prediction No. 2: The new president won’t be much more exciting. Henry Kissinger said an administration only has four to six months to make changes, but that’s not how it works at U of M — plus, Barnard has said he’s not looking to make (m)any changes. TUITION INCREASES In March 2007, engineering students voted to increase their tuition by 38 per cent, citing too many classes being taught by TAs, brand-new laboratories without any equipment in them, and the threat of losing accreditation. Although the referendum was first suggested by the dean’s office, 57 per cent of students turned out to vote 64 per cent in favour of the increase, worth $40 per credit hour — that’s almost the same number of students in total that voted in the 2007 UMSU election. The Board of Governors increased tuition in another way — by mandating new laboratory fees of $30 for wet labs and $25 for dry labs, in all faculties. The fees raised $920,000. Engineering students were exempt because they’d already voted to raise their fees. The faculty of graduate studies and the university aimed to increase graduate student enrolment — anticipating a slight decline in undergraduate enrolment — by encouraging students to complete their degrees more quickly. A proposal to charge more than $2,000 more than is currently charged for years of study after a student’s first — vehemently opposed by students — was tabled and then abandoned. The provincial government increased funding to Manitoba universities more this year than any other year. The U of M received a 7.2 increase to its base operating grant from the Council on Post-Secondary Education. The tuition fee freeze entered its eighth year. Prediction: The tuition fee freeze will end shortly after its ninth anniversary. The NDP government, fresh off of its biggest win since 1999, has the power like never before — to make a reasonable, regulated plan by which tuition increases by a maximum of five per cent each year. Graduate studies are becoming more important, and we predict much, much more discussion on how to recruit, retain, and pay for expensive graduate students. FOOD SERVICES In April 2007, the university signed Aramark to a new seven-year contract. The food service provider updated its image to beat out other contenders despite a banana in the face incident at an earlier presentation. As part of the new image, Aramark began operating under the name University of Manitoba Food Services and added healthy and more varied options including home-style and freshly made foods. The food service makeover also included renovations that were scheduled for completion in early September, but students in res.idence were forced to eat from a limited buffet table for a week due to pushed dates. In October, the CAW strike forced U of M Food Services to operate on limited hours and management to make up for the 480 food workers that had walked. Predictions: Don’t expect more Starbucks; food services manager Darryl Lucyk has said he’s not interested in having more franchises on campus, especially not until this summer’s renovations are complete. The proposed Tim Hortons in Frank Kennedy that was supposed to be completed in September 2007 will most likely open this year. SCREW-UPS The Manitoba labour board ruled that U of M violated labour laws by changing the job classification of five coaches to no longer fall under the terms of the collective agreement. The U of M says it will pursue a second appeal. The transition to the Aurora student registration system continued to hiccup, as students enrolled in UMSU’s health and dental plan weren’t able to access some of their benefits in early 2007. For the 2007-08 year, UMSU reorganized, instead charging everyone for health insurance and offering refund cheques to students with other insurance — at a cost of $10,000. Students railed against parking-pass complications spurred by Aurora: the registration date was rescheduled twice, and eventually students each individually e-mailed the parking office their preferences and the passes were coded, one at a time — 2,773 times. Predictions: The Labour Board will rule again, finally, against the U of M, despite the university’s contention that more screw-ups will happen. CRIME In October 2007, three U of M track athletes were reported to be involved in a confrontation with university security. The matter was settled internally. In February, a painting by Miriam Rudolph, on display in the tunnel under the Duff Roblin building, was slashed by a still-unknown assailant. Prediction: The U of M has to beef up its security, but it’s likely that you’ll never know how. More training, more cameras around campus, more guards and a new text messaging system will keep us safe, quietly. HEALTH AND TECH September 2007 marked a notable step forward in health care, as female students under the age of 26 were eligible to have the newly developed HPV vaccine covered by the UMSU health plan. The vaccine, which costs up to $500 without insurance, protects against cell changes caused by the human papilloma virus that can lead to cervical cancer and genital warts. In the same month, 2,500 students in various chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology classes were introduced to the IClicker — a remote polling device used by professors to get instant feedback during lectures and quizzes. At a price of $37.95, 90 per cent of the devices ordered by the bookstore had been sold by November 2007. More than 4,000 students took distance and online courses, the most ever. The university held a funeral for its mainframe computer system, more than 50 years old, which was replaced in 2006 by Aurora. Predictions: the use of IClickers will only get more widespread, as the university continues to look at ways that technology can improve education. --- The final verdict? The U of M is moving forward, but slowly. We lag behind in many areas — where’s the U of M’s learning commons? Fourth Tim Hortons? International acclaim? Our most important, and last prediction, is that 2008 will be a stable and much-needed building year. A new president at the university won’t change everything, or perhaps even much. 2008 could well be a boring year — but let’s hope not.


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