Notes from UMSU council

MAGALLY ZELAYA, STAFF

A 6:06 p.m. call to order by UMSU president Garry Sran opened the Sept. 27 UMSU council meeting. With a quick approval of the agenda and the last meeting’s minutes, and with no unfinished business to discuss, the meeting was underway.

At the top of the agenda was a detailed presentation outlining the ins and outs of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). CFS-MB treasurer (and U of M Graduate Students’ Association president) Matt McLean and CFS-MB resource coordinator Michael Roy led the presentation. Topics included a history of the CFS, tuition fees in Canada, services provided by CFS, current campaigns, and a comparison of Emöke Szathmáry’s salary with that of premier Gary Doer and that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

In his president’s report, Sran noted that during UMSU orientation, which ended on Sept. 15, over 15,000 daytimers were distributed. Sran called it “a huge success” and thanked all those involved. He also reported chairing a University 1 student council meeting, and attending the university’s annual general meeting as well as the board of governor’s meeting held the same day.

Vice-president (external), Amanda Jonson, reported (among other topics) on the postering service provided by UMSU, which puts up posters free-of-charge for student groups, student service groups, and faculty councils.

Johnson also announced that the UMSU Living website, which provides students with online housing and apartment listings, is now available at umsu.ca/umusliving.

Rachel Heinrichs, vice-president (advocacy) reported that professors are concerned about the structure and access of SEEK reports, which are the students’ evaluations of professors. In addition, Heinrichs also attended a meeting discussing the creation of a Learning Commons, expected to be housed on the main floor of Elizabeth Dafoe and would create an area similar to “ a very large version of IQs.”

The executive report made by Sran included an announcement that the UMSU executive’s office hours have started.

Then council moved to go into closed session for approximately 45 minutes.

Upon returning to open session the meeting continued with reports from the finance, policy and bylaws, and health insurance plan committees. Topics of discussion included the cost of issuing cheques to those who opted out of the health plan, and the crediting of lab auxiliary fees if and when a student drops a lab course.

UMSU councillors Christen Roos, Melissa McRae, and Jeff Salmon volunteered to join the Chief Returning Officer selections committee, which runs elections for UMSU.

The final part of the meeting’s agenda included various announcements and other business, at which time it was announced that as part of Fire Prevention week the university would be running fire drills through Oct. 8 to 15.