Notes from UMSU council
Fur, fundraising, and federations
Magally Zelaya, staff
Motions were not the only thing on the table at UMSU council’s Nov. 7 meeting when executive director, Cathy Antsey, brought her dog. The fluffball made its way on to the table numerous times during the biweekly meeting held in Helen Glass, chaired by Hal Brownlee.
UMSU president Garry Sran reported that he had taken part in the Canadian Federation of Students national executive meeting Oct. 19-21 and the federation’s lobbying efforts in Ottawa Oct. 22-26. As well, Sran reported attending a confidential finance meeting of the board of governors on Nov. 6.
Vice–president (internal) Mike Einarson reported that he met with members of administration and academic computing and networking to discuss the UMSU web kiosk project. Einarson said that both parties have expressed interest and are discussing adding a staff feature to the web portals, which will be designed in the “next couple of weeks.”
Marlo Ostrow vice-president (student services) reported attending a meeting of the University of Manitoba Athletic Council (UMAC). A donation box will be available at the UMSU office to accept used athletic gear for UMAC’s soccer initiative in Kenya that has already provided gear to initiate 22 soccer teams.
The report of Rachel Heinrichs vice-president (advocacy) provided information surrounding various fundraising efforts occurring on campus. Heinrichs made a call to support the university’s food bank through volunteering or donations. The U of M Food Bank is located on the fifth floor of University Centre and its volunteers gave out nearly 2,000 food hampers to students last year.
Heinrichs also called to support Loonie Lines, a program that assembles and distributes hampers to those in need throughout Winnipeg, and Food for Fines, a U of M libraries initiative that gives $2 off library fines for each non-perishable food item donated, to a maximum of $20.
She also reported attending the U of M Student Senate Caucus meeting at which discussions surrounded the decision to investigate the installation of policies and procedures in the event of future strikes to make the situations “much more stress-free.”
The council passed a motion to engage in awareness campaigns for World AIDS Day and the White Ribbon Campaign to end violence against women.
The resource coordinator of CFS-Manitoba, Michael Roy, gave a 40-minute presentation promoting the federation’s campaign to replace the Millennium Scholarship Fund with a needs-based grant system.
The consultation portion of the campaign will run from Nov. 12 to Nov. 30. During this period students will be asked to fill out a form detailing their experience with the current student loans system.
The meeting was adjourned exactly two hours after its prompt 6 p.m. start. The next meeting will be held in three weeks (instead of two) on Nov. 29.
