UMSU Notes

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) held their latest council meeting on Nov. 4.

The meeting opened with a presentation of the short segments UMSU Vision created, showcasing the services UMSU offers.

The segments are meant to inform students about UMSU services by featuring short, informative comedic sketches of the services in action.

UMSU president Heather Laube reported on a recent meeting she had with Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and other Manitoban university student association presidents to discuss topics such as the Residential Tenancy Act, international student health coverage, grants and bursaries, and tuition fee funding.

Sheldon Gardiner, UMSU vice-president (external), reported that the UMSU Open House hosted by UMSU executives on Oct. 19 was a great success.

Aisyah Abdkahar, vice-president (internal), announced that Bubble Tea had opened on Nov. 4 in IQs, in the place of the old arcade.

Matt Hepner, vice-president (student services), reported on a meeting he had with Dean Duff, the manager for Conference and Catering Services and Pat Reid, director of Ancillary Services.

The meeting discussed issues stemming from proposed changes to student group bookings for meetings. Room rates for student groups was one of the major issues discussed.

Murat Ates, vice-president (advocacy), reported on changes to some academic programs at the university that are being discussed and will be voted on at the next Senate Committee meeting on Dec. 1.

Ates said that the commerce honours program is hoping to add mandatory tutorial sections for some of its more challenging courses, pending an analysis of costs.

The College universitaire de St. Boniface is also planning on adding an honours theatre degree.

In addition, Ates reported that the Clayton H. Riddell faculty of environment, earth, and resources was looking at modify its course offerings to reduce redundancy between geography and faculty of environment courses.

Abdkahar announced that nominations for which charity would receive the proceeds from the annual UMSU Charity Ball were now being accepted. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 29.