RORY MACLEAN
News Editor

Vote on student fee increase

Scott Hitchings, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union vice-president operations and finance, motioned to increase the student fee by 5 per cent, or $2.95 for next year.

Student union general manager Caroline Cottrell had addressed council the previous week on the planned motion, outlining the USSU’s arguments for the increase, including maintaining the same level of services next year following the considerable deficit faced by the organization this year. This is due in part to the temporary loss in rental revenue from Place Riel due to renovations.

Hitchings’s motion stirred up renewed debate on the issue.

Councillor for pharmacy and nutrition Roger Loor suggested it would be more prudent to make the decision after the budget projections have been released, or council has at least been briefed on the USSU’s finances.

Hitchings said student fees were typically set first because they have to be submitted to University Council by mid-March before next year’s tuition is set.

Chris Stoicheff, vice-president external affairs, said that students have been “dinged” by all sorts of new fees in past years, including a $10 increase to the U-Pass and a $13 increase in the infrastructure fee last year.

The USSU seems to have no financial plan and instead appears to be reacting to things as they come, he said.

He asked Hitchings if rental revenue from Place Riel tenants was expected to compensate for the entire amount of the deficit next year, which is currently about $446,000.

Finally a new motion to table the vote for the next meeting, when USC could be briefed on the budget, passed by a wide margin.

New learning charter

Edwards School of Business professor Rick Long addressed council on the new learning charter that is near completion. The learning charter is a foundational document outlining the rights and responsibilities of students, faculty and administrators. The language is intentionally broad to guide policy makers in future decisions such as curriculum redesign.

Long asks that any students with recommendations to make about the learning charter email him at learning-charter@usask.ca.

Announcements

The Indigenous Students’ Council is holding a logo design contest, with a grand prize of $300 going to the winner. Applicants can submit entries to the Aboriginal Students’ Centre. The contest will remain open until a winning logo has been chosen.

It’s that time of year again: the Saskatoon Engineering Students’ Society’s annual “pi-throw” has begun. Until March 12, students can order a pie in the face for anyone in Saskatoon, with all proceeds going to charity. This year the SESS has created a new online ordering feature. Those interested in purchasing a pie can visit pithrow.org to order online or call 966-7700.