ASHLEIGH MATTERN
Editor-in-Chief
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University Students’ Council again tackled the issue of a fee for the use of credit cards for tuition payments as well as how H1N1 will affect the university.
   University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union president Warren Kirkland suggested council ask the university to allow students to continue using credit cards with a fee and that a portion of the money saved from installing a fee be allocated to scholarships and bursaries.
   While Kirkland didn’t know how much the fee would be, he said it would be individually assessed and would depend on criteria such as what type of credit card you use or how much you spend.
   The university currently budgets $700,000 to cover the cost of students using credit cards. Arts and science councillor Alexander Steffan voiced worries that the university would be in no better financial situation if the fee were implemented because the money set aside to pay for credit card payments would simply be spent elsewhere. Kirkland pointed out that students already pay for the budget, whether it’s spent on subsidizing credit cards or student services.
   “It’s students’ money, just like most of the university’s funds are students’ money, so it’s being spent on credit card use right now whereas we could allocate the cost to the students using the service while providing education through scholarships and bursaries.”
   The issue was postponed until the Nov. 5 meeting to give the councillors time to talk to their colleges.
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Supporting vaccination
   In light of the current outbreak of H1N1 in residences on campus, councillors voted to endorse the H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine and to encourage their use.
   Edwards School of Business councillor Reid Nystuen asked if the vaccine is safe.
   “It’s an (inactivated) vaccine which means it’s a virus that has been killed,” explained Daniel McCullough, USSU vice-president academic affairs. “There’s no risk of infection from the vaccine. Secondly, herd immunity, which is the ability for people who have not been vaccinated to be protected by the majority who have been vaccinated only works when you have 90 per cent vaccination. Anything below that and you’re still at risk of a pandemic.”
   In response to a question from dentistry councillor Mike Gavelis, Kirkland said out of province students should bring their province’s health card to the immunization clinics.
   The U of S has provided the Saskatoon Health Region with space in the Education Gym for an immunization clinic running Nov. 24 to 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Family members of U of S students, faculty and staff are welcome at the clinic but there is a limited number of vaccines available.
   Only nursing councillor Sarah Miller voted against the motion for the USSU to endorse the flu vaccines and encourage their use.