TANNARA YELLAND
Associate News Editor

University Students’ Council members were in for a long meeting on Nov. 5, with two presentations as well as a few tense debates.

While waiting for David Hannah, the associate vice-president of the Student and Enrolment Services Division for the U of S, council discussed the motion to endorse a fee for students who wish to pay their tuition by credit card. The money that would be saved, approximately $500,000, would be used on student services such as longer library hours and educating students on other methods for paying tuition.

The motion garnered some skepticism and questions from councillors. Reid Nystuen, one of the representatives for the Edwards School of Business, asked for clarification about the money involved.

“Isn’t the issue that they didn’t have the money to start with?” he asked, wondering how, in that case, the money could be allocated to something new.

“Originally the budget was $200,000,” the first year credit cards were introduced as a payment option, explained Warren Kirkland, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union president. “That’s gone up and now there are $700,000 budgeted for it this year. It’s in the budget but with the economic climate they want to cut costs wherever possible.”

Kirkland also clarified that the fee would be targeted, and only students who continue to pay their tuition on credit card would have to pay it. After several minutes of questions councillors voted overwhelmingly to support the motion.

Unadvertised Arts & Science election
Tension rose when USSU vice-president student affairs Ben Fawcett brought up the recent election of Chris Thresher as the college of arts and science’s second member of student council.

As a college with over 1,000 students, there are two representatives for arts and science. However, when one of the representatives was accepted to the college of medicine she resigned and the spot has been vacant since the beginning of the school year.

Because the election process was only advertised in one location — a poster on the window of the Arts and Science Students’ Union office on the second floor of the Arts building — Kirkland made a motion to not recognize the election results as free, open and fair. He also commented on the lack of transparency in the election process.

“For a college that covers probably the most physical space on campus, to advertise in only one space is abhorrent.”
”“USSU president Warren Kirkland

“For a college that covers probably the most physical space on campus,” he said, “to advertise in only one space is abhorrent.”

Arts and science representative Alex Steffen offered some explanations, trying to strike a balance between defending what he saw as a step in the right direction and acknowledging the failings of the election.

“In my opinion,” Steffen said, “it was more transparent than last time”¦. Katie (Salmers, ASSU president) did make an effort to advertise this.”

When criticized by USSU vice-president academic affairs Daniel McCullough for not clearly speaking out against the election, Steffen responded that he did not want his opinion to get involved in the debate.

The motion to not recognize the election results was passed almost unanimously, with Steffen abstaining.

Determining U of S signature areas
Acting U of S vice-president research Dr. Karen Chad came to the council to discuss a new initiative to develop some of the university’s “signature areas” that set the U of S apart as a national and international leader. Chad asked the councilors to split up into groups and identify areas in which they think the U of S is a leader, with specific attention to research and development.

“We need a reputation as an institution that’s a leader in creating and dissemination knowledge,” said Chad. “These will help us with recruitment and retention of faculty and students, as well as with developing partnerships.”

The four groups came up with several similar answers. The prevailing ideas were that the U of S is a leader in toxicology; veterinary medicine; environmental planning and Aboriginal studies, especially law and medicine. All four groups also brought up the Synchrotron as a clear area of pre-eminence.

More on H1N1
SESD associate vice-president David Hannah gave a presentation with Nowell Seaman, university emergency measures coordinator on the university’s pandemic preparations.

During the process of outlining the procedures that have been set up, Seaman said that the World Health Organization has declared the H1N1 virus a level six pandemic because of how fast it spreads. However, it has a mortality rate of only 0.5 per cent. The seasonal flu, by contrast, has a five to 10 per cent morbidity rate.

“There are some people dying of this disease,” Seaman said, “but it’s not the atom bomb.”