Presidential candidates receive thorough questioning on hardwood of SUBstage

Sam Brooks

FOR ALL TO SEE SUBstage was thought to be a good venue for its accessibility.

Candidates in the upcoming Students’ Union elections addressed students from SUBstage on February 25 and 26.

On February 25, candidates in the race for President, Vice President (External), and the Board of Governors representative had the chance to share their platforms and answer questions from one another and from students.

Potential tuition increases and the $550 Common Student Space, Sustainability, and Security fee were hot topics for all the candidates.

Vice President (External) candidate Jon Mastel said that regulations that require institutions to justify non-academic fees would be beneficial. Jaiman Chin said that increasing student engagement in advocacy issues was key. Aden Murphy echoed Chin, saying it is getting “too expensive not to care.”

A student stepped up to the question microphone to ask the presidential and the BoG candidates if they had any specific alternatives to help the University make up their deficit.

In response, presidential candidate Adam Zepp said that he believes it is possible for the University to save money on efficiencies.

“Ultimately, they need to balance their books and this money needs to come from somewhere,” he said. “I think if they can reduce their operating costs, they’ll have more money left over. They’ve just really got to streamline how things work within the university.”

Vikram Seth said that the main goal should be to seek regulations around the type of fees that the University can charge.

“We need [the government] to change regulation on what kind of fees the University can charge, because right now this isn’t a tuition increase because tuition can only increase by inflation, which is 1.5 per cent. They’re going around it,” Seth said.

Nick Dehod echoed Seth’s statement about regulations, but also emphasized that students also need to be protest against what is happening right now and not wait for a regulation change.

“One thing that everybody in this room should know is that there’s a march on March 18 to the legislature to let the government know that this is unacceptable,” Dehod said. “In the long term it does come down to regulation. When it comes to these non-instructional fees we need to get regulations around that.”

BoG candidate Craig Turner said that the University shouldn’t just tax the easiest body, the students, but also need to look at ways that they could spend less money on the staff.

“I recognize the University’s in a difficult position right now but we can work with them to advocate to government to ensure postsecondary gets the money it needs.”

According to Sangram Hansra, getting students involved in the budget process earlier would help make the student voice better heard.

“It’s important to get information and accessibility for students earlier. Getting information to students out earlier and gaining leverage earlier when the committees are still making final recommendations and haven’t had a final say.”

The forum was also dominated by questions concerning the upcoming Millennium Villages referendum question.

One of the most pointed questions asked of the referendum's Yes-side co-ordinator Mark McCormack at the forum was presented by Alena Manera, SU associate vice president of student life.

“The Students' Union motto is ‘Serving students in ways that serves students needs.’ How does the Millennium Villages referendum fit with this motto?” she asked.

“[The Millennium Villages fee] is an opt-out-able fee, but this should not just be about the money, but about showing that students are leaders by leading by example. This isn’t about charity, but [rather] about opportunity,” McCormack argued.

Students were quick to ask the presidential candidates if they support the Millennium Villages Project.

Zepp said the he supports the project but is concerned that future students will not know about the opt out and end up having no choice about the fee.

“I support what the Millennium Villages are trying to do,” he said. “But ultimately, I have a problem when charity is forced upon someone.”

Dehod said that personally he does not support it but he thinks it should still go to students as a referendum question.

“One of the most important things that the SU has is its ability to tax students,” he said. “Although this is something that’s going towards a good cause [...] I think that when it comes to our ability to tax people we have to be very cautious with how that’s used.”

Seth began by saying that he has been to a Millennium Village and it is an interesting project that is doing good work.

“If you’re passionate and you want to support a project like this that’s trying to do good work, support it. If you’re against it and you don’t want to support it and you would rather save that money, and I understand in this hard economic time, please opt out.”