Notes from Council: Club Periodically DFU petition and exceptional tuition increases discussed

“Notes from Council” is The Gateway’s ongoing series of recaps of noteworthy items from Students’ Council meetings.

At the September 24 meeting of the University of Alberta Students’ Union (UASU) Students’ Council, Club Periodically presented a proposal on waiving the petition requirements for a Dedicated Fee Unit (DFU). Council also discussed the possibility of exceptional tuition increases (ETI) as outlined in UASU President Lisa Glock’s executive report.

Club Periodically’s proposal outlines their mission and request for waiving petition requirement

The Club Periodically proposal was presented by Tracy Cui and Aidan Ly and brought into motion by Vice-president (student life) Renson Alva. Per the presentation, the club’s purpose is to “fund menstrual product dispensers and baskets across campus.” Their goal is “at least one basket [or] dispenser per building.” 

The fee paid by students would be $1 per term in fall and winter for both part-time and full-time students. The fee would then drop to $0.50 per term in spring and summer. Students would also have the option to opt-out.

The club is looking to waive the petition requirement outlined in Bylaw 320 by using a clause in Bylaw 6100. The petition entails submitting the referendum question to the SU and if approved, collecting signatures from 15 per cent of those with SU membership. According to Bylaw 6100, “council shall retain the authority to waive the petition requirements for Dedicated Fees and Students Representative Association Membership Fees.” This is under the condition that the petitioner meets certain requirements. Club Periodically stated they meet the requirement as a UASU service or operation.

According to Club Periodically, a DFU would allow them to fully take over the Period Equity Initiative from the UASU.

“Many are still not comfortable supporting an initiative like this,” Cui said

Club Periodically gave several reasons for pursuing a DFU. Firstly, the club has seen increased requests to provide menstrual products. Such requests came from the University Health Clinic (UHC), the Office of the Dean of Students (DoS), the Career Centre, and more. Secondly, according to Cui, gaining access to funds would enable them to provide pads and tampons reliably. 

Cui said Club Periodically wants to waive the petition requirement because “while [the] initiative works to de-stigmatize menstruation, a lot of people still are not comfortable openly supporting an initiative like this.”

Additionally, “the obstacle of having to overcome this stigma and showing that kind of public support with their names and signatures would prevent some people from participating.”

Business councillor Owen Pasay raised concerns regarding waiving the petition requirement. He said “a [UASU] service or operation is a well-defined service with paid staff and office spaces. As it states in your [Club Periodically] BearsDen, this is currently a student group, not an [UASU] service. Therefore [it] would not qualify under any qualifications to receive this exemption.”

In response, Alva said that the UASU Period Equity Initiative “is a UASU service that began in the vice-president (student life)’s old office in 2019 with $1,000.” He said he “expanded the direction by working with Club Periodically.”

“I think one of our goals is to empower student groups as well. So Club Periodically is a part of this UASU service.”

With councillors unclear about some of the details of the club’s plan, council decided to postpone its decision until the following council meeting. 

Executive Reports

In Glock’s executive report, she highlighted her meeting with the third-party reviewer Adèle Kent. On May 11, Edmonton Police Service (EPS) forcefully removed a Palestine solidarity encampment on Main Quad at the request of the university. After, several faculty and student groups called for an independent third-party investigation. On July 2 the Board of Governors (BoG) announced it would proceed with a third-party investigation with Kent leading the review.

In her meeting with Kent, Glock was told the review should be completed by the end of October.

Glock also highlighted her meeting with the Tuition Budget Advisory Committee (TBAC). After meeting with the TBAC and faculty associations, Glock said she expects some faculties and programs will propose ETIs. ETIs are aimed at enhancing program quality. Rajan Sawhney, the provincial minister of advanced education, has to approve all proposed ETIs.

The ETIs would impact tuition for domestic students in specific programs. The U of A last implemented ETIs in fall semester 2022. Eight undergraduate programs saw increases ranging from 17 per cent to 44 per cent.

As per Glock’s executive report, “it is safe to assume that more ETI proposals will come forward.”

CORRECTION: This article was corrected at 2:31 p.m.. to reflect that Alva was referring to the UASU Period Equity Initiative instead of Club Periodically in response to Pasay. The Gateway regrets this error.