Students of U of T’s St. George campus will have the ultimate say in an upcoming referendum to decide if students should pay a levy to fund the construction and operating costs of the new proposed $55.1 million Varsity Centre for Field and Ice Sports.
But some say the battle is unequal to begin with.
The referendum was officially announced by the university on Friday, opening up a hot debate between campus groups, to reach a potentially controversial conclusion on April 12.
Jorge Sousa, President of the Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) and part of the “No” campaign, wants to protect students from unreasonable fee increases. “Students should not be paying for bricks or mortar…if the university cannot pay for it, why should the students?”
The “Yes” sides argues that in light of meagre provincial and federal governmental support, students should be convinced that this facility is worth paying for.
“How long can we wait for a more progressive government, and how long can we put off the demands of the students?” asked Bruce Kidd, dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health. “This facility will significantly enhance student life.”
As both sides gear up for their campaigns, the “No” side says the debate isn’t even. The Anti-Levy Coalition is outraged by the administration-led referendum, saying that the “Yes” campaign is being paid for by student fees.
“The ‘Yes’ side has already been campaigning for weeks now and have hired a paid campaign cabinet staff of nine members, while student groups such as the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students [APUS] will not be compensated for the cost of the campaign,” said APUS president Emily Sadowski.
Sadowski says the university has already indirectly violated referendum campaign rules by engaging in an inequitable battle with the “No” campaign.
“Part-time students are least often on campus, the least likely to afford the levy and are also the least likely to afford a stamp,” said Sadowski, in reference to the mail-in votes.
Jorge Sousa was also critical of the referendum rules and regulations
He was “disappointed that we did not have an opportunity to be informed or consulted about the rules…we were hardly given much time… and the administration has so much back-up money, while we don’t have the finances nor the staff to campaign.”
Both sides will be campaigning through flyers, class announcements and information booths around campus. For more information on the “Yes” and “No” campaigns check out www.varsitycentre.ca and www.nolevy.ca.
The referendum was officially announced by the university on Friday, opening up the voting process to run until April 12 at 5:00 pm. Ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters—those who are members of the Students’ Administrative Council (SAC), the Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) and the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students (APUS) during the week of March 18. Voters are then expected to return the ballots by Canada Post or campus mail, or at drop-off boxes at Simcoe Hall.
If the levy is approved, all full-time students next year at St. George campus will have to pay an extra $25 ($7.50 for part-time students) in addition to tuition and incidental fees until 2005, when this levy will increase to $70 plus inflation per full-time student ($21 per part-time student) beginning in the year 2005-06 and continuing for 25 years, or until a $29.9 million loan for the Varsity Centre is repaid. The centre, proposed to be built by 2005, is a multi-purpose, fully accessible athletic centre that boasts an 8-lane outdoor artificial turf track surrounded by a 5,000-spectator facility, two ice rinks, weight training rooms, dance studios, 12 offices for student clubs, drop-in child care facilities and residences with approximately 800 beds (the housing project is, however, independent from the levy). This would replace the old Varsity Arena and Stadium on Bloor and Devonshire built in 1924.
