On Tuesday, March 8, two of the meetings I had to attend dealt directly with student issues: one being the Student Centre, and the other being the fee increases for next year’s services to students. Both times I felt such dismay, and so discouraged by the administration, that I really had to take a step back at the end of the day.

The Student Centre issue was brought up at a Governing Council committee. Lot 12, beside Woodsworth College, has been sought after for months by student groups such as SAC and APUS for a student centre. But at the Planning and Budget committee, the administration secured the lot for the Faculty of Law.

I agree that the Faculty of Law should get more space, but not that [particular] one. Since the 60s, students at this university have been calling for a student centre. It was only in October 2001 that the Faculty of Law began preliminary requests for a bigger site. Having a desired lot like that given away without proper discussion with student groups really made me feel pushed over.

At the second meeting, SAC, APUS the GSU voted on fee increases for campus services. Admin could not understand why we voted against some of the increases. We suggested that they join us in advocating for more funding for the university so that these fees would not have to come from the students. Rather than agreeing to that, we were intimidated.

My message to the admin: Please respect student leaders when they spend months consulting with their constituents regarding the increase in student fees, and the answer from the student body is “No more fee increases.” Please know that student leaders understand the process, and just because we do not vote on a certain increase does not mean that we do not respect the process, or that we do not understand it.

My message to the students: Write to your MPPs and ask for more funding for the university.

My message to the government: Please help students and provide more funding so that our ancillary fees may be frozen along with the tuition freeze. How much more can students give?

Shaila Kibria

Student Governor,

Arts and Science Full-Time Students, and APUS Vice President External