Faced with a deadline to vacate their Woodsworth College office by the end of July, APUS, the association representing part-time students at U of T, is frustrated with the university’s delayed response to their requests for a new space.
Following their notice of eviction this past spring, APUS asked to move into the Margaret Fletcher Daycare Centre at 100 Devonshire Place. In a letter to U of T vice-provost Dave Farrar in mid-May, the union outlined the advantages of the Centre’s ample space and proximity to Woodsworth College, concluding that they preferred it to the two locations the administration had suggested: 92 St. George St. and 21 Sussex Ave. They are also positive the building has been vacant for years.
However, the administration disagreed, prompting a meeting between APUS members and Jim Delaney of Student Affairs on June 29.
“We showed the space to Jim Delaney, because up until now they have been pretty much saying they don’t know how the space is being used and whether it is empty or not,” said Oriel Varga, executive director of APUS. “The first floor is empty; the second floor … one corner is being used.”
“Right when we were there, they were discussing with someone else to be moving in upstairs. I think they have put another person in, in another office space upstairs.”
Since the meeting, APUS has not heard from the administration on whether Margaret Fletcher is open for use. They say that they would be prepared to move in immediately, and would hopefully be set up by September. Without confirmation from the university however, APUS cannot move in.
The time of year has not helped either, with July being the month when most university officials take time off. At press time, both Delaney and Farrar were away on vacation and were not expected back for weeks. The Varsity was able to speak to Farrar’s assistant, Brunella McKenzie-Carr, who said that a decision has not yet been made.
“We don’t have an answer yet from the senior administration, but we will work with them after [Farrar’s] return. They’ll get in touch after his vacation.” He is expected back July 31.
In their letter of proposal, APUS also requested that a written agreement be drawn up regarding the space. “The reason why we’re asking for things in writing is because we’d been promised space at the Woodsworth Residence. APUS’s name was part of the plans but then everything disappeared. That’s why we want something in writing this time,” explained APUS president Murphy Browne.
That space was the lower section of the Woodsworth Residence, now being used by the commerce department.
“The commerce space was designated, given to APUS before the building was even built. Woodsworth College had approached us and basically asked whether we would like to move there. We were in the plans that went through the city and Governing Council and just as it was almost built, they basically said to us, ‘Ah sorry’, and we didn’t end up getting that space,” said Browne.
The issue has been brought up to the administration on several occasions, but APUS still has not received a formal response. “Obviously, it doesn’t bode well for the university to make such a promise and then renege on it,” remarked Varga.
APUS now wants the university to agree to give them Margaret Fletcher and guarantee its use “in perpetuity”. Should anything change in the future, APUS would like mutually agreed upon measures for moving out and finding other space, instead of the abrupt eviction notice they received this spring.
“There is an issue of priority going on. They’re telling us that space is at a premium and therefore, they’re asking us to leave,” said Varga.
“But this is a part-time student college and the last few years, Woodsworth has been moving away from that mandate and moving more towards full-time studies, more towards commerce.”
“In this challenging time where part-time students really need the support, they don’t have it in terms of OSAP funding, in terms of UTAPS funding, in terms of childcare support, in terms of many access issues that part-time students need to be able to attend [university],” she continued.
“We need the college that was basically built and lobbied by APUS, by part-time students, to stand up for our members. Commerce is not the priority. The priority is ensuring full access for part-time students.”
