UTSU has, for many years, fought large-scale battles against the government and the University of Toronto to gain rights and benefits for students. They now offer a wide range of services, including a dental plan, a book exchange, a food and clothing bank, daycare, bursaries, and more.
UTSU has also failed consistently in accounting for the details, particularly in recent years. They waste their time on wars they cannot win, when there are more important matters to attend to. I’ve decided to help with a list of goals for the next year or two.
The following goals are attainable. They are positive (unlike the constant “to arms!” atmosphere on campus that is divisive and irritating) and, most importantly, they work for students.
UTSU should begin by publicizing all the scholarships at U of T. There aren’t a lot, but most students don’t know about the ones that exist. A booklet could be published at the beginning of the school year, containing all the in-course, university-wide, college, and course union scholarships. A chart format might be helpful, for comparisons of due dates, requirements, application fees, and scholarship values.
Next, they should organize a fall term break. The term could be shortened by a few days without losing a lot of class time. Other universities manage, why can’t U of T? Thanksgiving break could be extended by a day or two, and/or a four day-weekend could be arranged right before the start of exams. The long, uninterrupted fall term is a drain on students—they could use the rest and extra study time (or a Hart House Farm Apple Cider holiday).
Organizing a shorter May exam schedule would also be beneficial. U of T students have an enormous disadvantage in terms of finding summer work—even if they find it, they lose weeks of pay. Our exams often extend two weeks longer than other universities. UTSU should find out why and solve the problem.
Finally, the most challenging initiative: get a better deal with the TTC. The current deal is a $480-per-year, non-transferable, no opt-out Metropass, and it only covers September to April (not so wonderful if you have May exams). If you’re a commuter, this is a much better deal than $96 per month. If you’re from the 905 region or live downtown, too bad. Extend the plan to cover the summer months, include an opt-out plan, and make it cover rapid transit lines—or lower the price.
A few things that might be nice as well: space for architecture students to build their projects (including some basic equipment), ROM membership, AGO membership, a rock climbing wall, lower textbook prices (especially course booklets—copyright cannot cost that much), an optometry clinic and/or glasses coverage plan, and so forth.
If UTSU focused on goals like these, students would appreciate the union a lot more. Canada was founded on “peace, order, and good government.” In order to be good, UTSU must get their work done.
