“Sweeping changes to flat fees announced”
January 6
After four years of lobbying and controversy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Brad Duguid announced plans to phase out flat fees — the policy of charging full tuition to students who take as little as three courses. The guidelines, designed to save students thousands of dollars, also regulated the types of late and ancillary fees charged, eliminated interest fees incurred because of the Ontario Student Assistance Program’s (OSAP) distribution schedule, and mandated two tuition payment periods.
“Studying under the influence”
January 13
Last winter, two Varsity reporters uncovered the “unspoken reality” of the prevalence of study drugs on campus. Students reported that psychoactive stimulants used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, such as Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Concerta, were easily accessible on campus at a cost. Some students reported use of such drugs as necessary in order to cope with heavy workloads and diminishing focus. The possession and sale of study drugs is illegal in Canada.
“UTSU condemned for withdrawing from student societies summit”
March 9
Last March, the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) ceased participation in the Student Societies Summit, a move which drew criticism for the UTSU’s alleged lack of commitment to democratic processes. The summit was a project launched in August 2013 by then-provost Cheryl Misak in an attempt to resolve disputes between some divisional societies and the UTSU.
Agnes So, then-UTSU vice-president, university affairs, made the announcement in the middle of a heated UTSU election, citing the exit of the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union and a widely criticized survey of 1,200 students. Several of the UTSU’s board directors at the time, including Ben Coleman, who currently sits on the university’s Governing Council, and Pierre Harfouche, who recently resigned as UTSU vice-president, university affairs, criticized the withdrawal.
“International tuition could rise another 50 per cent over next five years”
March 10
Scott Mabury, the University of Toronto’s vice-president, university operations, unveiled a plan to sharply raise international tuition fees at a meeting of the Governing Council’s Business Board on March 3. Tuition fees for incoming international students were set to increase by 9.2 per cent the following year, with fees for existing international students set to increase by five per cent.
“[W]hen we increase international tuition fees, applications go up, and the take-up rate goes up,” Mabury said at the time. The provincial government recently set a target of 57,000 international students in Ontario by 2015.
“Split result in close UTSU election”
March 17
Pierre Harfouche of Team Unite was the first candidate in eight years to win a University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) executive race while not a member of a slate with incumbent executives. Harfouche was elected as vice-president, university affairs but recently resigned. Members of U of T Voice filled the other four positions. Yolen Bollo-Kamara was elected UTSU president, along with Cameron Wathey as vice-president, internal and services; Grayce Slobodian as vice-president, external; and Najiba Ali Sardar as vice-president, equity.
Two executive races — external and university affairs — triggered an automatic recount, as well as one directorial race.
“Administration asked to intervene over alleged ‘egregious violations’ in UTSU election”
April 28
In the wake of the release of the final report of the Student Societies Summit to provost Cheryl Regehr, the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) drew fire last spring for alleged violations in elections for the 2014–2015 year. Vipulan Vigneswaran, campaign manager for the Team Unite slate, wrote to Regehr following the election to request administrative intervention into what he called unfair practices by the chief returning officer (CRO), Alex Flor. Vigneswaran cited the presence of withdrawn candidate Luis Moreno’s name on the ballot as a main concern.
Numerous other complaints came in even after the UTSU board ratified the election results. Accusations of errors by the CRO also included extending voting hours despite UTSU bylaws and erecting an extra voting location at UTM.
“UTSU board passes major restructuring plan”
May 11
In April 2014, the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) provoked impassioned responses from many student groups when its board passed a controversial motion to restructure the UTSU Board of Directors. The motion proposed the replacement of college representatives on the board with 10 constituency directors representing international students, LGBTQ students, women, racialized students, indigenous students, mature students, students with disabilities, commuters, athletics, and first-year students.
Vocal opposition groups included EngSoc and Trinity College. Benjamin Crase, then-co-head of Trinity College, said the motion “[made] little sense and [was] very worrisome,” while UTSU past-president Munib Sajjad said that giving a voice to these constituencies would be “revolutionary.” In October, LGBTOUT, a student group, conditionally endorsed the proposed structure change.
November 3
After many months of controversy, the proposed changes to the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) Board of Directors structure were defeated by a thin margin at the union’s Annual General Meeting. The failure to pass the proposed changes to the board structure drew mixed reactions, with many students at the meeting cheering and others appearing disappointed. The UTSU now has less than one year to pass a new board structure.
“UTSU vice-president, university affairs Pierre Harfouche resigns”
November 26
UTSU vice-president, university affairs Pierre Harfouche resigned from his position in an email sent to members of the UTSU Board of Directors on November 26.
“For a few months now, I have continued to feel that I, in my capacity as [vice-president, university affairs], cannot accomplish the goals I initially set out to complete when I ran for the position,” Harfouche wrote in the email. No less than two applicants will be put to the board for a vote to fill the position.
“GSU Litigation Committee to investigate CFS referendum results”
December 11
After the Chief Returning Officer, Stephen Littley, of the Graduate Students’ Union’s (GSU) recent referendum on defederation from the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario deemed the vote invalid due to a failure to reach quorum, GSU members voted to extend its litigation committee to investigate the results of the referendum. Quorum for the vote was 10 per cent of the graduate student population. According to Littley, the referendum fell seven votes short of the total needed to achieve quorum. The Litigation Committee will continue to investigate any fluctuations in the graduate student population for one year.
