ULSU presents: The Unintended Consequences of the War on Drugs…

February 11^th 2009 @ noon in the UHall Atrium.

A presentation and open forum hosted by Jim Hilsenteger:

The war on drugs: highly publicized and highly taxed, are we really getting what we pay for? Jim Hilsenteger asks that very question in his explorations through the legality of drug use and the huge industry behind it. A desire to open the discourse on Canada’s drug culture and legal system was spurred a few years ago when a member of Jim’s family was busted with a significant amount of marijuana in his trunk, a clear intent to sell. Although not arrested and subsequently let off, this situation caused a bit of a commotion within the family. When Jim sat down to discuss the reasoning and motivation behind the young man’s life choices, it all came down to the industry. Walking away with $50 000 a year, tax free at a young age is pretty good even with the potential of incarceration or hefty fines, and as he explained if he wasn’t going to sell to his friends someone else would and reap the benefits.

Jim is asking us to question how current system works and how it deals with drug related offenses. Is it right to prosecute people for selling a substance that a majority of Canadians have admitted to buying and using? Is it right to not regulate said substance to ensure it is safe for people to consume, as they do with a more accepted drug, alcohol? The war on drugs is a costly one, and one that has the potential to ruin lives. It has also been a clear failure. Drug use is common and prevalent within our society. A “dealer” is not that hard to find and all it would take is a few “ask arounds” to get a number of someone willing to “hook you up.” So why does the government try to so hard stop it, and why should non drug users prop up the legal and medical system which is used to prosecute drug users or treat addicts? Why does Canadian policy have to mirror American drug policy (for more insight check out this link), which has been unacceptably harsh in its tactics in the war on drugs?

Debate on this issue has been limited and those who have been outspoken against the current criminalization of substances such as marijuana (read: Marc Emery) have been made to look crazy and unstable by our own government.

February 11^th, 2009 at the University of Lethbridge Jim Hilsenteger will ask these questions and more in a presentation delving into the unintended consequences of the war on drugs. Following the presentation there will be an open forum for all who want to participate to discuss drug use in our society and what it means to them. This is an opportunity for students and community members alike to come out and open up the discussion on the war on drugs here on our own turf.

budget 2009 – what does it mean for PSE?

Yesterday’s budget touched on several aspects of PSE. The two main initiatives are: improving infrastructure on campuses across the country, and an investment in Graduate Scholarships.  There are other areas the budget touches on, such as skills training and aboriginal education.
 
Improving Infrastructure at Universities and Colleges
The 2009 budget promised up to $2 billion to support deferred maintenance and repair projects at post-secondary institutions.   The funding is divided as follows: 70% of the funding is earmarked for university infrastructure and the remaining 30% for infrastructure at colleges, and the funds will be managed by Industry Canada.

The money comes with several additional caveats:
- Overall, funding allocation will be based on project merit and readiness
- For universities, preference will be given to projects that can improve the quality of research and development at the institution.
- For colleges, preference will be given to projects which  strengthen the ability of colleges to deliver advanced knowledge and skills training.

Analysis
At initial glance, these provisos appear somewhat confusing and potentially contradictory.  If  an institution proposes to fix a classroom with this funding this would seem to not fit under the “improving the quality of research and development” demand, even if it fits well under the “merit, readiness, and deferred maintenance” clause.

Moreover, the budget stipulates funds will pay for up to half of a project’s costs, with institutions needing to find an equivalent amount from other partners.  Some institutions can meet this, while a great many others – especially those in provinces most directly affected by the economic downturn – cannot.  Would that mean that institutions who fall into the latter category cannot access any funding at all?

CASA posed these questions to members of the Prime Minister and Finance Minister’s staff, and were told that these conditions were ‘rough guidelines’ and that the intent was to get money to universities and colleges to help them clear off needed maintenance projects and help stimulate the economy.  As well, the government is required, in the language of the budget, to “provide an initial report on progress this summer” and that the “Government will re-assess and, if necessary, reallocate funding” as necessary, based on the efficacy of the program.

 

Investing in Graduate Students
The 2009 Budget also promised $87.5 million over three years, starting in 2009–10, to the federal granting councils to temporarily expand the Canada Graduate Scholarships program, which supports Canada’s top graduate students.

The funding is divided as follows:
- $35 million/3 years  for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- $35 million/3 years for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- $17.5 million/3 years for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

These funds will provide for an estimated additional 500 doctoral scholarships, valued at $35,000 each per year for three years beginning in 2009–10, and an additional 1,000 master’s scholarships, valued at $17,500 each for one year, in both 2009–10 and 2010–11.

Budget 2009 also provides an additional $3.5 million over two years to offer an additional 600 graduate internships in science and business, through the Industrial Research and Development Internship program launched in Budget 2007

Analysis
Money for scholarships is a net positive, despite the low, low level of investment.  CASA would have preferred that the government used this money for grants to graduate students, separate from research as the loss of endowment dollars at PSE institutions deprive universities of this kind of aid.  CASA is also concerned that the new scholarship funding for  the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council will be focused on business-related degrees.

I want to know what your thoughts/concerns are with these new developments….

 

Brodie

Changing the World: Student Speaker Challenge offers $500 cash prize.

Building on the premise that in a democracy, an informed public makes the best decisions, SACPAS (Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs Society), LPIRG (Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group), and the ULSU (U of L Students’ Union) are collaborating to provide students with a forum to express their point of view on issues of significance. Recognizing that each individual has a unique perspective and an authentic voice, students will be given a chance to communicate their thesis to an audience and defend it, thereby gaining and honing skills in developing and exchanging new  ideas.

This opportunity will take the form of a competition in which students will address the topic “Our Current Crisis: What Does Change Mean in Our World Today?”  You may approach the topic from any discipline or angle that is meaningful to you, such as economics, health care, environment, globalization, consumerism or all of the above. The speaker challenge will begin with three noon-hour sessions, each with 2 speakers addressing the topic and fielding questions on their thesis.   A winner will be chosen at each of these sessions and will be promoted to the semi-finals.  Two students will then go on to the final session where a sole winner will be selected to receive the final prize. Winners at each session will be determined by a panel of judges and an audience vote.

Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to apply and presenters will be paired according to skill level (as assessed from application form), year of study, and thesis. There will be a total of six participants with three of those advancing to further rounds and one final winner. Prizes will be given out to the top three participants – $100 for third place, $300 for second place, and $500 for the winner. Out of the six contestants we will accept a maximum of three graduate students.

The format will be such that in the first round, two presenters will face off, each having 15 minutes to present their thesis. After a five minute break, the presenter will then be asked questions from the audience and the judges for 15 minutes. The total length of the session will be one hour and ten minutes.

Changing the World Student Speaker Challenge sessions are scheduled as follows.

Session 1 – Tuesday, February 10, 12:15 – 1:25   Galileo’s Gallery

Session 2 – Tuesday, February 24,   12:15 – 1:25   Galileo’s Gallery

Session 3 – Tuesday, March 3,   12:15 – 1:25   Ballroom A

Semi-Final Session – Tuesday, March 17, 4:00 – 6:00 Ballroom A

Final Session – Tuesday, March 31, 7:00 – 9:00 Andy’s Place (AH100)

To apply, please fill out the following application form. Applications must be submitted electronically to pirg@uleth.ca with Changing the World in the subject line. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 30.

For more information, please contact Sheila at pirg@uleth.ca, or 332-5243.

CHANGING THE WORLD STUDENT SPEAKER CHALLENGE

APPLICATION FORM

Name:

Email:

Year of Study:

Faculty/ Major:

Public Speaking Experience (class presentations, etc.):

Why are you interested in applying for this?

How would you address the topic – “Our Current Crisis: What Does Change Mean In Our World Today?”  Is change possible?

Please provide a short autobiography:

*Please note that personal interviews may be necessary in order to select and pair up speakers.

ULSU Third Public Forum

That’s right ladies & gentlemen, it’s that time again!

Tuesday, January 20^th will be the third ULSU Public Forum. If you somehow managed to miss the gong-show of accountability and awesome questions last semester, now is your chance to Get Informed!

The forum will be held in the Atrium from Noon – 2pm, and will start with a small town hall with your 4 executive Council members, and then the mic turns over to YOU, the student body. Have some questions/concerns/ideas? Maybe you are thinking about running for a ULSU position in the upcoming election? If so, then this is a great opportunity for you!

Hot topic this forum include:

-2^nd semester events

-Bands! -Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll

-ULSU Elections!

Love,

The ULSU

Help the ULSU – Win a free iPod Touch!

The ULSU needs your help!

While the elected members of the ULSU that are expected to run the organization are students, sometimes the needs and wants of the student body are not properly addressed. To combat this, the ULSU has put together a student survey aimed at collecting the opinions and satisfaction levels of its constituents. By having a concrete database of actual opinions, not just assumptions, this can help the people in charge of the ULSU make clear and accurate decisions that are most likely to have a positive impact on the student body.

This survey will ask you to rate your level of satisfaction on a number of questions, covering all the major areas of ULSU operations that affect YOU!

The bonus: By helping make the ULSU better for you, you can be entered to win an iPod Touch, or one of 3 Zoo gift certificates.

To enter, please visit www.ulsu.ca

Deadline for entry is midnight on January 30th, 2009.

Any questions or concerns, please contact myself at 329.2292 or su.admin@uleth.ca

Thanks,

Brodie
VP Admin

Advanced Ed. Minister in The Gateway, an interview.

An interview with the Minister for Advanced Education and Technology, Doug Horner, came out in this weeks issue of The Gateway, University of Alberta’s on-campus paper.

Check out the article here.

Notable: the discussion surrounding deferred maintenance and residence space.

Jenn Prosser, VP Academic

Restricted Access: does this mean you?

The University of Alberta Students Union is running a great campaign focused on opening discourse to the challenges that students all across Alberta face. While this is NOT a campaign being run at the University of Lethbridge, nor is the ULSU in any way involved we do support our good friends to the north and believe that any discourse on restriction’s to accessing education in Alberta is a very positive thing.

The cost of a full educational experience is rapidly increasing. Mounting financial burdens are preventing a growing number of hard-working, qualified students from completing or even starting their university education. Join the Restricted Access movement and protect the right to an education that all qualified students have earned.

Check out the website to see what’s going on and if you are an University of Alberta student, contact the SU there to see what you can do in this campaign. If you are not a UofA student, you can still participate by writing to your MLA using this awesome link.

If you are interested in voicing your opinion about your experience as a student in Alberta check out the Open Up! campaign being run by the Council of Alberta University Students (UCSU, UASU and us, the ULSU!) which could have you win an ipod for your submission, whats up!

For more information please feel free to contact the ULSU at 403 329 2770.

2nd annual ULSU Last Lecture series accepting nominees

The university experience aims to engage students and provide a place of higher learning and achievement. However, the opportunity for students and professors to learn topics off the curriculum is very limited.

Last year, the ULSU started the Last Lecture series here at the University of Lethbridge with three outstanding professors contributing, Dan Kazakoff, Andy Hakin and Kevin McGeough. A lecture series designed for University of Lethbridge students and based on the famous Last Lecture delivered by Randy Pausch, this is an opportunity for you to nominate a University of Lethbridge professor who you would like to see deliver a lecture based on their true experiences.

Nominations close February 30th. Please ask the candidate first before nomination if they are agreeable to doing this. The lecture they deliver is meant to emulate what they would be speaking on if they were to be giving their very last lecture. Any topic is suitable, any message is encouraged, all are welcome.Please send all nominations to su.academic@uleth.ca and include their name, contact information and in 150 words or less why you think this professor should be chosen as a Last Lecture participant.

RUSH WEEK!

January 12 – 16!

In the atrium, U of L clubs will be out in full force. Sign up for some exciting events – with over 50 ratified clubs on campus there is bound to be something that you will be interested in.

You can also head to our website and check out the full list of clubs we have ratified: ULSU Clubs

Remember, classes are important but so is staying sane. Put the books down and go do something!

Cheers,
Eric

2008 Fall semester review or: festivals and elections and funk; oh my!

Brand new semester, brand spankin’ new challenges for the ULSU and for students. The four us stumbled in this morning a little bleary eyed but jazzed for the next four months and as I look out my window to the un-shoveled paths below I can’t help but get a little tear twinkle while thinking back on the last four months.

So, from the ULSU to you, a few of last semester’s  highlights which has caused mirth and happiness amongst us four and thus shall likely bring forth the same feelings of well being to you.

As a gift:

Fresh Fest – This week kicked it harder then any other week in UofL history. An outdoor screening of Iron Man, crazy “fresher’s” running around the school causing mayhem AND an outdoor festival featuring eight different bands? 2009, beat that.

- “Who’s Who in the Zoo” -  An event, though not well attended, did make at least one executive VERY happy.

- 2008 Federal Election! – Alright, we may indeed see a repeat of this before the next semester is out but this was a pretty exciting time. From the full house for the candidates debate to driving students to the polls, the ULSU office was hella busy. It was great to see so many students get involved in politics and the turn out to watch the results was awesome. Zoo, the colored beer was a stroke of genius. The one major down side was, of course, the Election Canada debacle. Clearly this is one Canadian institution so out of touch with voter needs that they seem to go our of their way to not do their job. Hopefully, we will see a much greater improvement the next go around.

- The Watchmen – being an office of nerds we have been following the trailer’s and going-ons closely. As in, Adam yells “Drop everything, new Watchmen trailer!” and we come a-running. To enable you to do the same:

- Housing Awareness Day – A little cardboard, a lot of duct tape and a sign reading “The House Alberta Built”. Thanks to all who submitted photo’s of their housing horror’s and came out to hear our panel of speakers discuss housing issues in Lethbridge.

-ULSU Public Forums – The first semester saw 2 installments of this pilot project, aimed at increasing student body awareness of ULSU Executive actions, while providing an open mic for questions, comments, or criticisms. Look forward to another 2 next semester!

- Funk the System – Mike Hudema, Avi Lewis, Michelle Landsberg and a night of good ‘ole Lethbridge talent, this week was all about standing up to “the man” and funking the system any way you wanted. With three events and  a week long activist campaign to provide you information on opportunity’s to get involved this week was jam packed with ways to effect media, culture, advocacy and civil rights.

- Speaking of funking the system… – Yep, that’s right, besides all the awesome cool kid party’s we have thrown this semester, there is a serious side to our gorgeous faces. GLER reform, course evaluation’s (the good, the bad and the ugly…), minor requirements, tuition consultation, university budget and going to head to head with our Federal and Provincial government’s dominated the year.

- Rock and Roll – This year the ULSU has totally stepped it up a notch to bring you some wicked Canadian music. Starting with THE Canadian indie rock back, Sloan and going all the way through with The Sharp Ends, Endangered Ape, Wicked Awesomes, The Creationists, and Treeline. Look forward for more ear melting, heart fluttering inducing cancon to come your way.

A short and sweet synopsis but feel free to contact any of us about our upcoming initiatives or if you have any suggestions or would like to see something done that isn’t being done.

Happy 2009 UofL’ers!

Love,

The ULSU team