Final show down TONIGHT!

Rumble in the cage!

By cage, I mean Andy’s Place and by rumble I mean a verbal melody of high minded ideals and hopes for the future.

Tonight is the final for the 2009 Changing the World: Student Speakers Challenge and it will be held at 7pm in Andy’s Place (Anderson Hall 100). From four rounds of speakers and six contestants we have now reached the end where two excellent speakers will challenge each others presentation skills and world changing idea’s to be the one. The one who wooed audience members and judges alike, the one whose smooth words and solid insight had impressed enough to pass them through three separate rounds of judging. The one who will walk away with a cool $500.00.

Tonight Trish Silk will be speaking on the merit of tolerance and acceptance and will be challenging Jeff Henry’s thoughts on modern media, corporate and independent.

An excellent evening of insight and thoughtlessness, free admission and refreshments will be served.

Myself and incoming executive Alex Masse will be  moderating so come by and say hello!

Jenn Prosser,

VP Academic

huzzah minister!!! part 3- Let’s talk about Tri Councils

And we are back. I like that Jenn posted about the VP Research because a big part of their job is to secure funding from the Tri-Councils for research. Conincidentally, we here at CASA are talking about Tri-Council funding as it pertains to students.

So, what the heck are the Tri-Councils? Well, they are the autonomous bodies that are charged with reviewing research projects throughout the country, and subsequently providing funding for said projects. The Tri-Councils are:

Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR)

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

So, why are we talking about the tri-councils. Well, research is important. We are biased, of course, but we fundamentally believe that education and innovation are the primary means of improving this country. That is why we are talking about Tri-Council funding and autonomy.

There are 2 things that we are talking to ministers, MPs, senators, and leaders about.

TRI-COUNCIL PAY EQUITY

A student should not need to take a vow of poverty if they want to do grad work in the Social Sciences and Humanities. But that is what we are requiring of them right now. Students who pursue graduate research through SSHRC get paid significantly less than those who are funded by NSERC and CIHR. Why?

Well, one of the things we hear is NSERC and CIHR need more funding to attract grad students, because of market forces. They could make a lot of money working, rather than researching or something like that. They also throw bunk excuses like “the Universities set the pay level of the degrees!”

But, we are having none of that!!! First off, the value of research is in-calculable. Who knows? The next big thing might come from the social sciences. So why is the government falsely perpetuating market forces? Also, universities don’t spend money on things that they don’t consider necessary, like student salaries (They are a business folks. If you weren’t forced to spend more money on someone’s salary, you would’nt).

So, our ask: Pay equity across the Tri-Councils. Whether this means that the government puts more funding into SSHRC, or simply rejigs the rules to ensure this equity are inconsequential to us, as long as it happens.

Research is valuable, whether is done in the social sciences, natural sciences, or health field. Let’s make sure that students who want to do this work are not disadvantaged.

TRI-COUNCIL AUTONOMY

In Budget 2009, there were some concerning mandates. One thing that the Government did was direct SSHRC to focus in on Business related grad projects. We have an issue with this one too!

The Tri-Councils are supposed to be arms length from the government. And here we have a case of direct interference. While we have no specific issue with differentially funding the tri-councils to reflect the government’s priorities, we believe that is where it should end.

DO NOT tell an independent agency that a management graduate project is more valuable than a history graduate project.

Again, it comes back to the intrinsic value of research across the board. I have been the using the R.I.M example (they are the folks who came up with the Blackberry). The work that RIM did to come up with that little tool needed input from across the disciplines; from computer science to linguistics, to user interface research. If any part of that was missing, the Blackberry would not exist. And that is just one example among many.

Research is important. It is not the government’s place to determine what research should be done. That is the responsibility of the Tri-Councils. That is why they were set up in the first place. Do not tinker with that.

Adam Vossepoel

President

Vice President Research candidates present

Over the past year I have been involved in the search for the new Vice President Research for the University of Lethbridge. We have two excellent candidates now and they are both presenting for the university public next week.

Dear Members of the University Community:

I am writing to update you on the progress of the search to appoint a new Vice-President Research and to invite you to participate in the next phase of the progress.

The Search Committee has met several times over the last few months and reviewed the files of a number of individuals who had expressed an interest in the position.  Most recently, we conducted interviews on campus with a few of these individuals.

The Committee has invited two candidates to visit campus and to participate in the public part of the interview process.  These individuals are Dr. Keith Archer and Dr. Daniel Weeks.  Dr. Archer is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary and Director of Research at the Banff Centre.  Dr. Weeks is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University.

Each candidate will present a public lecture on “The Challenges in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity and How They Can Be Addressed at a Canadian University in the 21^st Century”. I encourage you to attend these presentations.

Dr. Archer will present at 9:00 am on Wednesday, April 1 in W646 (the Board Room)

Dr. Weeks will present at 9:00 am on Thursday, April 2 in W646 (the Board Room)

I also want to encourage you to comment in writing to me on your views of the two candidates.   Your comments must be received by the end of the day on Tuesday, April 7. These will be made available only to the Search Committee on a strictly confidential basis to aid them in the evaluation of the candidates.

Each candidate will also meet with representatives of ULFA, the Deans and Executive Directors, the Students’ Union, the Graduate Students Association, Human Resources, Research Services staff, and the Search Committee.

I look forward to seeing you at the public presentations and to receiving your comments.

Thank you.

Bill

All are welcome to come out to see the presentations and give feedback to the committee members about the candidates and how you believe they would fit in with the University community and how they would drive the research opportunities here at the University.

Please feel free to contact me further in any questions you may have about this process,

Jenn Prosser

VP Academic

Huzzah Minister!!! Part 2: Let’s talk about books…

When you think of the costs associated with obtaining a University education, you typically think of tution, rent, cost of living, etc. But academic materials (textbooks, course packs, lab materials) are real, and often exorbitantly priced.

Get a load of this statistic: From 1997-2005, textbook prices have increased by 280%, while CPI has only increased by 22%!!! Obviously, something is wrong here.

Well, neglecting the publishing costs, and shipping costs, and whatever other costs that the bookstore tells you they have, there is also another cost on top of the list price. That cost is the Book Importation Regualtions.

It breaks down like this. In 1999, Canada imposed these book import regulations in an effort to protect the Canadian publishing industry. Any books that were imported from the States were subject to a 10% fee above the list price; from anywhere else, it is 15%. One would think that the government might be seeing some revenue from this regulation, but they are not! Not a single penny!

So why is this regualtion in place? Maybe it increased the number of publishing houses in Canada? Wrong. Since this regulation was put in, we have seen the eventual extinction of our publishing houses; from around 40 to 2!

“So what?”, you may be asking yourself. Well, to put it into context, if this regualtion were to be removed, Canadian students would immediately be saving ~$30M/ year on books from the U.S. alone! And this stat doesn’t even account for the savings that students at French schools would see (Canada’s French publishing community is weak, which means that most academic materials must be imported from France, increasing costs for French students).

But I am not done! You know when you walk into Chapters to pick up a book and you see 2 prices on the back, a Canadian one and an American one? Well, that is not just the exchange rate. That difference in price is this book import regualtion fouling your favorite fiction as well!

So, let’s recap:

1) Canadians pay an extra 10-15% on any imported book

2) Canada is the only country that has this regualtion

3) The government does not see a penny of revenue from this regualtion

4) A flick of the wrist and a signature can eliminate this regualtion immediately

5) It makes books cheaper for Canadian citizens

Taking all the above things into account, there should be only one question in your head, “Why aren’t we doing this?!” We here at CASA have the same question in mind, and now, so do a lot of MPs looking for political capital. Let’s hope they can see it a easily as we can.

Next up, TRI-COUCIL FUNDING and AUTONOMY

Adam Vossepoel

President

ULSU Club of the Year Winner – GALIA

Congratulations are due to the Gay and Lesbian Integrity Association (GALIA) here at the University of Lethbridge for winning the ULSU Club of the Year Award!

Out of the 5 clubs nominated for this award, GALIA was selected by the ULSU Clubs’ Council as the best club on campus for this year. GALIA has shown a high level of professionalism and spirit in all of their events – they have renewed the face of their club by increasing the number events they host. They have sponsored advocacy events and social nights alike, and very shortly will be painting a brand new mural in the tunnel.

On behalf of the ULSU General Assembly, I would like to extend a well deserved congratulations to GALIA.

Cheers,

Eric
VP Internal

March 25th: ULSU Last Lecture series

ULSU Last Lecture series is in its second year and this year is featuring three more professors ready and willing to impart their venerable wisdom upon you. Started in 2008, this series gives the opportunity to University of Lethbridge professors and students alike to learn something about the little things.

The speakers this year are Dr. Chris Kukucha, a Political Science professor, Dr. Robin Bright, an Education professor and Dr. Craig Milner, a Management professor. They will be sharing advice and stories on love, life, how to achieve perfect success…all the things they cannot or will not tell you in the classroom.

The Last Lecture is based on Randy Pausch’s inspiring lecture “Really Achieving your Childhood Dreams” which he did after learning of a fatal illness which took his life in July of 2008. Wanting to impart real wisdom and life lessons to his students, this lecture has become well known and well watched. The ULSU has created a series for our UofL professors to give thier hypothtical “Last Lecture” to students and community alike.

Time: 7pm-9pm
Place: PE 264 (in the First Choice Savings Center)

Everyone welcome, admission is free.

“Huzzah Minister!” – Lobbying Day 1

As part of our ongoing news feed from Ottawa, we are officially concluding our first real day of lobbing. The membership has already conducted 34 individual meetings with Senators, MPs, and key staff. The ULSU got to meet with the following:

Myself

• Ed Komarnicki, MP: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour 
• Rodger Cuzner, MP: Official Opposition Whip

 

From Left to Right: Rodger Cuzner: MP, Derek Krywvj: Red River College, Kyle Steele: Acadia University, Brodie Pattenden: ULSU

 

 

Jeremy

• Mike Savage, MP: Official Opposition Critic for Human Resources and Skills and the Chair of the Liberal Caucus Committee on Post-Secondary Education and Research
• Rick Norlock, MP

Adam

• Paul Calandra, MP
• Martha Hall Finley, MP: Platform Outreach Chair for the Liberal Party of Canada

These meetings so far have been incedibly exciting, with reception of CASA’s priorities, as outlined in Adam’s previous post, being quite positive. The pragmatic solutions we are proposing are not requiring huge capital injunctions (something that tends to be a hard sales pitch during a recession), but rather a more efficient and effect use of current funds. Also, initiatives such as the Removal of the Textbook Importation Tax and Fair and Balanced Copy-write Law, have little to do with funding to and from government coffers, but rather adjustment to policy that enhances innovation, affordability, and accessibility in the PSE environment. 

There are still three more days and ~120 lobby meetings to go, with highlight meetings such as Elections Canada and Stephane Dion for myself, and Michael Ignatieff for Voss. Meetings are being added daily, so stay tuned!

Brodie Pattenden

VP Admin, CASA Fanboy

Sweet Rhymes and Hard Times

Our goals this week,

As the Economy looks bleak:

Learn more about RAP and the CSGP,

And get big Commitments from every MP!

Gather together and collect Information,

To Spread PSE all over the Nation!

The above is courtesy of the great team at the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. I am hunkered down in Ottawa at the Lord Elgin Hotel, with VP Admin Brodie Pattenden, and President Elect Jeremy Girard. We are in the process of briefing new and old members about how to effectively advocate PSE issues to the federal government.

For those of you who haven’t been paying attention, CASA is a national lobby organization that focuses on issues related to post secondary education in Canada. Over the next week (3.5 days technically) over 70 student leaders will be meeting with ~150 MPs, Senators, and Policy staff of the government.

This event, called Lobby Con (Con is for conference, not some clever reference to government), and has become quite the event on the Hill. The priorities that CASA has can change from year to year, but it always focuses on improving Canada’s university system through non-partisan, rational, and intelligent policy recommendations.

This year, in the face of the “looming economic crisis” (I really hate that term actually. Sorry for perpetuating it), CASA has had a tough job. It is not easy to ask for funding when the government is staring down the wrong end of defecit budget for the first time in a decade. But CASA does not give up that easily. We are nothing if not persistent!

This year, the membership has decided to focus on the following priorities, in no particular order:

- Expand the Canada Student Grant Program

- Enhance the Repayment Assistance Plan

- Take a Balanced Approach to Copyright Law

- Reduce the Cost of Academic Materials

- Create Tri-Council Funding Autonomy

- Improve Tri-Council Salary Guideline

As the week goes on, I will post more on each of the above points.

Until the future,

Adam Vossepoel

President

So I Slept on the Ground Last Night

This goes out to Tim, Derek, Kyla, Dan, and Kathleen – the 5 brave students who are taking a proactive step to bring homelessness to the foreground as an issue right here in Lethbridge.

I really support the work that is being done right now by the 5 Days for the Homeless crew. In order to show our support, the ULSU executives took it upon ourselves to spend a night in the cold with our friends. The wind was a bit bad (it blew some of the food away that was donated and seemed to threaten to suck the roof right off the house) but all and all it was a pretty relaxed night – if you consider relaxed sleeping in tight quarters with 9 other people, including some who haven’t showered in 4 days, all while the cold ground is sucking the heat out of your body through your sleeping bag.

The 4 execs looked pretty haggard this morning (especially considering we only spent 1 night out there.) Being out there made me think about something that was brought up in a class I had earlier this week. The ability to go in and do this kind of awareness work feels good – you raise money, raise awareness, and in the end have some impact on the problem. But imagine what living like this all time must be like – all those good feelings I have about this cause are supported by the fact that I knew I would get to go home and have a shower. I knew I would get to leave the cardboard box house and get into a change of clothes. The prospect of living like this day in and day out for even a small amount of time seems truly draining.

The proof is in the once smiling faces of the 5 brave students who even as I type sit outside right now.  Don’t believe me, just go out and say hi to the homeless kids in front of the SUB and see for yourself – they have been pretty good at putting on a happy face, but they are starting to show some serious wear.

Please, ff you have any change in your pocket, or a couple quarters you know are hiding under a sofa cushion, then put that money to good use. Donate. Every little bit counts – help 5 Days reach their goal of raising $10,000 right here in Lethbridge.

Cheers,

Eric
VP Internal

I blogged on my experience from last night at jpro86.wordpress.com, so feel free to check it out. I echo Eric’s sentiments in giving serious credit to the five students who are spending their last night outside the SUB  tonight. The wind is howling and I am sure they are huddled in the shelter right now trading stories of the week and discussing what they have experinced. Their blog is really interesing and a great reflection of thier experince, check it out at 5days.ca

Jenn Prosser

VP Academic

5days for homeless kicks off at the UofL

The 5 Days for Homeless kicked off last night and the five very generous souls who have volunteered for this great cause will be sleeping outside the Students’ Union building for this entire week raising visible awareness and money for the Wood’s Homes here in Lethbridge.

If you are in around the university this week be sure to have some spare change to throw in their canisters or keep your eyes peeled for their donation stations set up around the school.

For more information on this cross country fundraiser initiative and very worthy cause check out 5days.ca

Their goal is to raise $10 000.00 this year and with everyone’s help and donations I fully believe it can be achieved. Private and corporate donations are welcome just contact Amanda ( a tireless coordinator) at amanda.miller2@uleth.ca or check out the Facebook event.

Myself, Brodie, Adam and Eric will all be there Wednesday night after the Zoo show and Thursday morning so come by to drop off some change and give a little to those who very much need it.

Jenn Prosser, VP Academic