Sodexo to donate to ULSU Food Bank

Post-secondary education is not always easy to obtain, especially when students are struggling financially. Alleviating some of the pressures placed on students is the purpose of the ULSU Food Bank. Being able to put food on the table is one less thing students have to worry about, so they are able to focus on their studies. Sodexo, the corporation that operates the Food Services on-campus, announced it will be making a very generous contribution to the ULSU Food Bank. John-Barry DeYoung, Sodexo Executive Director at the University of Lethbridge declared that the Company would be making a donation of $1000 to the ULSU Food Bank, on Friday October 23, 2009 at 2pm in the Students’ Union Office. The ULSU Food Bank was established in 2004 to deal with the increasing awareness of hunger and poverty on campus. “Our Food Bank is a program that distributes emergency food hampers to students, faculty or staff at the University that are in need of assistance,” said Allan Hall, ULSU Vice-President Administration. The Food Bank relies on generous donations like this, and Needs-Based Funding from the Quality Initiatives Program. Students who are in need of a hamper can email food.bank@uleth.ca or stop by SU180 and a hamper will be ready and waiting for pick up the day after the request is made. Food Bank users can request a hamper every two weeks and all information is kept confidential.

For more information contact:

Cole Lehto ULSU VP Internal

403-329-5155

su.internal@uleth.ca

Lazy sherpas unemployed

   Right now, 1 in 5 students in Canada are unemployed. And not because they are content to be lazy on their parents couch this summer, but rather, the largely seasonal nature of student employment has not been favourable in this economic climate. A recent report released by Statistics Canada says that the unemployment rate for students aged 19-24 is higher than it has been since 1977, at 21%.

  

 Jillian Flake, the Public Relations and Communications Officer for CASA reports:

 

“Students who are unable to find work this summer will have a much harder time paying for their education this fall, and might not be able to return to school in September ” said Arati Sharma, National Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA).  

“There are government resources available to students to assist them during these difficult times,” continued Sharma. “But we are concerned that very few students are aware of them.”

Despite having invested in significant new programs such as the Repayment Assistance Plan and the Canada Student Grant Program, as well as increasing student loan limits, the federal government has not been successful in promoting awareness and information regarding these programs.

“We’ve told the government they need to do a better job of telling students about the financial aid available to them. It’s even more important for unemployed students so they can continue going to school,” said Sharma.

 

 

   With such a hard environment to find a job, many students are becoming creative with the way they earn money. CASA is looking for these creative students to tell their story to the media. Beverly Eastham, Chair of CAUS and Vice-President External at the Univeristy of Alberta Students’ Union tweets:

 

Are you a student who has had to take unusual employment/’odd’ job due to economy? Willing to talk to the media? Tweet @uasuadvocacy asap!

8:30 PM Jul 31st from web

   Or, you can email CASA’s digital technology officer Sharif Virani at dto@casa.ca

   So, have you learned how to spin wool? Perhaps you’ve taken to becoming a sherpa? Maybe you’ve transfered your biochemistry skills to creating heroin in the basement of a Hell’s Angel’s roadside bar?

 

 

 

   Or maybe you remembered when Bedouin Soundclash played in a sold out U of L Zoo Campus Pub and then saw them last night at the Blarney Stone and managed to become a roadie?

 

 

 

   In any case, shoot me a wall post, tweet, email, phone call, text, or otherwise if you have a good story to tell. And for all those unfortunate souls jobless and hopeless for going back to school, remember your financial options are open. Student Loans are always available, and with the government’s new Repayment Assistance Program, paying back that student loan is getting easier.

 

Happy Sherpa-ing,

 

Jeremy G

CASA at work for students

CASA elects Governance Officers for 2009-2010

Ottawa, ON – During its recent annual Policy and Strategy conference, held in Calgary, Alberta, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) elected its governance officers for 2009-2010.

 

Tina Robichaud was elected as Chairperson. Joining her is Justin Williams as Secretary and Allan Hall as Treasurer. Robichaud is president of the “Fédération des étudiantes et étudiants du centre universitaire de Moncton,” Williams is the VP Education of the Federation of Students at the University of Waterloo, and Hall is the VP Administration for the University of Lethbridge Students’ Union.

The governance officers act on behalf of the entire membership to ensure the accountability and effectiveness of the organization. As leaders among leaders, these three students will help realize the policy and advocacy priorities set out by the membership.

“We have a big year ahead of us, but also a driven membership and incredible potential to work with the government, civil servants and stakeholders to accomplish our objectives,” said Robichaud. “I have no doubt we can achieve both our short term and long term goals, and ensure a common future and a better Canada.”

juuuuust kidding.

“Robichaud has been a dedicated leader within CASA and student politics for a number of years now,” said Arati Sharma, National Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. “I am confident that the new executive team will strengthen CASA’s mandate for a more accessible, affordable, high quality post-secondary education system in Canada.”

CASA would also like to thank the former governance officers, Kyle Steele, Kim Hartlin and Alastair MacKinnon, for their dedication to the betterment of students’ lives and of the post-secondary education sector as a whole.

-30-

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit national student organization composed of 24 student associations, representing over 300,000 students from coast to coast.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jillian Flake
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
Tel.:   613-236-3457   ext. 224 (c)   613-868-6605  ,
Email: casacomm@casa.ca

Council of Alberta University Stu-Whaaa?

CAUS and its Role

The ULSU is a member of CAUS, the Council of Alberta University Students. Why should you care? First, the Post-Secondary Learning Act, which also mandates our existence, directs us to provide a voice for students at the municipal, provincial, and federal level. Second, CAUS provides that Albertan venue for expression of Lethbridge University students’ concerns about their education, and how it is affected by the provincial government. Most importantly, if we sit still with our hands crossed, listening without giving any feedback to the people operating the education system we go into debt or work hard to pay for, do we deserve the terrible treatment we would likely receive?

What happens when one doesn’t stand up for themself

What happens when we all voice our opinions and come to compromise.

 

Advocacy

Advocacy is the name of the game. Through round-table discussion, the Council is currently discussing what our provincial lobbying priorities will be for the next year. Balancing local issues with provincial issues, the Council must come to a consensus as to how we will be approaching the government in the next lobby conference. Stronger together than separately, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge Students’ Unions will come to agreement and then approach the relevant ministries to get tangible results that benefit our students.

08/09 Lobbying Priorities and Accomplishments:

• We lobbied for increased deferred maintenance –i.e. monies for repairing and upkeeping University buildings. The year saw $155 million in new funding and a promise to match federal funding for deferred maintenance.
• CAUS asked for tuition increases to not exceed the CPI cap. This means that as the Consumer Price Index increases (it did by 2% this year), institutions cannot increase tuition past that. Indeed, the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, Doug Horner, committed to this, and with CPI going down from 5% to 2% in 09/10, the increase to tuition has gone down from previous years. 
• Further, CAUS asked for the elimination of property taxes on University residences, in order to create an environment encouraging Universities to complete capital projects to create new residences.

 

What the 09/10 ULSU Exec have been up to

This past week, the ULSU Exec went to a CAUS changeover conference, to discuss policy direction for the next year, and elect new positions for the Council Board.

09/10 Lobbying Priorities:

• Improving student financial aid
• Keeping tuition tied to CPI
• Increasing base operating funding to Alberta’s universities
• Targeting deferred maintenance
• Disability Student Resources
• Elections Act to to be more student-friendly

Through CAUS, your expectations that the SU will be providing you with a voice to the provincial government are met. Exceedingly, this year’s executives believe that the Council of Alberta University Students is an organization to invest time and resources into, to benefit UofL students. A new townhouse-style residence building is in the University’s capital plan, so let’s help them with their goal by creating a positive financial environment for them to complete their project and provide students with more spaces. As the recession hits the University, they may want to increase tuition to fund their operations, so let’s make sure we have tuition tied to CPI to make sure students can afford their education. As University Hall’s cramped science laboratories generate layers of chemical crust, lets help the University secure funding to move those labs out of that building, off the heads of all those residence students living a few floors down. Support us in supporting you. Generate conversation with our peers about these issues and make sure every student you meet is well-informed. However, if nothing else, stay tuned. There is more to come.

Cheers,

Jeremy Girard

Gimme Shelter? Housing resources in Lethbridge

A little known program is available to Alberta residents here in Lethbridge to help out with high housing costs. The Rent Supplement Program, funded by the Alberta government and other stake holders and administered through Lethbridge Housing Authority, this program pays anything above the threshold of 30% of the tenants income to subsidize the difference between a negotiated market rent and 30% of the household income.

Any Alberta citizen is eligible to apply, but all applicants are prioritized based on need. This is a great program if you’re a student forced to live off campus due to residence being full and unable to accommodate your necessary monthly spending on your income because of the high cost of off campus housing. Families also benefit from this as it is total monthly income of the household. Application forms can be accessed here.

The LHA offers other housing programs to help individuals get into safe and affordable housing, if you or anyone you know need any help in this respect please contact them.

Housing remains to be a serious concern here in Lethbridge and although we have seen some movement in the number of rental proprieties available this past few months, it still is hovering at only about a 1% vacancy rate. Social Housing in Action (SHIA) and the Affordable Housing Task Forces (a joint committee with SHIA and the City of Lethbridge) have developed a plan to end homelessness, The Bringing Lethbridge Home Plan is available through the City of Lethbridge website as is Bob Tarleck’s personal vow to end homelessness. For information on what the province of Alberta is doing to combat this social issue, see their 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.

Awards, Awards, and More Awards

***NOTE*** The deadline for the Student of the Year award has been extended until March 24, 2009.

I am pleased to announce that the ULSU is accepting nominations for two awards that are given out each year – The “Student of the Year Award” and The “Students’ Union Club of the Year Award.“

Student of the Year Award
This is an annual award presented to the student who embodies leadership, commitment, and contributes to the betterment of U of L students;  this may be exemplified by involvement in clubs, non-profit organizations, student organizations, community and volunteerism.

The DEADLINE for nomination submissions is March 24, 2009.  The winner will be presented with this award at the annual ULSU Changeover Reception on April 16th.

Students’ Union Club of the Year Award
This annual award will be presented to the Students’ Union ratified club that has demonstrated the most outstanding effort and dedication in its endeavors over the past year. This club should have preformed successful initiatives and should be in excellent standing with Clubs’ Council.

The DEADLINE for nomination submissions is March 18, 2009.  The winner will be presented with this award at the annual ULSU Changeover Reception on April 16th.

If you would like to nominate a club or individual for either of these awards please email VP Internal Eric Hawthorne at su.internal@uleth.ca

Please include in the email:

• The Nominee(s) name
• An email address to contact the Nominee(s)
• A well written description of why the nominee should be chosen for this award

Cheers,
Eric
VP Internal

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

Fresh Fest – It’s Gonna Be Huge

Lethbridge, get ready!

We have been hard at work planning the student orientation week activities for the 2008/2009 school year. Fresh Fest is the product of our labors and my goodness it’s going to be huge! A 3 day extravaganza of friends, events, and parties, Fresh Fest is going to be the best way to start the year at the U of L.

Keep a look out for more news and details to be released over the coming weeks.

Cheers,

Eric
VP Internal