Introductions and Head to Head

Well Folks,

It’s that time of year again. If you hadn’t noticed, there are a whole bunch of posters plastered around this University, trying to get you to support candidates in their bid to rule the ULSU! Cue dramatic music!

Who will be the next crew? Guess what, it is all up to you ( Ha, that rhymes. (I wish I could do that all the time!)).

So come on out to the Atrium on Wednesday, February 25th, at Noon, and meet the candidates. This is our annual Town Hall, where all prospective candidates will tell you why they want to be on the next ULSU Council.

Then, it gets really exciting. Thursday, February 26th, again at Noon in the Atrium, come on out for the Executive Candidate Debates! Now, you may ask, “Who are 3/4 candidates going to debate, when they are acclaimed?”. Well, have no fear, except for the VP Internal position, all other candidates will be up against myself, and the current VP Admin, Brodie Pattenden. And my goodness, is Brodie a ferocious debater!

For more information about the ULSU Elections, or to find out about the candidates, visit WWW.ULSU.CA

Adam Vossepoel

President

Last Lecture nominees, time to vote!

Boys and Girls, Guys and Dolls….

We have gathered up the nominations for the ULSU Last Lecture series to take place March 25th 7pm.

Here is your opportunity to vote for the professor you would most like to give their hypothetical Last Lecture. They are listed alphabetically with faculty/dept alongside their name. Please vote either using the comment box (you can use a fake name if you so please…) or by e-mail me at su.academic@uleth.ca.

You can vote for up to three professors, numbering from 1-3 with 1. being your first choice, 2. being your second and 3. being your third.

Voting will close Friday February. 27th at noon. Tell your friends, tell your classmates, tell everyone!

Nominated professors:

Craig Milner – Management – Human Resources

Chris Kukucha – Arts and Science – Political Science

Dennis Fitzpatrick – Arts and Science – Chemistry/ BioChem

Jim Byrne – Arts and Science – Geography

Kent Peacock – Arts and Science – Philosophy

Robin Bright – Education

Happy voting!

“The Strange Design of Conscience”

What a whirlwind of political exuberance and the oh-so-awesome finals season. This is a little like that one time I wound up on a deserted island with only my favorite book, my ipod and a water filtration system.

Seriously folks, it  has been a couple of very exciting weeks. Finals are getting everyone down and the wind in Lethbridge has lived up to its reputation, but the holidays are just around the corner…So keep you chin up darlings!

It seems every Canadian across the country has been glued to computer’s, TV’s, papers anything that could convey news about the happenings in Parliament. Keep your eyes on this page for information on federal government going on’s come January. Should be a very interesting month. In spite of our (by our, I mean Canadians as a whole) elected MP’s failure to keep the house in session and the growing lack of faith the Canadian people have in our political system; I see a lot of good coming out of this.

Average Canadian citizens care about politics. What’s more, they care about Canadian politics! The past federal election saw the lowest voter turnout since confederation, and with 41% of the country opting to not vote that is 41% of the country who essentially held up their hands and said they didn’t care.

This current crisis exemplifies the inherit fallibility of our elected MP’s and the need to Canadians to truly take hold of our democratic system. Our political institutions only work as well as the Canadian people expect them to work. When we lose faith ourselves and choose to wash our hands of the matter, how can we expect the government to govern in a fair and responsive matter? By no means am I excusing the actions of any of the federal parties over the last 2 1/2 years. Three consecutive minority governments elected by increasingly lower voter turnouts sends a message, loud and clear. Canadians do not trust our current parties, what’s more Canadians no longer trust or respond to the way we elect our representatives.

In the many rallies that have sprung up around the country the biggest call of change is not against any particular party, nor is there overwhelming support for the coalition or the conservatives. What I hear the most is Canadian crying out for electoral reform.

Some very excellent site for information on electoral reform in Canada: Fairvote.ca, Library of Parliament official site, Law Commision of Canada, Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform and Mapleleafweb.com.

These are pretty exciting times, times where your voice can carry a great deal of weight. Write to your paper, write to your MP, write to our current Prime Minister. Voice your opinion, make it known that Canadians care!

Rick Casson, MP for Lethbridge:

E-Mail: casson@rickcasson.com

Lethbridge Constituency Office:

255 8th St S. Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4Y1

Toll Free: 1-877-327-0135

Telephone: (403) 320-0070, Fax: (403) 380-4026

Parliamentary Office:

Room 504 Justice Building, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Telephone: (613) 996-0633, Fax: (613) 995-5752

Jenn Prosser, VP Academic

Saturday afternoon at the office…

Its a rather blustery day here in good ‘ole LA (that joke never gets old, amirite?).

Since its been a while, I thought it would be nice to provide some ULSU updates. So hereeeeee goes, your (couple) weeks in brief:

-  After the sewer system shut down, November 4th will forever be remembered as Poop Day for us Uleth students.

- The ULSU office is wicked busy getting ready for Funk the System (which you can read all about here. Science). Seriously, it’s going to be funking awesome. Two speakers, one funkified night in The Zoo and a week of getting know what activism means to YOU. Our table will be set up outside the bookstore in the SU building cafeteria, come on by, grab a cause ribbon and get to know how you can funk the system.

- It is getting close to exam time, and the ULSU Test Bank is holding a Test Bank Drive the 24th to the 28th. Drop off some old tests and be entered to win a draw for a wicked exam stress reliever pack – filled with everything you could need to get through this terrible time of year. Drop off your tests here in the ULSU office at the front desk. One test  = one draw entry.

Check out the Test Bank online or in person in our office. All test’s are free and for your use.

- Think the current way of doing course evaluations suck? Think they’re just fine? There will be a roundtable discussion held Nov. 18th (next week..) from 3pm-5pm in Anderson Hall 100. If you want to attend, please do! It is open to all University community members – students and staff alike. Come have your say on how things go down here at the University.

- The Food Bank food drive wrapped up nicely last week and our VP Internal, Eric Hawthorne, informed the office that it was a resounding success!

- Just a reminder that General Assembly Meetings are always open to the public.  If you’re keen on what’s going on come down to check it out. The dates for these meetings are listed on the ulsu website.

- Adam Vossepoel got a haircut. It looks pretty nice.

Awesome Sauce.

Jenn Prosser, VP Academic

Funk the System events!! Woot Woot!

Wednesday November 19^th, 2008

Direct Action Gets Satisfaction:

Time:   4:00 – 5:30 PM

Location:  Galileo’s Gallery, University of Lethbridge

Cost:  Free. Coffee and snacks provided

Mike Hudema, climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace, Canada discusses the role of direct action in bringing about social change. Hear him as he takes us through decades of experience working right here in Alberta. Hudema will make the case that direct action is sometimes necessary in working for progressive change and will take us through some of the different tools that we have at our disposal to do just that.
Mike Hudema is a long time member of the Alberta activist scene. He participated in the activist protests that took to the streets of Quebec City against the FTAA (Free Trade Agreement of the Americas), slept on the steps of the legislature to protest rising tuition rates when he was President of the University of Alberta Students’ Union, and occupied Federal MinisterAnne McLellan’s office to defeat Canada’s anti-terrorism legislation.

In his spare time he co-hosts CJSR’s alternative news program “Rise Up: Radio Free Edmonton” and co-writes books like the recently published “An Action a Day Keeps Global Capitalism Away”.

Mike currently works for Greenpeace, Canada fighting to stop the Athabasca tar sands. He is also a climb trainer with the Ruckus Society.

Moderator Jenn Prosser, VP Academic ULSU

Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

Thursday November 20^th 2008

Avi Lewis and Michelle Landsberg: Journalism in Canada’s Current Political System:

Time: 7pm

Where: PE 261 (Near Time Horton’s in First Choice Saving’s Center)

Cost: Free! Advance Tickets available at Rockerman’s Service Center

University of Lethbridge Students’ Union proudly presents Canadian journalists Avi Lewis and Michelle Landsberg to speak on how it is working in journalism in Canada’s current political landscape. Event will take place PE 261 at 7pm.

Open to all students and community.

Friday November 21^st, 2008

Funk the System – A musical extravaganza!

Come on out to celebrate some good ‘ole Canadian music from some of our local, home grown independent artists. Lethbridge’s own The Creationists and Treeline will be playing at The Zoo Friday November 21st.

By supporting local artists you are funking the system the best way you can. With increasing cuts to all arts funding being made left, right and center (and I’m not just talking political ideology’s) independent bands who choose to stay independent are getting the shaft. Rock and Roll is about music, not commercials and not the industry and not the government.

Wear a cause ribbon and 2 bucks off your door charge.

Cover = $7.00. Wear any cause colored ribbon and get $2.00 off your cover!

Doors open at 8pm.

Funk the System: November 17th to 21st

“Funk the System” – A political action week:

Politics not your dig? Think parties are squarer than trig assignments?

Politics is about more than belonging to a party or voting in an election. Politics is in everything you do, like it or not. In every dollar you spend and every cause you support and is fundamental to every service you access.

Marijuana legalization, funding for the arts, a university education, the ability to travel world wide…All of these are political and everyone of these takes individuals who care enough to say something.

Want to smoke pot anywhere legally? Want to know that this campus is being supported through YOUR taxes? Want free and fair DEMOCRATIC elections?

Look no further than yourself.

November 17th-21st, here on the UofL campus the ULSU is hosting a week of getting to know how YOU can funk the system. Look out all around campus for information on politics and why it’s relevant to your life.

ULSU rep’s and rep’s from other on-campus organizations will be outside the bookstore in the Student Union Building all week to talk about the different causes and how YOU can get involved and enact change! Stop by, grab a ribbon and some information on how to funk the system your way.

C’mon, the system is just begging to get funked, show us how you want to do it.

SACPA on campus brings Adele Boucher Rymhs – Nov. 12th

Should Alberta be Kept Free of Nuclear Power?

Adele Boucher Rymhs

Wednesday November 12, 2008

7pm

Anderson Hall – AH 116

The wheels have been set in motion to build western Canada’s first nuclear power plant. Bruce Power Alberta bought the assets of Energy Alberta Corporation and filed an application with the federal government to build a nuclear power plant earlier this year. On the same day, Bruce Power Alberta also filed an application with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to prepare a site for the construction of this nuclear power plant. The proposed plant would be built on private land next to Lac Cardinal Lake, about 30 kilometres west of Peace River and about 480 kilometres northwest of Edmonton

Bruce Power Alberta is planning to build up to four reactors that could produce 4,000 megawatts of electricity. Proponents say this could generate enough “carbon-free” electricity to supply up to two million homes with power.

Opponents point to a severe risk of radioactive contamination of the Grimshaw Aquifer, the Peace River water system, and rich agricultural land of the region. Residents have serious concerns about human and animal health, and foresee problems with long term storage of nuclear waste.

Speaker: Adele Boucher Rymhs

Adele Boucher Rymhs is a former teacher and businesswoman, and was a partner in farming and bison ranching for many years. She served on the Executive of the Peace River Board of Trade, was President of Peace Country Bison Association, and on the local Museum Board.

Boucher Rymhs ran for election as the NDP candidate in Peace River in the recent federal election. Her platform strongly supported concerns for the environment and sustainable alternatives to nuclear power. Adele was also a candidate in the March 2008 provincial election, carrying the Nuclear Free banner.

Adele Boucher Rymhs serves as Secretary of “Citizens Against Nuclear Development” (CAND), a group of over 250 residents near the proposed nuclear site at Grimshaw, AB. She is also V.P. of “Nuclear Free Alberta” and a member of the Peace River Environmental Society.

FREE ADMISSION, COFFEE AND SNACKS.

Session moderated by  Tom Cain.

Stay tuned for more SACPA on campus events.

Please contact VP Academic, Jenn Prosser, for information on SACPA on campus and how YOU can get involved.

VP Academic September Report

My September report for 2008 can be found here.

As always, feel free to e-mail me su.academic@uleth.ca or phone me at 403 329 2770 if there are any questions about my report or if you are interested in getting involved with the ULSU!

Cheers,

Jenn Prosser, VP Academic

VP Academic’s Commissioner Roles and Responsiblities

Commissioner Roles and Responsibility:

I would like to extend congratulation to Kendall Yamagashi on being elected into the VP Academic’s commissioner position for 2008/2009 year.

The following are the responsibilities and projects Kendall will work on throughout this year wit support from myself and the ULSU office.

As according to By Law XI of the ULSU Constitution and Bylaws:

Each Commissioner will:

1.1 Assist, aid and represent the student body in project based initiatives in line with ULSU Legislation.

1.2 Attend all General Assembly meetings and make informed decisions about the motions put forth on the agenda.

1.3 Sit on at least one (1) ULSU committee.

1.4 Must volunteer at two (2) ULSU functions, events, or activities connected to their

portfolio each semester.

1.5 Encouraged to attend meetings of The Executive Council as a non-voting member.

1.6 Will work a minimum of twenty (20) hours per month.

1.7 Submit a monthly written report to the Executive Assistant summarizing his/her

activities.

3. Each Commissioner has one (1) vote on all General Assembly business items.

4. The Commissioner will ensure ULSU legislation is being adhered to.

5. The Election of Commissioners (as per Elections Bylaw)

5.1 Each year, between two (2) to four (4) Commissioners will be elected internally by The General Assembly, at the discretion of the Executive Council.

5.2 The Executive Council member who requests a Commissioner must post their

[projected based initiatives] job descriptions two (2) weeks prior to the first properly convened meeting of The General Assembly.

5.3 The first properly convened meeting of The General Assembly held in September:

a) Nominations will be accepted from the voting members of The General Assembly; and

b) Each candidate will present a speech to The General Assembly.

5.4 Each voting member of The General Assembly has one (1) vote per Commissioner position during the electoral process.

5.5 The Chair may act as the CRO during the election of the Commissioners.

Roles:

1. To keep up to date on all ULSU governance policy and events
2. To keep up to date on provincial news specifically lobbying and post secondary news.
3. To work with the VP Academic on projects pertinent to the VP Academic portfolio.

Projects:

1. University of Lethbridge Composting Program: Work with the VP Academic to research the viability of implementing a school wide composting program to reduce the University’s organic waste and aid the Campus-Community garden in their endeavors to ensure the campus has a strong ecological response and a stronger on-campus community.
2. University of Lethbridge Recycling Program: Work with the VP Academic to research the ability of the university community and the city’s ability to increase the recycling services on campus. Work with the VP Academic to lobby the city and university community to implement a more comprehensive recycling program for the University of Lethbridge campus.
3. Council of Alberta University Students: Work with the VP Academic to effectively lobby the Alberta government through the Council of Alberta University Students by keeping up to date on post secondary news and participation in CAUS lobby efforts and events.

As presented on October 5th 2008 by Jenn Prosser, VP Academic

Free textbooks online?

“How to Download your textbooks for free.”

A very very interesting article from Macleans Magazine campus edition, I highly recommend everyone check it out. Textbook prices are totally unregulated by any sort of external body outside of the on-campus University Bookstore and the university community and are not subject to any sort of public transparency or accountability. Being an industry which lends itself to monopoly, often times textbook stores charge prices to turn a profit (whether that be large or small, there is little information out there on their business success). Like any business we cannot really fault them for this, but is this meant to be a business? Textbooks are a necessary part of anyone’s education, with your success often times being dependent on your ability to access these high priced duo-tangs of information. Now, the writers of these books do get paid royalty’s but ask any professor and they will tell you it is very very little.

This is an ever growing battle and if you have any concerns or comments on this please feel free to contact us!

Jenn Prosser, VP Academic