Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Drop Fees campaign putting the SFUO in the RED?
Illustration by Maria Rondon ©2009 Fulcrum Publishing Society
When it comes to balancing the books, apparently the SFUO's VP finance Roxanne Dubois has a few problems. It has been reported, in yesterday's edition of the Fulcrum, that the SFUO is currently in red, having recorded a sizable deficit. The article entitled Looking over the books reported that the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa is facing a budget shortfall of about $162 147 compared to a surplus of $215 529 at this time last year.
Why is it that Ms. Dubois, the SFUO's VP finance (and apparently a member of CFS national executive as Francophone Students' Representative), hasn't been able to balance the books this year? Well, this is what she had to say:
Dubois further noted that part of the reason for the deficit is due to the Agora Bookstore and Internet Café bringing in less money this winter.
She also mentioned the fact that an $80 000 endowment (investment) has not done so well in the past year.
Alright, well that's fair given the worldwide recession we have been going through.
BUT, wait a second!?!? I read another interesting article pertaining to a certain Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) campaign that goes by the name of "Drop Fees" or if you would to get more specific, the "new and improved" campaign title: "Drop Fees for a Poverty-Free Ontario".
Apparently $20 000 (at the VERY LEAST) has been spent on this CFS-inspired campaign. Some might say that isn't a whole lot of money. But when you're running a deficit of over $160 000, that IS A LOT OF MONEY. Will any questions be asked about what Ms. Dubois is planning on doing in order to balance the books by the end of this fiscal year (April 30, 2010)? I sure hope so! Possibly more information about how and with whom this $80 000 endowment was invested should be another question that is asked, but this time directed to the Board of Administration of the SFUO (BOA) who approved such an investment.
This is OUR money and we have every right to know WHO is using it, WHAT it is being used for, WHERE it is kept/invested, WHY the SFUO has a budget deficit, and WHAT will be done to balance the SFUO's books by the end of this fiscal year.
IF YOU DON'T ASK, THEY WILL NOT TELL!
Monday, October 26, 2009
L'info pertinante au sujet de la grippe H1N1
L'Université d'Ottawa semble avoir un plan en place en cas d'une pandémie de la grippe H1N1. À vous de juger!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
WHAT? NO FALL READING WEEK AT THE U OF O? Part 2
After having done a bit of research, here are the Colleges/University in Ontario who are lucky enough to have a FALL READING WEEK!
1) Trent University: October 26-November 2 2009
2) Laurentian University: October 26-October 30 2009
3) Nippissing University: October 12-October 16 2009
4) University of Windsor: October 13-October 16 2009
5) York University: October 10-October 16 2009
6) Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology: October 26-October 30 2009
7) St-Lawrence College of Applied Arts and Technology: October 26-October 30 2009 (Only BScN students)
8) Fleming College: October 26-October 30 2009
9) Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology: October 26-October 30 2009
10) George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology: October 26-October 30 2009
11) Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning: October 26-October 30 2009
12) Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology: October 26-October 30 2009
So, if students attending those post-secondary institutions get to enjoy a FALL READING WEEK, why can't the students at the University of Ottawa have that priviledge aswell?
College/University links: © All rights reserved
Friday, October 16, 2009
WHAT? NO FALL READING WEEK AT THE U OF O?
First of all, I will start by saying THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY and HAPPY U OF O DAY to all! It's quite nice to have at least ONE day off since students at the U of O WON'T BE GETTING A FALL READING WEEK yet again!
That's right everybody! You've probably just recently found out that all your friends at other post-secondary institutions around Ontario will be getting a well deserved reading week in the coming days. But, WAIT! Not so fast! As a student at the University of Ottawa, forget about any such holiday because there's no such thing here. Frustrated...? Overworked...? Stressed to the MAX...? Don't worry, you're not the only one! You have every right to be pissed off at your university's administration!
Wait a minute!? Where could the SFUO fit into this conversation? Aren't the SFUO executive members supposed to represent the student population as a whole? Wouldn't you think that they should be lobbying U of O's administration in order to get a fall reading week for the student's it represents? Apparently, in past years, the SFUO DID talk about this very issue!
The other day, being the political junky that I am, I was browsing through the SFUO's constitution (the 2008-2009 version since that's the most updated version available on the SFUO's website; but it's not in plain view though, you have to know about this link if you ever want to find it! Oddly enough, there's no actual link on the SFUO's website) and found this very interesting section within the Policy Manuel:
It's safe to say that this particular "commitment" within the SFUO constitution didn't exactly lead to any progress. I've felt the same way for 3 years now: It frustrates me that with all the midterm exams, the assignments, the papers, etc., etc., etc., that students at the University of Ottawa do not have the same opportunity as students attending other post-secondary institutions within the province to enjoy (or to catch up on school work) a fall reading week.
I hope this blog sparks some sort of healthy debate as to getting these important questions answered.
1) Why doesn't the University of Ottawa have a fall reading week?
2) If students are pissed off, then why don't they speak up and question the status quo?
3) What was accomplished between November 2006 and the 2008-2009 academic year by the SFUO in order to advance this particular cause?
4) Why was the SFUO unsuccessful in getting a fall reading week for the 2008-2009 academic year?
5) Has this been talked about during recent SFUO meetings...? Board of Administration meetings...? Senate meetings...? Board of Governors meetings...?
6) Why can't the University of Ottawa have a fall reading week for the 2010-2011 academic year?
If you actually care about this cause, maybe a simple email to the following could get the ball rolling: Allan Rock...? Your Student Associations...? The SFUO...? Your student senators...? The representatives on the Board of Administration...?
Think about it...
That's right everybody! You've probably just recently found out that all your friends at other post-secondary institutions around Ontario will be getting a well deserved reading week in the coming days. But, WAIT! Not so fast! As a student at the University of Ottawa, forget about any such holiday because there's no such thing here. Frustrated...? Overworked...? Stressed to the MAX...? Don't worry, you're not the only one! You have every right to be pissed off at your university's administration!
Wait a minute!? Where could the SFUO fit into this conversation? Aren't the SFUO executive members supposed to represent the student population as a whole? Wouldn't you think that they should be lobbying U of O's administration in order to get a fall reading week for the student's it represents? Apparently, in past years, the SFUO DID talk about this very issue!
The other day, being the political junky that I am, I was browsing through the SFUO's constitution (the 2008-2009 version since that's the most updated version available on the SFUO's website; but it's not in plain view though, you have to know about this link if you ever want to find it! Oddly enough, there's no actual link on the SFUO's website) and found this very interesting section within the Policy Manuel:
Well now, isn't that interesting? So, this was voted on before I personally arrived at the U of O and supposedly this "fall reading week" was supposed to happen last year. I think it would be fair to ask the question: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?35 – Fall reading week (Voted on November 12, 2006)
The SFUO is committed to the establishment of a fall reading week for the 2008-2009 academic year.
It's safe to say that this particular "commitment" within the SFUO constitution didn't exactly lead to any progress. I've felt the same way for 3 years now: It frustrates me that with all the midterm exams, the assignments, the papers, etc., etc., etc., that students at the University of Ottawa do not have the same opportunity as students attending other post-secondary institutions within the province to enjoy (or to catch up on school work) a fall reading week.
I hope this blog sparks some sort of healthy debate as to getting these important questions answered.
1) Why doesn't the University of Ottawa have a fall reading week?
2) If students are pissed off, then why don't they speak up and question the status quo?
3) What was accomplished between November 2006 and the 2008-2009 academic year by the SFUO in order to advance this particular cause?
4) Why was the SFUO unsuccessful in getting a fall reading week for the 2008-2009 academic year?
5) Has this been talked about during recent SFUO meetings...? Board of Administration meetings...? Senate meetings...? Board of Governors meetings...?
6) Why can't the University of Ottawa have a fall reading week for the 2010-2011 academic year?
If you actually care about this cause, maybe a simple email to the following could get the ball rolling: Allan Rock...? Your Student Associations...? The SFUO...? Your student senators...? The representatives on the Board of Administration...?
Think about it...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Aye! Lève toé l'cul pi va VOTER!
Supposément, la FÉUO a créé un site web pour l'élection particielle? Voici les INFORMATIONS ESSENTIELLES que vous DEVEZ SAVOIR!
Renseignements électoraux
Les électeurs peuvent voter à n’importe quel endroit.
Les électeurs on besoin d’identification pour voter.
Tous les lieux sont accessibles aux personnes handicapées.
LES LIEUX DE SCRUTIN:
Les lieux de scrutin suivants seront ouverts de 10h00 à 19h00 les 14 et 15 octobre:
Marion – Sous-sol, pièce commune
Lamoureux – Entrée principale, de Jean-Jacques Lussier
Montpetit – Deuxième étage, près du salon
Fauteux – Entrée principale, de Louis-Pasteur
Desmarais – Entrée principale
Simard – Sous-sol, Café Alt
Roger Guindon – Salon étudiant
ÉITI – Cafétéria
Centre universitaire – Premier étage, près du bureau d’aide financière
Centre universitaire – Sous-sol, près du bureau de la FÉUO
Complexe sportif – Entrée, près du gymnase
Tous droits réservés ©Droits d'auteur - Fédération étudiante de l'Université d'Ottawa
Renseignements électoraux
Les électeurs peuvent voter à n’importe quel endroit.
Les électeurs on besoin d’identification pour voter.
Tous les lieux sont accessibles aux personnes handicapées.
LES LIEUX DE SCRUTIN:
Les lieux de scrutin suivants seront ouverts de 10h00 à 19h00 les 14 et 15 octobre:
Marion – Sous-sol, pièce commune
Lamoureux – Entrée principale, de Jean-Jacques Lussier
Montpetit – Deuxième étage, près du salon
Fauteux – Entrée principale, de Louis-Pasteur
Desmarais – Entrée principale
Simard – Sous-sol, Café Alt
Roger Guindon – Salon étudiant
ÉITI – Cafétéria
Centre universitaire – Premier étage, près du bureau d’aide financière
Centre universitaire – Sous-sol, près du bureau de la FÉUO
Complexe sportif – Entrée, près du gymnase
Tous droits réservés ©Droits d'auteur - Fédération étudiante de l'Université d'Ottawa
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