Re-evaluation of Services (light purple)
“If students don’t want something, I think we should cut it,” said Webster.
MASU’s president already identified some of the problems with the current services being offered.
“The bike co-op has been running for three years, students hardly use it, and the bikes are falling apart,” said Webster. “The whole system doesn’t work very well.” Students each pay $1 of student fees for this service every year, amounting to $2,370 of the total budget.
The online used bookstore is budgeted at $1000 every year. Webster said problems with this service include a lack of use, as well as website dysfunctions.
“There are some services we do that might just need to be reconsidered based on use,” said Webster, referring particularly to the online housing directory. “There is so much off campus housing that it really isn’t that difficult to find a place.”.
A budget breakdown, including all the services currently offered by MASU, is available on their website.
Re-evaluations of CASA, NBSA memberships (blue)
Every Mt. A student is also a part of the New Brunswick Students’ Alliance and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. CASA takes up $7,200 of MASU and $9,952.61 goes to NBSA.
“Money is being given to these organizations so that we can lobby provincially and federally,” said Annie Sherry, MASU’s vice president of External Affairs.
As for federal advocacy, CASA successfully advocated for students to no longer have to include information about the vehicle they own when applying for their loan.
“Students don’t have to worry anymore about owning a car and having that be deducted off their application for a student loan,” said Sherry.
“Are we members of CASA because it benefits students, or because the president from two years ago was chair of CASA?” said Webster. “I’m not really sure that it benefits students.”
Sherry asserted student money going toward advocacy organizations like CASA or NBSA is “legitimate and worthwhile.”
Re-evaluation of Council Structure (dark purple)
The review is to include an internal evaluation. “Council is huge for the amount of students Mount Allison has,” said Webster. “It’s not efficient.” Josh Outerbridge proposed two draft council restructures on Nov. 3.
Option 1
6 Executive (4 voting, 2 non-voting)
6 Faculty Representatives (Senators)
6 Members-at-large (1 of which is the board of regents representative)
Office of the Chair
Office of the Ombudsperson
Option 2
6 Executive
6 Faculty Representatives (Senators)
2 on campus councillors
2 off campus councillors
1 Member-at-large (Board of Regents Representative)
1 First Year Councillor
Office of the Chair
Office of the ombudsperson
“Students need to have a say in how they are represented,” said Webster.
