Features
Student Governments Provide Strong Voices
At Guelph looks at four key student groups on campus
BY REBECCA KENDALL
Student governments have existed at U of G since its earliest days and have grown in number and size along with the University. Despite the longevity of these groups and their involvement on campus, many students don't know what the various governments do. Here's a look at four key ones — the Central Student Association (CSA), the Graduate Students' Association (GSA), Interhall Council and Student Senate Caucus.
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| CSA executive members, from left, Jonathan Odumeru, John Coombs and Chris Killer. Missing are Bre Walt and Becky Wallace. |
The CSA represents the biggest number of students at Guelph — close to 16,000 undergraduates. Operating out of an office on the second floor of the University Centre, it provides advocacy for undergraduate students in academics and housing issues and gets involved in the community by taking part in social, environmental and human rights advocacy programs and events.
“It's important that undergraduate students at Guelph have a strong and unified voice to look out for their well-being at the University, in the community and at the provincial and federal levels,” says CSA communications commissioner Jonathan Odumeru. Joining him on the CSA executive for 2006/07 are John Coombs (external commissioner), Chris Killer (finance and human resources commissioner), Bre Walt (local affairs commissioner) and Becky Wallace (academic commissioner).
The CSA oversees student clubs, health and dental plans, SafeWalk, the Meal Exchange program, the campus food bank, a bike centre, the Bullring and www.thecannon.ca, a website that provides news, information and a buy, sell and find section. It also sponsors concerts and pubs, brings speakers to campus, runs a film series and produces the annual CSA Daytimer.
“I think students often aren't sure what we do and don't realize the scope of our involvement in student life,” says Odumeru, noting that the CSA employs nearly 30 full- and part-time staff and has a board of governors that includes students from each college, plus representatives from a number of campus organizations. Board meetings are held six times a semester and are open to the public. The CSA welcomes input from undergraduate students and encourages anyone with questions or concerns to get in touch with the executive, says Odumeru. “We're all very friendly and open.”
For more information, visit csaonline.ca, call Ext. 56748 or send e-mail to Odumeru at csatalk@uoguelph.ca.
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| GSA executive, from left, Pete Anderson, Keron Dave, Kumudinie Kariiyapperuma and Mike Schumaker. Missing is Claudia Schmidt. |
Mandated to advocate for the rights and needs of Guelph's nearly 2,000 graduate students, the GSA operates out of an office on the fifth floor of the University Centre. Like the CSA, it is managed by a board of governors, which consists of an elected core executive, plus representatives from each academic department on campus with a graduate program.
“We take pride in the fact that our job is to make the graduate experience easier and more enjoyable for our members,” says GSA vice-president internal Keron Dave. Also on this year's executive are Pete Anderson (president), Mike Schumaker (vice-president finance), Kumudinie Kariiyapperuma (vice-president external) and Claudia Schmidt (vice-president activities and media).
“Grad concerns are often much different from those of undergraduates, and that's where the GSA comes into the picture,” says Dave. “Grad students are typically more degree-driven. Also, a greater percentage of our members have families and therefore have different financial needs and expectations in terms of what kinds of services and entertainment we provide for them.”
The GSA offers its members health and dental plans, bus passes and day planners and provides financial assistance by offering travel grants and child-care and compassionate bursaries to those who qualify. It also operates the Grad Lounge, a popular campus meeting spot that serves food and beverages and organizes a number of events each year. Dave notes that the lounge is now offering wireless Internet.
“Our top priority is to keep our members happy, and we constantly work towards that,” she says.
The GSA and U of G's Neighbourhood Relations Office are planning a joint venture aimed at developing a peer support group, primarily geared to students with children, she adds.
The GSA is open to all graduate students and meets monthly. This semester's meetings are slated for Oct. 25, Nov. 22 and Dec. 13, all beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Room 441 of the UC. For more information visit www.uoguelph.ca/gsa, call Ext. 53314/56685 or send e-mail to gsapres@uoguelph.ca.
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Interhall central executive, from left, Andrew MacKendrick, Cathleen Yoo, Cara Lategan, Kim Svela and Jakki Doyle. |
A valuable resource for the 5,100 students who live on campus is Interhall Council, a 60-member elected student government that provides advocacy and programming especially designed for students living in residence. Interhall consists of six central executive members, 12 hall presidents and 42 hall executives. The presidents and central executive meet each week to discuss a variety of issues.
Interhall's role is to advocate on behalf of residents by participating in more than 30 University committees and communicating with its constituent student groups, the University administration, the community and other student groups. In addition, Interhall works to foster leadership in residences and organizes educational, cultural and social events within each residence and throughout campus. It also produces Herd the Word, a residence student newspaper, and represents the University at provincial and international residence association conferences.
“Our organization is specific to residence life on campus,” says Interhall president Jakki Doyle. Also on this year's central executive are vice-presidents Cathleen Yoo (internal), Kim Svela (activities), Andrew MacKendrick (communications) and Cara Lategan (operations). “We liaise with other organizations and administration on campus to ensure that the best interests of residence students are voiced.”
Interhall has a seat on the CSA board and collaborates with other student governments on large-scale events such as Orientation Week.
“Interhall is a very important campus organization,” says Doyle. “Many students spend one or more years of their life in residence, and they should get involved in the decisions that affect their environment.”
To learn more about Interhall, visit www.uoguelph.ca/interhall, call Ext. 58304, send e-mail to ihc@ uoguelph.ca or drop by the office at the Prairie Hall underpass.
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Student Senate Caucus co-chairs Dian Chaaban and Derek Pieper. Photos by Rebecca Kendall |
Providing advocacy on academic issues is the mandate of Student Senate Caucus, a group made up of elected student senators who represent students in their respective degree programs on issues related to academic quality and policy. Each student senator is a member of the caucus, which meets prior to each University Senate meeting to discuss and share information about the Senate agenda items.
Student Senate Caucus helps new student senators understand the University's governance structure, says Derek Pieper, who co-chairs the caucus with Dian Chaaban.
“When it comes to understanding University academic policy, students are at a disadvantage because they don't have the same Senate experience as faculty members who have been around the system for a number of years,” says Pieper. “Our caucus meetings are an opportunity for members to share information about proposed policy changes so they can make informed decisions when it comes time to vote.”
Student senators are well-recognized around campus from their other involvements, but are not necessarily known as members of Student Senate Caucus, he says. Members are often involved in other leadership positions on campus, such as with the CSA and GSA, Interhall and college governments.
“The caucus is important because it facilitates collaboration among student senators so we can provide an effective student voice and appropriate student representation on the various Senate subcommittees.”
Currently there is a need for graduate student senators to represent OVC, the College of Arts and the College of Biological Science, and undergraduate student senators to represent the bachelor of computing and general studies programs.
For more information, visit www.studentsenators.uoguelph.ca, call Ext. 52359, send e-mail to ssc@uoguelph.ca or drop by Room 242 of the UC.