[uberculture] Read this before voting.

[reclaim your culture]

Hello, 




As I'm sure you're all aware, this week is the referendum on the student centre fee-levy increase. Though the “Vote YES to the Student Centre” campaign gives the impression that we'll be voting on whether or not to have a student centre, the question on the referendum will be asking whether or not students would like to increase the existing student centre fee-levy of $2.00/credit by $0.50/credit every semester for the next five semesters, reaching a total of $4.50/credit. There is no proposed end to this fee-levy, though the current $2.00/credit is set to expire in 2014. 




Given the importance of this referendum, it is critical that we're all as informed as possible regarding the student centre contract we are being asked to finance. 




The Board of Co-Management of the student centre will be composed of three CSU nominees and two University nominees. While this is technically a student majority, many of the important decisions regarding the student centre can only be made by the unanimous vote of the Board of Co-Management, meaning they cannot be passed without the approval of the administration. Among these are: - Amending the Co-Management Plan (4.11(a)) 
- 'Basic Security Coverage' of the student centre (4.11(b)) 
- the Annual Budget of the Student Centre (4.11(c)) 
- establishing “budgets from time to time regarding specific projects in connection with the operation, maintenance,. repair, replacement and/or Alteration of the Common Areas and Common Facilities – Infrastructure” (4.11(e)) 
- Re-allocation of space (4.11(g)) 
- Designation of 'common areas' and 'exterior areas' that are 'suitable for use as recreational space' (1.18) 
- changes to 'Common Facilities – Infrastructure' (4.21) 


As you can see, the student majority on the Board of Co-Management is rendered impotent with respect to all important decisions regarding the student centre. 

Furthermore, the CSU has entirely failed to mention that there is a clause included in the contract with provides for the possibility of the University owning 50% or more of the Student Centre (why this is even a possibility for a “student” centre has not been discussed). Should this occur, the University would have a third representative on the board, thus negating the student majority. Clearly, then, the “student majority” being advertised is not even guaranteed. 

If this referendum is permitted to pass, then we are knowingly sacrificing any future possibility for true student autonomy in our student centre. Not to mention potentially sacrificing existing student space on campus, and submitting ourselves to a fee-levy that has neither been fairly advertised, nor openly negotiated. 

Finally, we must question whether it is acceptable to ask students to finance a project that is not clearly in their interests, or that any current students will necessarily benefit from -- especially considering the University will certainly capitalize on the image and prestige to be gained from it. 

For students, public space and justice, 
überculture 

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