TANNARA YELLAND
Associate News Editor
Student fee increase
In preparation for a University Students’ Council vote to take place March 4, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union general manager Caroline Cottrell spoke to USC members about increasing the USSU student fee for the 2010-11 year.
Cottrell explained that the combination of expensive renovations to Place Riel, the global financial crisis of the past few years and the skyrocketing prices of utilities have put the USSU into an uncomfortable budgetary position. The USSU has already cut two senior positions in the last four years, and Cottrell said there is “very little fat left” to cut.
Every year since 2003 the USSU has seen net profit, though some operations — Louis’ being an oft-referenced example — may not contribute to that profit. However, Cottrell says best estimates put the USSU in the red for at least the next 24 months.
Another concern Cottrell raised was the definite possibility that budget constraints will force the USSU to use some of its reserve funds.
Typically the organization keeps at least six months’ worth of operating costs in the bank, but because of the dip in interest rates worldwide that number is now down to 4.5 months. CUPE employees will receive a three per cent raise in August and utilities are expected to go up by as much as 7.8 per cent, both of which may make using that already diminished reserve necessary.
Cottrell finished her presentation by asking USC members to vote in favour of a five per cent increase in student fees for the upcoming academic year. If tuition had not been frozen for several years it would have been increasing at roughly five per cent per year, which Cottrell says justifies the increase of student fees.
A five per cent increase in USSU student fees would amount to $2.95 per student and would, in Cottrell’s words, “secure the financial security of” the USSU.
Student lobbying efforts
Since spearheading the organization of the Saskatchewan Students’ Coalition in 2009, USSU vice-president external Chris Stoicheff has been working with the SSC to develop a comprehensive lobbying platform to present to Saskatchewan politicians. Stoicheff brought this platform to USC to show councillors what the SSC is trying to accomplish.
The top priority was the 5.2 per cent grant increase the University of Saskatchewan is looking for from the provincial government, because even with this grant students are looking at an average tuition hike of 4.5 per cent for next year. Without it, tuition could go up significantly higher than that. Stoicheff estimated that it is “unlikely” that the U of S will receive a 5.2 per cent increase.
The SSC is lobbying for a five to six per cent increase in tuition over the next four or five years so that students know what to expect. Currently there is no long-term plan for tuition increases.
Childcare and scholarships were also at the top of the laundry list of efforts Stoicheff outlined. There are only 66 spaces available through the USSU childcare centre, and there is a waitlist of over 460 people. Stoicheff said there is a plan in the works with the Saskatoon Public School Division to potentially host extra childcare at Brunskill Elementary, but the funding has not yet been provided.
During the 2007 provincial election, the Sask Party promised to set up a scholarship fund. This has not been forthcoming in the years since the party came to power.
Stoicheff then outlined the methods available to lobby for these goals: petitions could be read in the legislature by the NDP, the NDP could present a motion pertaining to a specific goal or the SSC could visit the legislature or put out a press release. The option remains to do any or all of these, Stoicheff said.
USSU vice-president student affairs Ben Fawcett raised concerns over the potentially aggressive nature of having the official opposition speak for the SSC.
In response, Kevin Miller of the College of Law said the SSC’s primary responsibility is to advocate for students and that it should do as much as possible to achieve its goals.
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