SRA MEETING
16I
October 30, 2016
KEY POINTS & UPDATES FROM SRA MEETINGS
ONTARIO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ALLIANCE (OUSA) This week the OUSA President and Executive Director presented to the SRA. OUSA is a student driven, research based, lobbying group that represents McMaster and six other universities at the provincial level of government. OUSA has six lobbying priorities this year: •• Sexual Violence Prevention and Response •• Ontario Student Grant Implementation •• Tuition Framework •• Work Integrated Learning •• Funding for Essential Student Services •• Data Collection. Each student at McMaster pays $2.99 to support the organization. To learn more, visit: ousa.ca.
ATHLETICS AND RECREATION PROPOSAL The MSU President and Vice President Finance presented a proposal to the SRA that is a plan to expand student space on the McMaster Campus. This would include an expansion of the Pulse in addition to 40,000 square feet in student space designed by students for students. The SRA will be deciding whether this proposal associated with a student fee increase should go to referendum in January. For more information about this athletics and recreation proposal, visit msumcmaster.ca/expansion.
ECC REFERENDUM Members of the Exclusive Club Card Referendum Team spoke at the SRA to encourage the assembly to overturn the negative stance they took on the referendum. The SRA voted to uphold the negative stance. For more information about the ECC referendum, check out msumcmaster.ca/elections.
TO LEARN MORE VISIT
WWW.MSUMcMASTER.CA/SRA
the McMASTER STUDENTS UNION
GOVERNANCE AD-HOC COMMITTEE An Ad-Hoc Committee was struck to investigate the various forms of governance reform that can exist in the MSU. This committee will investigate the following areas: support for the Vice-Presidents, Commissioner Positions, structure of the Student Representative Assembly and Executive Board, etc. For those interested in being a part of the committee, elections to have a voting seat on the committee will happen at the next SRA Meeting.
REPORT PERIOD The Business and Engineering caucuses reported at this SRA meeting. Along with these caucuses, reports were heard from: First Year Council, Bylaws and Procedures Commissioner, Services Commissioner, Executive Board, and the Vice-President Education. View the full reports at: msumcmaster.ca/sradocs.
MSU SEAT ON TUITION TASK FORCE There is one MSU seat available on the Tuition Task Force and the election will take place at the upcoming SRA meeting, 16J. For more information, visit msumcmaster.ca/ tuitiontaskforce.
SRA SEAT ON UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Congratulations to Kobina Baiden for being acclaimed to the University Affairs Committee.
FINANCE COMMISSIONER NOMINATIONS Nominations are open for the position of Finance Commissioner, and the election will take place at the upcoming SRA meeting, 16J. For more information, contact your SRA representative.
MSU DELEGATION TO OUSA GENERAL ASSEMBLY The SRA voted to approve the MSU’s delegation to the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance 2016 Fall General Assembly: Blake Oliver, Justin Monaco-Barnes, Ryan MacDonald, Victoria Liu, Megan Hsu, Daniel D’Souza, Ryan Deshpande, Sarah Giacobbo, and David Lee. The delegates will be shaping policies concerning Ancillary Fees, Rural & Northern Students, and Sexual Violence Prevention and Response.
BYLAWS AND PROCEDURES COMMISSIONER YEAR PLAN The SRA Voted to approve the year plan for the Bylaws and Procedures Commissioner, David Lee. Read the full year plan at: msumcmaster.ca/sradocs.
TO LEARN MORE VISIT
WWW.MSUMcMASTER.CA/SRA
Maroon Minutes 16I | October 30, 2016
ACCESS COPYRIGHT POLICY McMaster University opted out of its agreement with Access Copyright as of December 31, 2015 since it provided no additional benefit to students but provided unnecessary costs. As well, most of the benefits that it provided were already covered under existing federal law. Future copyright must be done in accordance with the University’s Fair dealing Policy.
MSU SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE Previously a working group, the Sustainability Education Committee has undergone structural changes in terms of its voting members. As well, its new objectives include conducting research on environmental sustainability, engaging in lobbying efforts with the University and the City of Hamilton, and conducting an environmental audit. The SRA passed the changes to the operating policy.
GOVERNANCE & YOU COMMITTEE Previously a working group, the Committee’s operating policy has just been reviewed and updated to better communicate its purpose and operating parameters. A change to operations includes hosting at least one campaign, promotional event, mentorship event, or workshop per academic term. The SRA passed the changes to the operating policy.
NEXT MEETING The next SRA meeting will take place on November 13th at 5PM in Council Chambers (Gilmour Hall Rm 111). Meetings are open to everyone.