Maroon Minutes 16K - November 27, 2016

SRA MEETING

16K

November 27, 2016

KEY POINTS & UPDATES FROM SRA MEETINGS

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS (EWB) The EWB team presented to the SRA to discuss their 2016-2017 year plan, including: engaging with students of all faculties to successfully offer unpaid internship opportunities for students. There is some concern about the amount of funding that provides direct benefit to the McMaster student community at large, which will be investigated further. All MSU members pay a $0.39 fee to EWB.

INCITE MAGAZINE The Incite Magazine team presented to the SRA to discuss their 2016-2017 year plan, including: their vision to continue engaging students from within all faculties (including non-student faculty members) to create a magazine established from the creative work from each of these contributors, continuing holding events, and aiming to create a long lasting magazine. There is concern that the group’s financial statements are not publicly available, which will be investigated further with the VP (Finance). All MSU members pay a $1.00 fee to Incite Magazine.

ONTARIO PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP (OPIRG) The OPIRG team presented to the SRA to discuss their 2016-2017 year plan, including: providing support, and advice to both university, and student groups concerning topics of oppression, environmental stewardship and consensus. There is concern that the group’s opt-out process is not accessible to students, due to lack of an online optout option. As well, the assembly discussed the overall value that OPIRG provides to students at large, due its relatively large budget in comparison to other MSU clubs and services. All MSU members pay a $7.93 fee to OPIRG.

ATHLETICS AND RECREATION PROPOSAL Commissioners of the SRA Standing Committees (Bylaws and Procedures, External Affairs, Operations, Services, and University Affairs) presented their mid-year progress on their Year Plans. Year Plans and full reports can be found at: msumcmaster.ca/ sradocs.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT

WWW.MSUMcMASTER.CA/SRA

the McMASTER STUDENTS UNION

ATH & REC EXPANSION REFERENDUM FEE STRUCTURE The SRA Engineering caucus proposed that the previously approved Ath&Rec Expansion Fee being sent to referendum be modified from a per unit fee to a flat fee. The SRA voted to keep the previously approved per unit fee.

REPORT PERIOD Nursing, Science, Social Science, External Affairs, University Affairs, Executive Board, and Vice-President (Administration), Tuition Task Force, OUSA General Assembly, and Federal Advocacy Week presented their reports on their projects and progress. The Bylaws & Procedures Commissioner presented a report on possible avenues for referenda reform, as tasked by the SRA. View the full reports at msumcmaster.ca/sradocs.

MSU SEAT ON MSU GOVERNANCE AD-HOC COMMITTEE Congratulations to Chukky Ibe for being elected onto the MSU Governance Ad-Hoc Committee.

HSR REFERENDUM The SRA voted to send the Hamilton Street Railway fee to referendum in January 2017, as the HSR Fee is mandated to go to referendum every three years. Negotiations are still in progress, and the finalized fee will be presented at SRA 16L.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS TASKED TO THE BYLAWS COMMITTEE The Bylaws Committee was formally tasked by the SRA to: •• Review and edit the bylaws of the organization to include gender-inclusive nomenclature •• Review Bylaw 3/A Section 6 – Attendance, in order to more fairly evaluate and hold SRA members accountable for their attendance at meetings.

NEXT MEETING The next SRA meeting will take place on January 18th at 5PM in Council Chambers (Gilmour Hall Rm 111). Meetings are open to everyone.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT

WWW.MSUMcMASTER.CA/SRA