MUNSU Beat

By Danai Kusikwenyu

Conferences and budgets were the main issue at the MUN Students’ Union meeting on Oct. 21, 2009.

The meeting opened with resource co-ordinator, Adam Daniels, chairing the proceedings. Some miscellaneous items were discussed before the main MUNSU issues got underway.

These items included reports from the science representative who stated that the science faculty was considering purchasing newer and safer equipment for science students in the laboratories. This would include new eye washes as well as various safety equipment to be used in the lab.

Mention was made of new honorary degree recipient and Nobel Prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn, who was visiting Memorial to receive her degree at convocation.

The residence representative raised some accessibility concerns for students with disabilities in MUN’s underground tunnel system and proposed that he would have a full report of the problem ready for the next MUNSU meeting.

There were also some interesting developments from the Copy Centre that could potentially enable students to access tickets to events in and around the city via the MUNSU-administered store.

The finance representative proposed the selling of MUN merchandise in the Copy Centre to increase student traffic and perhaps increase merchandise sales.

The board submitted nominations for student representatives at the annual Canadian Federation of Students general meeting to be held in Ottawa. After a unanimous vote it was agreed that the following would attend next week’s meeting: Executive director of external affairs Cameron Campbell, executive director of campaigns Becky Winsor, resource co-ordinator Adam Daniels, and board of directors representatives Alexander Troake, Ashley Reid, Jessica McCormick, and Heidi Morris.

The meeting moved on to money issues with Travis Collins, executive director of finance and services, discussing in-depth the MUNSU budget. Carrie Ann Bugden, the disabilities representative raised concerns regarding the disparity of budget allocations. Collins explained that various events had bigger, more substantial budgets. “Orientation is huge and, therefore the money we have allocated towards it is going to be much more substantial than any of our other events.”

Collins stated that student membership fees have contributed substantially towards MUNSU’s revenues. He asserted that MUN had projected a 5 per cent increase in enrolment this year which would increase the coffers slightly. He did emphasise, however, that student and staff salaries remained the biggest expenses of the union.

There was very little emphasis placed on the communications policy proposed in the last meeting, the proposal being tabled until the next meeting.

Timothy Margolis voiced his displeasure a number of times during the proceedings. “I still think we need to clarify the wording behind the policy,” he said.

Jessica McCormick, communications representative, added that members should not misconstrue the intent of the policy. She said that individual opinions on board matters should not be translated as the collective opinion of the board.

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