Student building construction fever is back in the air! The Federation of Students has formed a new committee to look into a new Student Services building. The new committee’s mandate is to consult with students on what they would like to see in such a building.
The new committee is meant to resolve some of the core issues that led to students rejecting the last Student Services Complex referendum held in Fall 2009. That proposal would have seen a $47 million dollar, 3-4 storey structure built on Parking Lot H, at the northwest corner of Seagram Dr. and University Ave. The building would have been comparable in floor space to Dana Porter Library. Had the referendum passed, the building was expected to open during 2012.
The core of the proposal would have seen additional 24-hour student study space, and office & meeting space for the Federation of Students, Graduate Student Association, and student services offered by the university, such as the Writing Centre, Counselling Services and prayer rooms. However, additional features of the original proposal included a lecture hall which would have doubled as a movie theatre, new retail and food outlets, and the relocation of the Graduate Student Association from Grad House.
Ultimately, when undergraduate students were asked the question “Do you support the addition of a $49.50 to the Student Coordinated Plan fee to contribute to the proposed new Student Services Complex?” they said no. Of the 18% of eligible voters that turned out, 59.7% voted “No” to the additional fee. Follow-up surveys to determine why students rejected it revealed that many were unaware that the fee would only be charged once the building was completed and open to students, similar to the new Health Services expansion which was approved in the same referendum. The surveys also revealed that most students didn’t agree with what was proposed to be in this building.
The creation of the new FedS committee stemmed directly from this lack of consultation. The new committee, which is composed of a small group of FedS Councillors and At-Large students, will oversee an extensive consultation process throughout the summer to determine student amenity priorities. This will compliment an extensive ‘Student Study Space’ survey and report form the Winter 2012 term, that now-FedS President Andrew Noble undertook while a Councillor for Applied Health Sciences.
The committee is expected to submit an initial report, which will then be used the Federation and University to create an initial proposal for the building in September. This proposal will then go to students in the fall term for feedback, before being finalized and sent to referendum in February. Since this will be a non-academic building, it won’t qualify for government funding, meaning the brunt of the capital cost will be incurred by students through a fee charged during on-stream terms. This was the method used to fund the expansion of the SLC and construction of the CIF. If similar to the prior proposal, the university would fund a portion of the costs for space they occupy, and likely the annual operating costs.
The Iron Warrior will provide updates in future issues about consultation opportunities as they arise. Students are strongly encouraged to get involved during the process in order to develop a building plan that enhances their undergraduate experience.
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