Photo by Cole Breiland

Administration wants LUSU to approve fee increases

Stacey Goyan
News Editor

Thursday’s board meeting saw Orillia student wallets as a main topic of debate.
Following an in-camera session, LUSU president Dave Grad brought forward a motion seeking approval for two fee increases in Orillia. One would be a new $40 health services fee, while the other was an increase from $25 to $40 for the athletics fee.    Grad said the Vice-President of Orillia, Dr. Kim Fedderson, sought the motion.
The health fee would be implemented first, providing students with a health and counselling centre, while the athletics fee would go toward intramural sports and the building of a new athletics facility.
Presently, Orillia athletics are housed in an arena near campus.
Many of the board members felt uneasy about the motion, feeling it isn’t their place to make a decision for the Orillia campus without seeking student opinion. Chris Vaillant, the lone board member from the satellite campus, had to leave the meeting before the issue could be discussed.
Grad said Fedderson was in a “panic” for the board to discuss it, as they will be forming their budget on May 1st.
The board decided that the best plan of action would be to wait a week to make a final decision. The board approved an initiative to seek out Orillia student opinion on the issue, and to come back to the issue more informed.
Many board members felt the services being offered would enhance student experience at Orillia, but it would not be appropriate to approve fee increases without hearing from Orillia students.
Board members expressed concern with potential tuition increases adding weight to student expenses.
Director Tina Hall brought forward concern that, should students be unhappy with paying more fees, administration would look to pass the buck. In a post-meeting interview, she articulated that it was not her place to approve the fees.
“I think that as a [Thunder Bay] board of director, I don’t have connection to Orillia. So it’s really unfair to ask me to increase Orillia students’ fees on behalf of the administration.”
Hall went on to state that should Orillia students be unhappy about paying more money, administration would turn around and blame LUSU for supporting them.
However, Grad argued that administration was likely seeking out student opinion from the board of directors.
“The sentiment I get is that, if we do vote no, they probably will not raise the fees,” Grad said after the meeting.
Grad added that he felt uncomfortable making a decision without talking to Orillia students. He mentioned that it was important to present Orillia students with the information regarding the specifics of the fees in order to get the feedback necessary to make a decision
“I think it’s very important to wait a week or two, get feedback from students in Orillia, actually find out what they are looking for [and] what they want.”
Grad said getting student opinion would help the union negotiate the specifics of the facilities and ultimately provide better services.
Otherwise, the meeting was business as usual, with two centre reports and a now too-common in-camera session.
Presidential election winner Mike Snoddon gave a deputation to the board regretting that he will not be able to attend board meetings due to class, but will keep an eye on their developments.
“It is my [hope] that by becoming prepared and gaining knowledge of the past issues we have all faced, I will have gained insight from our history and it is my [hope] to move forward in a progressive and positive way.”