Students voice concerns and election results ratified in short meeting

Stacey Goyan

News Editor

Thursday’s board meeting was uncharacteristically short and sweet, with a very relaxed board and a relatively small agenda.

Several Orillia students attended the meeting via videoconferencing to voice their concerns about the potential fee increase at the satellite campus.

Lakehead administration is looking to increase the existing Orillia athletics free from $25 to $40 to build a new athletics facility for the campus. As well, administration wants to create a new health fee of $40 to develop a health and counselling centre at the satellite campus.

The board of directors held off voting on the issue last week to seek opinions from Orillia students.

The LUSU executive emailed an opinion survey to students at the Orillia campus seeking feedback on the potential rise in fees.

Some students felt $40 was too much for an athletics fee, and that professional year education students ought to be able to opt out. Other students felt the fees would be beneficial and agreed with the amounts.

President Dave Grad stated that he had received over 80 responses to the survey.

Grad reminded the board that administration will be looking for a response on the issue soon.

Chief returning officer Tomas Valiquette was on hand to report the results of the recent election and referendum. The board ratified the results, making Mike Snoddon, Chris Vaillant, and Neva Bassingthwaite the new executive-elect.

Vice President Finance Josh Kolic commended Valiquette on one of the “fairest elections in Lakehead history.”

The meeting concluded with an “in camera” session.