The federal government's decision to extend funding to First Nations University for another year buys time but leaves an uncertain future for many Aboriginal students.

"Students are relieved that First Nations University will be able to keep its doors open for another year," said Cassandra Opikokew, Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Caucus of the Canadian Federation of Students. "However, the federal government must end the uncertainty and commit to sustained long-term, Aboriginal-controlled funding."

Following years of difficulties, the federal and Saskatchewan governments cut funding to the University in February. Despite an institutional restructuring and the decision by the Saskatchewan government to restore funding, the federal government has refused to commit to funding beyond March 2011.

"While the government has stopped short of restoring permanent funding, we are one step closer to ensuring First Nations University has a future," added Opikokew. "The restoration of funding is a clear sign that students' actions are having an impact."

The First Nations University of Canada is the only institution of its kind in Canada and has been a leader in Indigenous education for over 30 years. First Nations University was designed to be the home of treaty education and to serve as a model for First Nations-controlled education.

Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students from ten provinces. The National Aboriginal Caucus is the voice for Aboriginal students in Canada with members on campuses from St. John's to Victoria.

Hard lobbying by representatives of the Camosun College Student Society and the University of Victoria Student Society proved crucial in convincing the Greater Victoria Transit Commission to resume late-night bus service in Victoria.  At a meeting on June 7 the College and University Student Societies impressed upon the commissioners the importance of this service for students which ran as a trial from February to April.

About 11,000 rides were provided between midnight and 1:30 a.m. during the three month trial period. On average, the Friday late-night buses each carried 19 passengers an hour, while the Saturday late-night service carried 2 passengers an hour per bus. The system-wide average is 55 riders an hour per bus.

The commission had to use it's contingency fund to pay for the late-night service which runs buses on routes 4, 6, and 14 until 1:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays. There was opposition from some parts of the Commission because the estimated cost of $500,000 was considered too high. Mayors Frank Leonard of Saanich and Janet Evans of Sooke seemed most skeptical about extending the program which had prompted the CCSS to write a blunt letter threatening to mobilize students against the Saanich Mayor.

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Students+target+mayor+over/3116878/story.html

 
Nonetheless the end result of the vote is that the service will resume in September. A proposal to create a $2 or $3 surcharge was discussed but ultimately rejected.

"I'm really happy with this decision," said Matteus Clement, External Executive with the Camosun College Student Society. "This really shows what students can accomplish when we work together."  The Student Societies have been a major proponent of transit usage for years, passing a referendum in 1999 to establish the UPass program which makes all student cards into bus passes at a cost of $17.31/ month in 2009/2010.  Students contribute over $5million in annual revenue to the transit system.

Transit Commission chairperson (and Oak Bay Mayor) Christopher Causton agreed that students have been great customers for Transit. "Let’s face it — the student body is one of the reasons we’ve been able
to expand so well in this region," adding that "They are our No. 1 customer, if you like, and they’ve driven a lot of
our business"

Student Executives have taken a leadership role in getting student opinions known to city planners for its Official Community Plan (OCP). The OCP sets out a vision for the city of Victoria and makes  choices about how the city should change in the next 30 years.  So far the student society has participated in three community circles. Initial results from citizens have inidicated that improving access to affordable housing, providing green transportation options, and preserving the natural environment are some of the issues that matter most.

For further information and to register your opinion go to

http://www.shapeyourfuturevictoria.ca/

The deadline for  community input is June 6th.

Student Society officials were surprised this spring when Camosun College Administration informed them of plans to force them out of their Lansdowne offices in the Library building to make way for a new coffee shop on campus. This despite a memorandum of understanding between the CCSS and Camosun that guarantees the space to the Student Society. 

The College has temporarily offered the use of Richmond house offices as compensation which failed to satisfy student leaders  because it is far from the centre of campus and would be a huge reduction visibility for the CCSS. The parties have since entered into negotiations to reach a mutually agreeable settlement on building issues. This process may result in the student society constructing or renovating space where the Hully house currently located between the library building and the Dawson building. 

 

CCSS Fall 2009 Election Results Spring 2010 - Preliminary Results
Position	Name	Interurban		Lansdowne		Total		Result
		Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
External Executive	Matteus Clement	103	12	287	38	390	50	Elected
Lansdowne Executive	Roxanne Smillie			287	33	287	33	Elected
Interurban Executive	Christopher Gillespie	102	20			102	20	Elected
Finance Executive	Darragh Grove-White	53		172		225
Finance Executive	Matthew Martin	76		157		233		Elected
International Director	Luis Carlos Suarez Rubio	30		77		107
International Director	Gurinder Pal Singh Banwait	49		117		166
International Director	Edward Lai	45		134		179		Elected
Sustainability Director	Jordan Sandwith	52		162		214
Sustainability Director	Richard Kao	69		173		242		Elected
Pride Director	Dani Desrosiers	52		164		216
Pride Director	Marissa Johnston	69		154		223		Elected
Women's Director	Lauren Blakey	84		186		270		Elected
Women's Director	Chloe Markgraf	42		134		176
SWD Director	Chris Marks	106	9	291	20	397	29	Elected
Events Levy Referendum		72	69	179	167	251	236
$0.25 Levy		25		79		104
$0.50 Levy		45		95		140
$2.00 Operational Levy		62	74	179	168	241	242	Defeated
TOTAL Voters (9400 aprox members)		151		353		504

Nominations have closed and all candidate have submitted platform statements and pictures. Get to know your candidates by clicking on the link below.

In conjunction with the election of directors to the Student Society board, students will be asked 2 referendum questions.

• An increase of $2 per month in the general operating levy.
• A $0.25 or $0.50 fee targetted specifically to special events. Students can vote yes or no, and vote on the size of the increase if passed.

This is all of the information at press time. Official wording and background documentation to follow. There are traditionally materials and resources (and rules) for the "yes" and "no" side of the Referendum.

VICTORIA—The Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) will be hosting a free soup kitchen for students tomorrow as part of a day of campus events throughout Vancouver Island for the Education Shouldn't be a Debt Sentence campaign. Students at UVic, Camosun College, Vancouver Island University, and North Island College will be gathering signatures on the provincial petition to reduce student debt at the events.

The events come on the heels of last week's government report on the public consultations held for the 2010 BC budget. The report recommended that the government address BC's high student loan interest rates and inadequate funding for universities and colleges.

"Camosun Students are calling on the government to take concrete action in the 2010 BC Budget  to reduce student debt and make education affordable", said CCSS External Executive Matteus Clement, "The government needs to realise that students are really suffering and help now."

WHAT: Soup Kitchen for Student Debt

WHEN: 11am - 12pm, Wednesday November 18, 2009

WHERE: Outside the Fisher Building, Lansdowne Campus

WHO: CCSS & Canadian Federation of Students representatives  

The Camosun College Student Society represents 9,000 students at the Lansdowne and Interurban Campuses of Camosun College.