Algoma U food prices: are students being gouged?

Tomorrow, Algoma University Students' Union holds a general election, with voting from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The following statement on issues in the AUSU election was prepared for SooToday.com by Lance Nee-klu Adejtey, who's running against incumbent Vanessa Gastaldo for the AUSU presidency.

************************* Increasing the inclusiveness and participation of Algoma University’s student body in the affairs of the Algoma University Student Union are vital issues in AUSU’s 2010-2011 elections, as numerous students report feeling oblivious with regards to their knowledge of AUSU’s goals over the past few academic years.

Additionally, students have reported being even less certain about how AUSU has been spending their budgets over the past few years.

This is not to say that AUSU has been spending money irresponsibly, however, the student-body’s lack of awareness regarding AUSU’s budgetary spending is reflective of a lack of inquiry on the part of AUSU’s leadership, regarding how the student body feels their money would best be to be spent, and a deficiency in AUSU’s ability to communicate information effectively to their student body.

Furthermore, this deficiency in communication in the relationship between AUSU and their student body has, in my opinion, led to a general feeling of disinterest by Algoma’s student body in their student union and a lack of confidence in their student union’s ability to deal with their concerns adequately.

My proposed solutions to these issues are simple, and logical.

If AUSU would like the student body to feel more involved and engaged in the activities of their student union, AUSU members should ask the student body what their concerns and opinions are, through interviewing students in person, and through the use of Internet polling via AUSU’s website.

By incorporating input from the student body into AUSU’s decision-making process, we can show the student body that its opinions are valuable and critical to AUSU’s overall success.

Furthermore, the student body can gain a sense of satisfaction by knowing the changes they experience are a direct result of the changes they have collectively requested.

In order for students to become more aware of AUSU’s goals, AUSU must change its approach towards communicating with the student body.

Reactivating and reviving “The Sentient," Algoma University's student newspaper, would provide another outlet for AUSU to convey important information to the student body, while simultaneously providing the student body with an opportunity to voice its concerns and opinions, while providing essential feedback to AUSU board members.

The devastating effects of the continually surging costs of post-secondary school education are especially noticeable within the realms of Algoma University’s residences, as many students have become increasingly frustrated at the high cost of food sold at the university.

Several students living in the dorms at Algoma University believe they are being gouged by the university’s food service provider, as outrageous costs have even led some students to run out of money on their meal plans before the semester has ended.

To add to their frustrations, students with a balance on their meal plans at the year’s end, receive no refund from the university’s food service provider, depriving students and their parents of potentially hundreds of dollars which could have otherwise been put towards their future educational needs.

The high cost of the food services provided to the students of Algoma University, and the unfair practises by Algoma University’s food service provider, are issues that must be addressed by the 2010 – 2011 AUSU to ensure that the rights of Algoma’s students living on campus are protected.

Another crucial issue in the upcoming AUSU elections is the necessity for the student union to re-take ownership of the Speak Easy and transform it from money-losing business venture to a profitable enterprise, capable of generating much-needed income to support additional services.

For this to occur, AUSU must work diligently to organize a variety of events, and attract talented entertainers to the Speak Easy that will encourage attendance by Algoma’s students as well as other members of the Sault Ste. Marie community.

Attracting Canadian talent such as hip-hop artists Drake, and K-OS would provide residents of Sault Ste. Marie with the opportunity to enjoy musical acts which they typically only hear on the radio, and cannot witness live, without travelling either to Sudbury or Toronto.

I believe that replacing some of student union’s themed pub nights with some rare opportunities to enjoy out-of-town performers, will help point the Speak Easy in the right direction financially, while helping to change the perception of the student union’s events.

Lastly, I feel that AUSU must explore policies to limit the number of terms in which a single member of the student body can occupy the same position within the student union.

As Algoma University’s student population continues to grow, I believe that limiting the number of terms in which a single student can occupy the same position on AUSU to two years will generate greater interest by the student body at large, while providing greater opportunities for students to benefit from the experience of participating first-hand in their student-union during their scholastic careers.

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