Comments on: Student Commons or Student Scamming? https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/ A blog about University of Toronto events, news, university groups, clubs, campus life, and toronto student life: written by U of T students. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:35:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: JP https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/comment-page-1/#comment-60184 JP Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:39:42 +0000 https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/#comment-60184 So, it seems that the student commons referendum has passed. Here's a <a href="http://www.thevarsity.ca/article/1134" rel="nofollow">varsity article.</a> Oh, and it's nice of the campaigners to tell us of the results eh? <a href="http://www.studentcommons.ca/" rel="nofollow">The Yes Campaign Website</a> has no mention of the outcome. Looks like they couldn't be bothered to inform the voters. I'm sure the new student commons project will be a bastion of accountability and responsibility. So, it seems that the student commons referendum has passed.

Here’s a varsity article.

Oh, and it’s nice of the campaigners to tell us of the results eh? The Yes Campaign Website has no mention of the outcome. Looks like they couldn’t be bothered to inform the voters. I’m sure the new student commons project will be a bastion of accountability and responsibility.

]]> By: Celine https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/comment-page-1/#comment-59955 Celine Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:37:25 +0000 https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/#comment-59955 I absolutely agree with the comments above, there are clearly student facilities that cater to study space, and the newly constructed multi-faith space in Med sci building or other venues can fulfill functions of club or prayer space. The voting system is clearly flawed, when only full time undergraduates can vote. Post-graduates, or part time students are also likely to use this space should it be established and deserve a say on this matter. I am quite sure that the levy could increase, particularly with unpredictable/fluctuating costs to maintain and repair the space, it could have been much more than $20. I absolutely agree with the comments above, there are clearly student facilities that cater to study space, and the newly constructed multi-faith space in Med sci building or other venues can fulfill functions of club or prayer space.

The voting system is clearly flawed, when only full time undergraduates can vote. Post-graduates, or part time students are also likely to use this space should it be established and deserve a say on this matter.

I am quite sure that the levy could increase, particularly with unpredictable/fluctuating costs to maintain and repair the space, it could have been much more than $20.

]]> By: John D. https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/comment-page-1/#comment-59338 John D. Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:34:57 +0000 https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/#comment-59338 I totally agree with this article and all the comments. There are so many facilities already existing at u of t that could be put to better use. I totally agree with this article and all the comments. There are so many facilities already existing at u of t that could be put to better use.

]]> By: Jeff https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/comment-page-1/#comment-59309 Jeff Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:12:47 +0000 https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/#comment-59309 I agree that the proposal for the student centre is very vague. However, I imagine that the funds are needed to hire someone to design the centre so that the details can be worked out with student groups. It seems like a pillar in the YES campaign was the need for 24 hour student space. Clearly, a new student centre isn't necessary to achieve this. SAC should be advocating to get existing space open 24 hours. For instance, the enclosed patio at Sid Smith would be a great place for 24 hour student space. I agree that the proposal for the student centre is very vague. However, I imagine that the funds are needed to hire someone to design the centre so that the details can be worked out with student groups.

It seems like a pillar in the YES campaign was the need for 24 hour student space. Clearly, a new student centre isn’t necessary to achieve this. SAC should be advocating to get existing space open 24 hours. For instance, the enclosed patio at Sid Smith would be a great place for 24 hour student space.

]]> By: Jen https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/comment-page-1/#comment-56539 Jen Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:38:50 +0000 https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/#comment-56539 I believe strongly in student space on campus, but the way that UTSU has approached it is disturbing.. The mentality that we HAVE to pay a levy for student space if we want to control it, is so misguided. We pay tuition, we pay taxes to the government and UofT is a public institution. This is what should be used to construct spaces that students need. And we gain control of these spaces (which are rightfully ours) by demanding control of them not by paying additional and unwarranted fees. It is a form of privatization to make students pay user fees (on top of tuition and taxes) for a building that is for the common good. UTSU is appeasing the University administration by trying to put the burden on students to pay for this building rather than putting the pressure on U of T (the richest University in Canada) to channel our tuition and their budget into something that students actually want. Student groups are being evicted from their spaces all across campus (e.g., CIUT, APUS, SEC, Radical Roots, etc) and I believe this is a strategic move to get support for the student centre. What is this turning into? A campus which students have little say over the use of space across campus and are forced into a single building that UTSU controls (not students themselves) and we have to pay a levy for? We need to make the whole campus friendly and responsive to student needs. I'm glad people here seem to have voted no. I believe strongly in student space on campus, but the way that UTSU has approached it is disturbing.. The mentality that we HAVE to pay a levy for student space if we want to control it, is so misguided. We pay tuition, we pay taxes to the government and UofT is a public institution. This is what should be used to construct spaces that students need. And we gain control of these spaces (which are rightfully ours) by demanding control of them not by paying additional and unwarranted fees. It is a form of privatization to make students pay user fees (on top of tuition and taxes) for a building that is for the common good. UTSU is appeasing the University administration by trying to put the burden on students to pay for this building rather than putting the pressure on U of T (the richest University in Canada) to channel our tuition and their budget into something that students actually want.

Student groups are being evicted from their spaces all across campus (e.g., CIUT, APUS, SEC, Radical Roots, etc) and I believe this is a strategic move to get support for the student centre. What is this turning into? A campus which students have little say over the use of space across campus and are forced into a single building that UTSU controls (not students themselves) and we have to pay a levy for? We need to make the whole campus friendly and responsive to student needs.

I’m glad people here seem to have voted no.

]]> By: Gloria https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/comment-page-1/#comment-55979 Gloria Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:46:03 +0000 https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/#comment-55979 The ironic thing is by the time this thing is built, I WON'T BE HERE ANYMORE. God. U of T is one of the largest and wealthiest universities in Canada; they can pony up a student commons, which ought to have been in place years ago. The ironic thing is by the time this thing is built, I WON’T BE HERE ANYMORE. God.

U of T is one of the largest and wealthiest universities in Canada; they can pony up a student commons, which ought to have been in place years ago.

]]> By: JP https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/comment-page-1/#comment-55371 JP Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:03:19 +0000 https://blogut.ca/2007/10/31/student-commons-or-student-scamming/#comment-55371 The idea of such a student commons is a great one. The execution? Shamelessly poor. Where are the details? Where's the accountability? For a project that's asking roughly 1/2 Million per term ($20 per student, assuming a conservative estimate of 25 000 undergrads), this is an awfully vague proposal. (Yes, I read all 21 pages of it) Ask yourself this. If you had 1/2 Million. Would you give it up based this this extremely poor excuse of a proposal? The idea of such a student commons is a great one.
The execution? Shamelessly poor.

Where are the details? Where’s the accountability? For a project that’s asking roughly 1/2 Million per term ($20 per student, assuming a conservative estimate of 25 000 undergrads), this is an awfully vague proposal. (Yes, I read all 21 pages of it)

Ask yourself this. If you had 1/2 Million. Would you give it up based this this extremely poor excuse of a proposal?

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