A message from the REBLITE Board on a safe and fair 2020 By-Elections

October 15th, 2020

Dear students,

Over the past few months, it had become clear to the UWSA that our elections have caused harm to past participants. Unclear expectations and enforcement of conduct, insufficient accountability processes, and a lack of a capacity to follow through are some of the aspects that must be addressed. The Board is reviewing its democratic processes and working towards reforming the system of governance. However, in order to fulfill our obligations as a non-profit board and remain accountable to the student membership, the 2020 By-Elections will take place.

We are in the difficult position of having to navigate a harmful system while we reform it, and we know that this puts election participants in difficult positions as well. Participants can continue to file complaints and appeals through our website, as per the process outlined in the UWSA By-Laws. However, we recognize that the current processes have their limitations.

As the elections commission, the REBLITE Board wants students to know that we are committed to a safe and fair election.  We want students to feel safe to come forward with their concerns and there are two points of contact to help students do so.  If you have a concern about the election, the first step is to reach out to the Chief Elections Commissioner (CEC), Shenal Fernando, at cec@theuwsa.ca; however, if the concern is regarding the CEC, or if you are unsatisfied with his response, please reach out to the Chair of the Board (CoB), Anjola Aderinto, at chair@theuwsa.ca.  Anjola will bring your concern to the REBLITE Board, regardless of whether or not it is a formally submitted appeal, and we will work to address it.

As an organization, we depend on the participation and feedback of our membership.  We understand that bringing forward concerns is an act of care that requires significant emotional labour.  We value every disclosure and are committed to honouring them through harm-reduction frameworks.

Thank you,
The Referenda and Election By-Law Interpretation and Transparent Enforcement Board
(The REBLITE Board)

Rulings for By-Election 2020

October 5th, 2020

Rulings for By-Election 2020

Complaint Ruling Form – October 4, 2020

UWSA Board Meeting Today!

September 30th, 2020

A UWSA Board of Director Meeting will be conducted over Zoom on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 5.30 PM.

Please review the following documents before the meeting:
September 30 Board Meeting Agenda
September 30 Open Session Package

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend Open Session. Please email j.black@theuwsa.ca by 4.30 PM on September 30 for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

Motion 46: Statement of Support

September 28th, 2020

The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) strongly supports Motion 46, which calls on the federal government to introduce legislation and work with provincial and territorial governments and Indigenous peoples to ensure a guaranteed livable basic income.

This universal basic income program would replace the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) permanently and work towards eradicating poverty and ensure the respect, dignity and security of all persons living in Canada.

The program would be a step towards reducing financial barriers to the access of education by allowing students the freedom to reach their full potential without the burden of student loans, cost of living, and other educational expenses. It would offer people living in poverty opportunities to access post-secondary education and better job opportunities.

Programs like CERB and CESB have demonstrated the benefits and the potential for a guaranteed basic livable income for all. Click here to email your MP and encourage them to support Motion 46.

Computers for Schools Partnership

September 18th, 2020

The UWSA is partnering up with Computers for Schools to give students-in-need access to a desktop for their home! You must be a University of Winnipeg student to be eligible to receive one of the desktops.

Sign up now, while supplies last!

Click here to fill out the Computers for School form

After filling out the form you’ll receive an email in the next couple weeks telling you how and when to pick up your desktop.

You will receive:

• Desktop Specifications:
  • CPU Speed – 2.0GHz+
  • Memory – 4.0GB
  • Hard Drive – 500 GB
• Monitor
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• And, all required cables

Board Meeting: August 26

August 24th, 2020

The next UWSA Board of Director Meeting will be conducted over Zoom on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 5.30 PM.

Please review the following documents before the meeting:
August 26 Board Meeting Agenda
COB By-law Amendments 

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend Open Session. Please email k.vargscarr@theuwsa.ca for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

We're Hiring a Chair of the Board!

August 11th, 2020

Do you want experience working on a non-profit board? We’re hiring a Chair of the Board at the UWSA!

The Chair of the Board of Directors acts as an essential component of the UWSA, setting the meeting agenda and ensuring that all directors are able to participate fully in the operations of the Board. A successful applicant should have a strong belief in the mission and mandate of the UWSA, and a willingness to invest in the success of the membership in a variety of different capacities.

Read more and apply here: UWSA Job Opportunities

U-Pass Program Suspended for Fall 2020

July 27th, 2020

On July 8, 2020, the UWSA Board of Directors voted to suspend the U-Pass program for the Fall 2020 Term as the majority of classes will be offered virtually and campus access will be limited this term. The U-Pass fee will not be assessed for new and returning full-time UWinnipeg students when they pay their fees. 

The UWSA recognizes that some students need to access transit even when classes are online. In the absence of the U-Pass, students will be able to buy Post-Secondary Semester Passes at operational Winnipeg Transit retail locations at the rate of $278/semester. To minimize the financial impact on students during the pandemic, the UWSA and UWinnipeg are working to provide a subsidy program to reimburse the cost difference equivalent ($78) to a U-Pass for full-time UWinnipeg students-in-need. 

Application and eligibility details for the subsidy program will be available on the UWSA website in August. Please check the website regularly for updates.  

Depending on the public health situation and campus closure, the U-Pass may or may not be provided in January 2020. The UWSA Board will meet in the fall to determine if it is possible to provide the U-Pass program for the Winter 2020/21 Term. 

If you have questions about the U-Pass program, the proposed post-secondary semester pass subsidy, or Winnipeg Transit products, please reach out us at infobooth@theuwsa.ca 

Next UWSA Board Meeting: July 24

July 20th, 2020

A UWSA Board of Director Meeting will be conducted over Zoom on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 5.30 PM.

Please review the agenda and materials here:
July 24 Board Meeting Agenda
July 24 Board Meeting Open Session Package

All UWinnipeg students are welcome to attend open session. Please email j.black@theuwsa.ca for the Zoom link using your UWinnipeg webmail address and your Student ID Number.

All participants are expected to abide by the University’s Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy.

An Update on Addressing Institutional Racism at the UWSA

July 6th, 2020

On June 12, 2020 the UWSA Board of Directors (“the board”) approved a motion to send a formal request to the UWinnipeg Human Rights and Diversity Office (HRDO) to investigate the experiences of harassment and discrimination disclosed by students Mahlet Cuff and Noelle Sagher in social media on June 4 and 10. These disclosures include the potential involvement of the current UWSA Executive Director team: Jibril Hussein, Melanie William, and Breanna Belisle. 

On June 16, 2020, the board approved a motion to put the Executive team on paid administrative leave until the investigation is completed.  

The UWSA Board of Directors believes our former Executives’ experiences and the opinions shared on the Executive Directors’ Instagram account, were not approved by the UWSA Board, nor supported by UWSA labour unions. 

We acknowledge our part in creating an environment where our former Executives felt unsafe and unsupported. We want you to know that we’re listening, and we’re committed to changing the way we work to address the gaps in our organization for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.  

In addition to the external HRDO investigation, the UWSA Board of Directors is committed to providing anti-racism training and to conducting an internal investigation, with the support of a third-party, to help us identify and change the limitations of our policies and processes, and take steps to improve them.  

We recognize that these are just the first steps towards dismantling institutional racism inherent in colonial educational institutions, and we plan to continually evaluate where we are, and do better. Over the year, we will continue to share information on our next steps with students on our website.

During this time the UWSA would like to support any students that were affected by these disclosures and actions, as well as to reassure all students that Executive emails and phone lines are forwarding to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), and being redirected to supporting UWSA departments. The UWSA Board will be meeting on July 8 to discuss other interim changes to board meetings and subcommittees.

In the absence of a Chair of the Board, our former Chair, Taylor Daigneault has stepped-in to offer interim support.  

All questions regarding Board Meetings can go to UWSA General Manager, Jennifer Black, at j.black@theuwsa.ca  

All questions regarding business operations can go to UWSA Chief Operating Officer, Karolya Vargscarr, at k.vargscarr@theuwsa.ca   

Thank you for raising your voice and always keeping us accountable. 

Sincerely, 
UWSA Board of Directors
University of Winnipeg Students’ Association