I’m a transfer student. and I’ve seen my fair share of change on campus.
In my second year at the University of Waterloo, where I went before I came to York, there was a referendum for a student building. That’s why walking off the bus here in early September felt like deja vu. Unlike Waterloo, however, it looks like York might actually establish a new levy for the construction of a new student centre.
At my old school, there was a fierce debate with two equally reasoned sides trying to argue their case before students went to the polls. The opposing side, the side I had publicly supported, ended up winning.
Here at York, you cannot miss the “Vote 4 More” campaign, with posters plastered all over the walls and stickers on the floors. This is why the lack of discussion surrounding the referendum is a bit concerning.
To most York students, this is how things work at this university. Occasionally there’s a flare-up and a student group clashes with another group or with the administration, and everybody is questioning everything. But for the most part, when things like the potential new student centre are proposed, there’s a reluctance to question that which seems mundane, which seems to be a part of York’s culture.
Students need to start doing some probing about referenda and elections at York, whether it’s by writing letters and op-eds in any of the campus newspapers, going to their student representatives and asking why they’re advocating certain causes, or starting their owns independent discussion with friends, clubs, and the interested
parties.
The York University Student Centre wants to establish a student levy to add a major new component of the campus. The levy could cost undergraduate students $3.60 per credit, approximately $108 for a full 30 credit course load. But YUSC expects to establish the fund and make the important decisions like choosing an architect and allocating spaces afterwards.
Choosing the architect, final design, and deciding who occupies the building are pretty substantial issues. Proposers of the new student building at Waterloo faced a lot of opposition on the topic of design and space allocation, which were to be decided on after the referendum passed.
There are also smaller issues with the proposed new student building that contradict the university’s masterplan. The gym in the basement will provide 20 per cent more recreation space to campus. However, York plans to creates an athletics and recreation precinct near the new Pan Am stadium in the northwest, with
a dedicated campus recreation building as part of a Tait McKenzie expansion. In that context, it seems odd to build a gym onthe opposite side of campus. The student space in the new building would be mostly formal study space, but with students regularly colonizing empty classrooms, I don’t see how more study space is needed. Based on what I know now, and the lack of concrete plans presented, I can clearly see myself voting “No.”
There are no stupid questions, and I think students are afraid to ask questions that could affect their future and to potentially be criticized for exercising their rights as fee-paying users of York. Agree with me and vote no, or disagree and vote yes, but start making some noise.
Divyesh Mistry
Copy Editor
