NAIT Students' Association Wants You to Vote, Pg 2
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THE Thursday, January 14, 2016 Volume 53, Issue 15 NAIT YOUR STUDENT NEWSPAPERNUGGET FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA THE $5M QUESTION NAIT Students’ Association wants you to vote, pg 2 Photo by Jade Wong NAITSA President Justin Nand touts the upcoming online referendum for student approval of a multi-million-dollar donation to NAIT in exchange for extra space and enhanced student services. 2 The Nugget Thursday, January 14, 2016 NEWS&FEATURES NAITSA plans expansion says Roth. This would include enhanced space for the Campus Clubs Centre, Food Centre and the Nugget and more space is expected to bring a better working environment for NAITSA staff. However, it doesn’t come without a downside. The tower lounge, a favourite study and event space for students, will revert back to NAIT as the tower building is repurposed. This NICOLAS BROWN takes away one of the major student spaces util- Issues Editor ized by clubs and individuals. @bruchev With the fate of so many campus spaces When students head to the virtual polls for their Execu- unsure in the face of the CAT transition, there tive Council in February, there will be an extra question on has been no definitive look at exactly how the ballot that will impact the future of our Students’ Asso- much space students will have access to in the ciation. That question is a $5 million referendum that will future. bring enhanced services and new office space for NAITSA. However, what can be defined are the Negotiations have been progressing this year for a new potential benefits to students. The increased space for NAITSA and, with a Senate resolution in Decem- space will allow NAITSA to both central- ber, all that is left is for the stu- ize its services in a new location dents to make the final decision. and improve the way those servi- What does this referendum ces are offered. The association is mean? NAITSA Advocacy Direc- confident that these changes will tor Jason Roth explains the result only benefit students. of a successful referendum. “This will allow NAITSA to “NAITSA will donate $5 expand and enhance its services. million to NAIT over six years. Therefore, it will positively affect NAITSA receives the space cur- how students access NAITSA’s rently occupied by the NAIT services,” says Roth. Executive and Management Although there have been no teams, as well as naming rights to consultations or public discus- certain spaces on campus.” sions yet on service expansion, the This agreement would NAITSA website mentions poten- coincide with a significant re- tial new services such as “peer support, sup- cing NAIT’s new Learning and Teaching Commons and organization of campus as pro- port to our LBGTQ community and other ser- bring SMART ID card technology to NAIT. There have grams shift to fill the new Cen- vices in consultation with NAIT students.” been discussions on campus in regards to a style of ONE- tre for Applied Technologies and Most important, this proposed agree- card service that other institutions offer to students, though NAIT administrative departments ment will not have an impact on students’ little information is currently available. find new homes on campus. wallets. NAITSA’s plan to spread the dona- Finally, the proposal also provides for the creation of The largest physical bene- tion over six years means the money can be a $2.45 million Student Enhancement Fund, which will fit for NAITSA is the new space pulled from NAITSA’s Building Fund with be set aside to improve student experience on campus. the association would receive any remaining balance coming from operating Jointly operated by NAITSA and NAIT, potential uses for under this agreement. Currently, Jason Roth reserves. NAITSA has no intention of raising the funds would include projects and study space improve- NAITSA Advocacy Director services are offered across three student fees to support this proposal, mean- ments. Although NAITSA has historically set aside funds office spaces in the E hallway, with limited storage space. ing enhanced services to students without the added cost. for this purpose, the new fund would bring a greater degree Many NAITSA staff share offices in cramped spaces, with Why a referendum, then? NAITSA’s bylaws require a vote of co-operation between administration and the Students’ some offices housing three or more staff. Under the pro- from students on any donations or gifts over $50,000 that Association. posed agreement, NAITSA would move into NAIT’s cur- NAITSA makes to an external body, even if there will be For more information about the referendum, students rent executive offices near the South Lobby. no change to student fees. can ask at the NAITSA office or visit naitsa.ca/referendum. “The space we would receive would be approximately The proposed agreement doesn’t only affect the associ- Voting will take place online from Feb. 5 until 4 p.m. on three times the space currently occupied by NAITSA,” ation’s space on campus, as there are provisions for enhan- Feb. 11. Information clerks for NAITSA Executive election Duration: Feb. 10, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Executive Council election. a complete understanding of the Feb. 11, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. ● Information clerks must have a online voting process and must be Compensation: $15/hour strong command of English and have a comfortable in providing guidance to ● Information clerks are needed on complete and clear understanding of the students. Feb. 10, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. and Feb. 11 democratic election process. ● Apply in person at the NAITSA office, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for the NAITSA ● Information clerks must have Room E-131 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, January 14, 2016 NEWS & FEATURES The Nugget 3 Wanted: 2 senators By NICOLAS BROWN cial meeting will progress in comparison to dent senator can assist students in voicing The Nugget Room E-128B Issues Editor a senate election. The nomination and vot- their concerns or can bring it forward to the @bruchev ing regulations are less stringent for the senate for discussion. The senate also serves 11762–106 Street There’s been a change in the ranks for special meeting to fill vacancies. For nom- to bring accountability to the NAITSA exec- Edmonton, Alberta NAITSA’s governance. NAITSA’s Student inations, the bylaws do not utive, asking questions T5G 2R1 Senate, where students from NAIT’s nine specify how many nom- about their activities and Production Office 780-471-8866 program areas represent their peers and hold inations are needed at a decisions that have been www.thenuggetonline.com our student executives accountable, found special meeting, while 10 made for NAITSA. Editor-in-Chief itself with empty seats last month as two nominations are needed The new senators will be senators stepped down for health reasons. to run in a regular sen- provided with governance Danielle Fuechtmann The Students’ Association will hold a spe- ate election. During sen- training to bring them up to [email protected] cial appointment meeting on Monday Jan. ate elections in the fall, speed with their colleagues Issues Editor 18 to fill these two vacancies. This opens the once you are on the bal- as well, allowing this student Nicolas Brown opportunity for eager students to step into a lot, all students in the pro- governance body to continue [email protected] leadership role on campus once again. gram area have an oppor- operating effectively. Some NAITSA announced the openings on its tunity to vote for their rep- senate committees also have Sports Editor website and senators were encouraged to resentatives through online empty seats that will need to Bridgette Tsang seek out individuals they thought might be voting. At the special be filled at the next meeting. [email protected] interested and would make a good fit for the meeting, a majority vote Students who are interested Entertainment Editors position. When asked if the same electoral is decided by the number in leadership can learn from procedures will be followed in filling these of students in attendance. Allannah Wrobel these positions on the senate. Joel Leckie vacancies, NAITSA VP External Allannah This means that without a VP External Students in the Engin- Connor O’Donovan Wrobel said, “The special appointments are specified quorum requirement, 10 students eering Technologies and Academic [email protected] run in the same accordance to the bylaws as could elect a new senate representative. Upgrading and Media and Design pro- Photo Editor the fall senate elections.” What does it take to be a senator? The gram areas are eligible. Students interested TBA The bylaws are simple in regard to fill- senate meets 10 times throughout the year, in the positions are encouraged to visit the ing Senate vacancies. Senate represent- and it reviews bylaw changes, NAITSA NAITSA offices in Room E-131 to ask [email protected] atives are nominated from the floor and financial information and asks questions questions. All students in those program Online Editor elected by majority vote. However, beyond about executive activity or student issues. areas should attend the special meeting Jan. Danielle Fuechtmann filling the basic eligibility requirements, Although students can individually bring 18 in Room X-107 at 4:45 p.m. to select [email protected] there are differences between how the spe- questions or concerns to NAITSA, each stu- their new senate representative. Production Manager Frank MacKay [email protected] Submissions encouraged: CUP gets new life [email protected] By BRIDGETTE TSANG how we can deliver it.” points out that “it’s important to the health The opinions expressed by contribu- This past year could not have came Jane Lytvynenko, a previous of the co-operative that our leadership is tors to the Nugget are not necessar- and gone faster for the Canadian Univer- CUP board member, echoed Travis’s inclusive ..