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Report of the Vice-President Advocacy

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Report of the Vice-President Advocacy TO: UMSU Membership FROM: UMSU VPA, Kristin Smith DATE: Thursday, December 3, 2020 RE: 2020 Annual General Meeting VPA Report Report of the Vice-President Advocacy General Responsibilities Student Senate Caucus (SSC) I co-chair the Student Senate Caucus with UMGSA Vice-President (Academic) Rubel Talukder. We on-boarded the newly elected Senators in May, and distributed the revised Student Senate Caucus Handbook. Since then, we have been meeting on a monthly basis ahead of Senate meetings. Student Senate Caucus offers a venue for senators to voice their concerns about the Senate agenda prior to the Senate meeting, and to articulate questions to be raised at Senate. I construct the SSC agendas through reviewing the Senate agenda for the next meeting, pulling out the most important items for discussion, and distilling the issues in appendices. Senators understand they are encouraged to read the Senate agenda when it comes out to help identify if something should be added. The Student Senate Caucus has been eager in adopting an advocacy role as well, having submitted 2 proposals to the University, led by myself as Caucus co-chair: one for compassionate grading, and another for various measures to improve online learning. The Student Senate Caucus has also successfully filled the majority of Senate Committee seats requiring student representation. Individual Student Cases I have helped many students on individual advocacy concerns since beginning my term at UMSU. Sometimes it is as simple as answering a set of questions, providing advice, or connecting students with another office. Other times, students request that I be their official advocate in a disciplinary case, final grade appeal, admissions appeal, case for special consideration, or a myriad of other issues. In these cases, the student retains full control of my degree of involvement in their case, and I am certain to ensure the student feels a sense of ownership over what is submitted. Usually, I help them write their letter, add my own comments, facilitate communication and follow-up with university offices, and advocate for the student in meetings. Campus Advocacy Libraries With the onset of COVID-19, UMSU recognized that not all students will have a learning environment conducive to their success, and so, stand to benefit from socially distanced, disinfected study space on University grounds. Based on UMSU’s June COVID-19 Member survey, the most commonly cited issues by students include strained family relationships, presence of young siblings, noisy construction, and accessibility needs. 38% of students said they were not worried at all about these or other distractions in the home. I connected with the University librarian Lisa O’Hara, and Vice-Provost Students Laurie Schnarr about these concerns. At first, admin saw this as as very big challenge to do safely but we ultimately succeeded in making bookable, socially distanced study space available on campus in the Fall 2020 remote term. UMSU also worked with administration to ensure the most at-risk students have access to this space first. 1 TO: UMSU Membership FROM: UMSU VPA, Kristin Smith DATE: Thursday, December 3, 2020 RE: 2020 Annual General Meeting VPA Report Outcome: - Dafoe Library opened (first floor only) on a drop-in basis, with 155 spots available. - The science library opened with 80 bookable spots, reserved all-day - To ensure space for vulnerable students, space was set aside exclusively for vulnerable students identified through the advisor network of the University. - On Bannatyne 102 "spots" were made available across Brodie, Brodie Lounge, Dent, Apotex, and John Doupe Concourse - John Neil McLean library open - All libraries will have reduced hours of 10 am-6 pm. I maintain quarterly meetings with the University Librarian and we will be starting together on a conversation surrounding library spaces in the New Year. The libraries are currently conducting a ‘functional space assessment,’ and undergoing an RFP process to select an environmental design firm who can help redesign library spaces with an emphasis on creating more work space for students. I will begin serving on the Functional Space Assessment Steering Committee in January 2021. Technology for Students At the onset of COVID-19, it became apparent to UMSU that not all students would have the technology they need to continue their studies successfully in a remote learning environment. In collaboration with Laurie Schnarr (Vice-Provost Students) and Jane Lastra (Director, Financial Aid and Awards), UMSU lobbied the University to set up the UM Tech Fund, which provided students with subsidies to purchase the equipment needed to continue online learning in the Fall. We hope to see the fund replenished for the winter so long as need continues to exist. Consent Culture Training for Bisons Athletes On August 13th, I spoke with Lisa Tinley of Bison Sports recommending that all Bison athletes receive consent culture training by Justice for Women. Lisa was eager for Bisons athletes to participate in these workshops, and accordingly, the VPA connected her with Justice for Women to coordinate scheduling. UMSU thanks Justice for Women immensely for rising to this challenge, agreeing to provide additional consent culture workshops to accommodate each and every Bison’s sports team. Given this proven capacity, and the valuable role that Bison athletes play as de facto student leaders in our community, UMSU is working to ensure these workshops become an annual staple for Bison athletes. Fall and Winter Fees With the onset of COVID-19, many students reached out to UMSU inquiring about which fees, if any, will still need to be paid in the fall remote term. UMSU has always firmly maintained that students should not be paying for a service this will be unable to access. With the UM Active Living Centre re-opening at limited capacity for the Fall, UMSU helped secure students 30% off the original fee to account for limited access, without harming the monies available to support Bison athletes. With the recent shutdown of the gym amid code red, conversations regarding refunds will considered by UMSU for the Winter term. Students can remain assured that at minimum, the discount available in Fall will remain in the winter. 2 TO: UMSU Membership FROM: UMSU VPA, Kristin Smith DATE: Thursday, December 3, 2020 RE: 2020 Annual General Meeting VPA Report Other fees, despite perception, remained relevant even during COVID-19. For instance, many of the libraries stayed open in a socially distance manner, and underwent processes of further digitizing their collections. Trans Inclusion/Safety at the Active Living Centre In July, it was brought to UMSU’s attention that gaps exist at the Active Living Centre as it pertains to the safety and inclusion of transgender students. In response, the VPA and UMSU LGBTTQ Representative met with a group of students-at-large to better understand the ALC limitations and develop a strategy in approaching administration. Ultimately, it was decided that UMSU would support these students in crafting a set of recommendations to present to Dean Douglas Brown who, as Dean of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, oversees both daily functioning and long-term planning for the ALC. The proposal - Recommendations for improvements to inclusivity at the Active Living Centre – was submitted to Dr. Douglas Brown on November 12th, with notice of receipt received on November 16th. Dr. Brown described the items as “certainly reasonable” and has forwarded the proposal to his executive team for feedback. After Dr. Brown’s executive team has had the opportunity to conduct their review, a meeting will be scheduled with myself and the contributing students to discuss the items. The proposal contains the following recommendations: 1. Recommendation 1: Install fixtures in the change rooms that promote safety and inclusivity for transgender students, such as containers for menstrual hygiene products in the men’s change room and biohazardous waste containers in both change rooms. 2. Recommendation 2: For the comfort and safety of all community members, create more private, single stall shower spaces in the men’s and women’s change room, and add clothing hooks within these spaces. 3. Recommendation 3: Amid COVID-19, ensure the safety and accessibility of the ALC for members of the transgender community and those with accessibility needs by opening the community change room 4. Recommendation 4: That there be a dedicated gym time for the transgender and non-binary community, separate from the women’s time, and that appropriate measures be taken to inform the trans community of the opportunity to participate 5. Recommendation 5: In all future recreation space infrastructure projects, ensure that vulnerable communities on campus are consulted for their input on how proposed new spaces can be made more inclusive. This can be done with the support of UMSU’s VP Advocacy, and UMSU’s LGBTT+ Representative. 6. Recommendation 6: That the University work with UMSU to provide annual Consent Culture Training to Bison athletes through campus advocacy group Justice for Women (JFW). #SaveTheSemester Campaign and Threat of UMFA Strike Action UMSU knew that a strike during a global pandemic would be catastrophic to many students. As a result, we mobilized in the following ways to develop the #SaveTheSemester Campaign: - Penned numerous open letters to the U of M community describing the position and concerns of students, with each new development; - Conducted a poll of students; - Circulated informational posts for students on @myumsu; - Engaged with media; 3 TO: UMSU Membership FROM: UMSU VPA, Kristin Smith DATE: Thursday, December 3, 2020 RE: 2020 Annual General Meeting VPA Report - Emergency Board of Directors Meeting, where members voted unanimously to endorse third party binding arbitration; - Published an email writing template to University President Dr. Benarroch asking for a resolution, and specifically, binding arbitration; - Change.org petition to the Hon.
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