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Students launching “Get out the Vote” campaign for provincial election
News Staff - Wed Mar 28, 2012The University of Alberta Students’ Union, together with their partners at the University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge, is launching a campaign to “Get Out The Vote” for the April 23 provincial election. The campaign will officially kick off at the University of Alberta today where SU Vice President Farid Iskandar will announce the number of students signed up to date, as well as highlight the rest of the campaign and events leading up to election day.
Date: Wednesday, March 28
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Myer Horowitz Theatre, Students' Union Building
Participants: SU President Rory Tighe, SU Vice President (External) Farid Iskandar, and Get out the Vote volunteers
For more information please contact:
Jonathan Taves
External Communications & Media Advisor
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
C: 780-707-2263
E: ecma@su.ualberta.ca
Farid Iskandar
Vice President (External)
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
E: vp.external@su.ualberta.ca
Students have decided the Students’ Union’s executive team for the 2012-2013 school year
News Staff - Fri Mar 09, 2012Chief Returning Officer Zach Fentiman announced the results of the March 7 & 8 vote to an expectant and tense crowd of candidates and their volunteers late Thursday evening.
Elected to the position of President was Colten Yamagishi, 2011-12’s Vice President (Student Life). Victory for Colten was declared in the fourth round with 63% of the vote.
Dustin Chelen won the title of Vice President (Academic) in the fourth round with 59% of the vote.
Petros Kusmu will advocate on behalf of students to government as Vice President (External). Petros received his majority 52% in the second round of ballots.
Incumbent Vice President (Operations & Finance) Andy Cheema got voter approval for one more year, earning victory in the fourth round with 53% of the vote.
Saadiq Sumar will oversee events and protect student interest in residences as Vice President (Student Life). As the sole candidate in his race, Saadiq beat out the “None of the Above” option in the first round with 81% of votes.
Brent Kelly earned voters’ trust to speak for students as the Board of Governors Representative. He achieved victory in the second round with 54% of the votes cast.
The total number of ballots cast in this year’s election was 6,313, a voter turnout rate of 21.6%.
For more information please contact:
Zach Fentiman
Chief Returning Officer
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-7102
E: cro@su.ualberta.ca
Candidates for the 2012-2013 SU Executive Election
News Staff - Fri Feb 17, 2012The nomination deadline has passed and the candidate lineup for the 2012 Students’ Union executive election is set!
Your 2012-2013 nominees are…
For PRESIDENT:
Adi Rao
Colten Yamagishi
Farid Iskandar
Big Notorious
For VICE PRESIDENT ACADEMIC:
Quetzala Carson
San Ruth
Dustin Chelen
Kelsey Mills
For VICE PRESIDENT EXTERNAL:
Adam Woods
Dorothy Roberts
Petros Kusmu
For VICE PRESIDENT OPERATIONS & FINANCE:
Andy Cheema
Mike McGinn
Murtaza Jamaly
Jessica Nguyen
For VICE PRESIDENT STUDENT LIFE:
Saadiq Sumar
For UNDERGRADUATE BOARD OF GOVERNORS REPRESENTATIVE:
Brent Kelly
Rebecca Taylor
Decide whom you’ll cast your vote for during the campaign period leading up to the election by following the campaigns and attending the forums.
The first will occur Tuesday, February 28 at 6 p.m. in Lister Centre’s 2nd Floor Cafeteria.
Voting days are March 7 & 8. On those days, you can vote online or at the many polling stations around campus.
Everything you need to know about voting can be found here.
See you on the campaign trail!
U of A and SU host national discussion about academic materials
News Staff - Thu Feb 09, 2012Students face many rising costs for pursuing a university education, not the least of which is that for academic materials. This Thursday and Friday, stakeholders will discuss changing technology and approaches to creating and distributing textbooks and other products necessary for postsecondary education.
Educators, students, publishers, librarians and retailers will discuss how to ensure academic material industry quality and prosperity, now and in the future, during the Canadian Roundtable on Academic Materials, hosted by the U of A and the Students’ Union.
The first sessions began early Thursday morning, and will continue February 9-10, all throughout each day. Anyone interested in listening in on the sessions at any point can sign in as a guest here.
“New technology is changing the way academic materials can be used and distributed,” said Emerson Csorba, SU Vice-President (Academic) and an organizer of the conference.
“This conference presents an amazing opportunity to get all factions together to discuss how academic materials can become more affordable while still maintaining, or even increasing, their value to students.”
The medium for the conference is Elluminate, which is an online platform similar to Skype. By conducting the conference online, costs are minimized for all students and other participants involved.
Participating libraries, faculties and student associations come from all over Canada, including McMaster, Dalhousie, Saskatchewan, UBC, and Calgary. Major publishers, such as Cengage, Pearson and McGraw-Hill are also attending.
Topics at the conference will be presented by a variety of speakers from across Canada. Some topics include: Copyright Law; varying perspectives around digital books, academic materials and textbooks; the significance of the newly established Apple iTunes U initiative; and setting common strategies for CRAM in 2012 and beyond.
The last time CRAM took place was in 2008.
For more information please contact:
Jonathan Taves
External Communications & Media Advisor
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
C: 780-707-2263
E: ecma@su.ualberta.ca
University of Alberta aims for third dodgeball world record
News Staff - Wed Feb 01, 2012The battle for dodgeball domination is back on this Friday as the University of Alberta seeks to reclaim its lost world record.
The quest for the world’s largest dodgeball game has become a heated competition, with the U of A twice breaking the world record, only to have it usurped by American institutions on later dates. The current record is held by University of California, Irvine, with their official achievement of 4,000 players in a single game of dodgeball.
Undeterred, the University of Alberta is rising to the challenge; a new world record attempt has been organized for February 3, 2012 with a target of 5,000 players.
“We’ve seen this rivalry really ramp up over the last year,” said Colten Yamagishi, Students’ Union Vice-President (Student Life). “This game has evolved into the year’s largest single event on campus where everyone can feel like a part of the U of A community.”
All U of A students, staff, alumni, and even prospective students, are encouraged to pick a team: Green or Gold. Green’s goal this year will be to halt Gold’s two-game winning streak!
The world record attempt is made possible through a collaborative effort between the U of A, the Students’ Union, and the University of Alberta Alumni Association.
"Break the Record is an athletic event that has nothing to do with athletics but everything to do with community and playing hard while you work hard," explained Dr. Frank Robinson, the U of A’s Dean of Students.
Participants range from those who have never touched a dodgeball to seasoned veterans, but they will all be part of an overarching experience of school spirit, pride, and fun.
For information on how to participate visit www.breaktherecord.ca.
For more information please contact:
Jonathan Taves
External Communications & Media Advisor
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
C: 780-707-2263
E: ecma@su.ualberta.ca
GFC committee recommends removal of all deferred exam fees
News Staff - Fri Jan 20, 2012The University of Alberta is moving to eliminate the current $45 fee charged for a deferred exam.
During the January 19 General Faculties Council's Academic Standards Committee (ASC) meeting, a discussion item was presented regarding deferred exam fees. The committee focused on two principles in particular: that the practices used around deferred exam fees should be consistent across all faculties, and that fees could be a potential deterrent to deferred exams.
"The SU is strongly in favour of the removal of these fees, and we're pleased that this is going ahead," explained Emerson Csorba, Vice-President (Academic) of the Students' Union. "It is unjustifiable to charge students up to $225 to write their exams after facing an illness, personal or family issues or the death of a family member or friend."
A large contingent of ASC, largely made up of associate deans, expressed the same sentiment. The Committee's recommendation will be presented to U of A Provost and Vice-President (Academic) for consideration.
Currently, only two faculties, Business and Engineering, waive deferred exam fees for students facing extraordinary circumstances.
"It's great that all students will now be better able to write exams when they are mentally and physically ready, rather than feel academic pressure in addition to other trials," Csorba said.
For more information please contact:
Jonathan Taves
External Communications & Media Advisor
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
C: 780-707-2263
E: ecma@su.ualberta.ca
Spirit Week shows off U of A’s community involvement
News Staff - Mon Jan 16, 2012Opportunities for involvement will be showcased next week at the University of Alberta during Spirit Week, which celebrates the contributions students make to the campus community and beyond.
The week kicks off with a free concert on Monday, January 16. A volunteer and clubs fair will host organizations and groups looking to engage students interested in health, athletics, entertainment, education, social development, and more. The fair will run in the Students’ Union building until January 19. A celebration of community will conclude the week on Thursday evening.
“Involvement, whether it’s with a student group, sport or even outside interests, is the key to a meaningful university experience,” said Colten Yamagishi, U of A Students’ Union Vice-President (Student Life). “Events like this make all the forms involvement can take visible to students in one place. It’s all about taking that first step.”
Spirit Week is a joint initiative between the SU’s Student Group Services and InfoLink. Students who come out to the events and the fair will be eligible to win daily prizes like Oilers tickets, a PlayStation 3, or gift cards. Further details of the event can be found at www.su.ualberta.ca/spiritweek.
“The Winter Term, especially its beginning, can seem dreary with the short days and cold weather,” noted Hallie Brodie, an organizer of the event and Manager of InfoLink. “We are trying to change that perspective by gathering people and groups that make our campus great, and showing students how they can contribute too.”
For more information please contact:
Jonathan Taves
External Communications & Media Advisor
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
C: 780-707-2263
E: ecma@su.ualberta.ca
Undergraduate Research Symposium hosted at U of A
News Staff - Thu Nov 17, 2011Presentations have been perfected and judges’ clipboards are out for the first University of Alberta Undergraduate Research Symposium, organized by the Students’ Union.
The event begins this evening with a dinner and keynote. U of A President Indira Samarasekera and Engineering professor John Nychka are among the speakers. A poster competition occurs all day Friday and will showcase over 120 undergraduate student research projects across all disciplines.
“This event is one of the largest of its kind,” said Emerson Csorba, SU Vice President (Academic). “Demand is on the rise for engaged learning like research. The U of A is a leading research institution and every student who comes here should be able to benefit from that advantage.”
The event also provides students who want to become involved in research the chance to connect with opportunities that interest them.
“Participating in research helps students foster a sense of ownership of their education,” said Jessica McAllister, a 4th year nursing student who is presenting her own work on emergency care of seniors. “Discovering things yourself supplements what's learned from professors or textbooks.”
The symposium concludes Friday afternoon, where $9,000 in 20 academic awards will be given to the researchers of the most outstanding projects.
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Nov. 17, 6 p.m. & Nov. 18, 10 a.m. to 4pm
Dinwoodie Lounge, Students’ Union Building
and the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science
For more information please contact:
Jonathan Taves
External Communications & Media Advisor
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
C: 780-707-2263
E: ecma@su.ualberta.ca
Opportunity to Serve on IT Student Advisory Board
News Staff - Tue Oct 25, 2011For students interested in getting (more) involved, there is an excellent opportunity to serve on the University of Alberta's Information Technology Student Advisory Board, which is chaired by the Vice-Provost IT Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer. The student advisory board will meet about four times per year (twice in the fall semester and twice in the winter semester) and provide recommendations for how the university's information technology strategy can move forward. If you believe that the university could improve its Bear Tracks design, enhance its use of social media or integrate programs like Drop Box in classes, then you should consider serving on this advisory board. In order to apply for the advisory board, send a one-paragraph e-mail outlining your reasons for wanting to serve on the board to either the VP Academic Emerson Csorba or the VP External Farid Iskandar.
For more information please contact:
Emerson Csorba
Vice President (Academic)
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
E: vp.academic@su.ualberta.ca
or contact:
Farid Iskandar
Vice President (External)
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
E: vp.external@su.ualberta.ca
Involvement Opportunity with the Students' Union's Judicial Board
News Staff - Fri Sep 30, 2011The Discipline, Interpretation and Enforcement (DIE) Board of the Students' Union is looking to recruit up to six undergraduate students to serve on the board. The DIE Board is responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of Students' Union legislation.
The scope of the Board shall deal with actions and appeals brought before it that initiate a complaint about a contravention of Students' Union legislation or request an interpretation of Students' Union legislation.
All current undergraduate students are eligible to apply to serve on the board provided they are not also a voting member of Students' Council, a voting member of a committee of Students' Council, or an employee of the Students' Union.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter via email to Amanda Henry, DIE Board Registrar, at sga@su.ualberta.ca. The application deadline is October 21, 2011 and 4:00pm. Please note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted, and all positions are subject to Students' Council ratification.
For more information please contact:
Megan Mickalyk
Chief Tribune, DIE Board
University of Alberta Students’ Union
E: mlperry@ualberta.ca
Opportunity to Represent Student Body on University Committees
News Staff - Mon Sep 12, 2011A letter from Vice President (Academic) Emerson Csorba:
Hi everyone!
I hope that you had an awesome first week back at the U of A, and that you enjoyed volunteering for WOW and Orientation (if you happen to be one of the 700 or so volunteers that did that).
As Vice President (Academic), I serve on about 40 - if not more - university committees. All of these committees are important, and deal with different aspects of the Academy. This year, I plan on delegating about a dozen of these committees to other students. That means that you attend the committee meetings instead of me, in a role where your voice represents the near 30,000 undergraduates on campus. After serving as an Orientation TF last year, I served on a few university committees, and really enjoyed the experience. If you're interested in serving on one of the committees described below, please send me off an e-mail at vp.academic@su.ualberta.ca and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
I hope that you are interested in these opportunities, and I wish you great success in the upcoming year! Also, feel free to drop by SUB 2-900 if you ever have questions or concerns. My door is always open.
For more information please contact:
Emerson Csorba
Vice President (Academic)
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
E: vp.academic@su.ualberta.ca
Committee Opportunities:
- Arts Acquisition Committee: Meets infrequently, and determines the types of the art the university should purchase.
- Community Service Learning Advisory Board: Oversees the community service learning programs at the university. If you have participated in CSL classes at the U of A, this might be right up your alley.
- Administrative Information Systems Steering Committee: Deals extensively with the running of Beartracks.
- Writing Centre Committee: If you are interested in the quality of writing services offered by the university, this is for you.
- Festival of Teaching Steering Committee: Plans the upcoming Festival of Teaching, which takes place in March and celebrates teaching and learning at the U of A. This is a university initiative of growing importance.
- University Research Policy Committee: If you are interested in how research is conducted at the U of A, serving on this committee might be of interest to you.
- President's Standing Committee on Convocation: This committee provides direction for the organization of U of A convocation ceremonies.
- Faculty-Based ICT Steering Committee: Students interested in potential enhancements to technology usage in the classroom should consider serving on this body.
- Green and Gold Student Leadership and Professional Development Grant Adjudication Committee: The university is unveiling a new professional development grant, and one student is needed to serve on the committee that selects recipients of the grant funds.
- Transfer Credit Arts and Science Working Group: A working group is being struck in order to implement changes to the way that transfer credits are awarded in the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science. This is a big initiative that affects your study abroad experiences.
Other committee-related opportunities will arise throughout the year, so if you are interested in serving at a later date, please feel free to contact me.
Week of Welcome has what you need for your first week of class
News Staff - Sat Sep 03, 2011Come one, come all, the annual Week of Welcome celebration is back! The U of A Students’ Union is providing a plethora of fun, food, and excitement with activities of all sorts. Free pancake breakfasts and a whole host of free musical performances are sure to entice the financially savvy, while food and beer can be found daily at the BBQ and Beer Gardens. Don’t forget to pick up your student handbooks at one of our info tents and check out the clubs fair to see what student groups have to offer you. Also, win some sweet prizing or get some delicious goodies from quad activities, which run daily Wednesday to Friday.
After the sun goes down, Week of Welcome has nightly shows guaranteed to entertain: from the sidesplitting comedic performance of hypnotist Wayne Lee, to the high energy music stylings of Dragonette ft. USS, to the free double feature movie night. Be sure to finish your first week of classes with a bang at the Mainstage event, which occurs in our very own Quad on the Saturday. This massive concert features a fantastic line-up of Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, The Midway State, and The Dudes, all topped off with the insatiable Shout Out Out Out Out. Get your tickets from one of our many ticket tables, or buy online if you just can’t wait.
For more details, check out the Week of Welcome website or visit the facebook page.
For more information please contact:
Student Programming Coordinators
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4241
E: wow@su.ualberta.ca
Applications Open for AcaDream Team
News Staff - Fri Aug 26, 2011One of the goals for this year's Vice President (Academic) Emerson Csorba is the establishment of an AcaDream Team, which is an intensive advisory and planning group for the Vice President (Academic). The team will consist of around 10 students in total, which will meet twice per month at different locations on campus. Simply put, the AcaDream Team stems from the need for the Vice President (Academic) to engage in thoughtful and meaningful debate and discussion prior to making decisions that affect large numbers of students.
Applications for this committee are being accepted from August 26 to Friday September 2 2011, at 5:00 PM. Please submit a one-page letter to vp.academic@su.ualberta.ca, outlining why you are interested in serving on the AcaDream Team, in addition to providing a glimpse of citizenship/engagement experiences you have been a part of as a university student. Short telephone interviews may take place following the application deadline.
For more information please contact:
Emerson Csorba
Vice President (Academic)
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
E: vp.academic@su.ualberta.ca
SU By-Election Nominations Now Open
News Staff - Fri Aug 26, 2011The Students' Union Elections Office is calling for leaders to "emerge from the crowded halls and security of their textbooks" and run as candidates in the upcoming Students' Council and General Faculties Council by-election.
The election will take place on September 29 and 30, 2011. Nomination packages are now available in 2-900 SUB and for download at www.su.ualberta.ca/vote. Completed nomination packages must be submitted by September 19 at 5:00pm.
For more information on the electoral process or available positions please visit the website listed above or contact the SU Elections Office using the contact information listed below.
Best of luck!
For more information please contact:
Zach Fentiman
Chief Returning Officer
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-7102
E: cro@su.ualberta.ca
ECOS Campus Community Garden to receive award from Sustainable Food Edmonton
News Staff - Thu Aug 11, 2011August 11, 2011
The hard work of green-thumbed volunteers is being recognized today, following an announcement earlier this month that the University of Alberta’s Campus Community Garden will receive an award.
The garden, an initiative organized by the Students' Union’s Environmental Coordination Office of Students since 2005, has earned Sustainable Food Edmonton’s 2011 Community Garden Award.
Sustainable Food Edmonton’s mission is to encourage Edmontonians’ creation and participation in an “equitable and ecologically sound food system.”
“This recognition reinforces the SU’s commitment to citizenship and sustainability,” said Colten Yamagishi, SU Vice President (Student Life). “ECOS provides meaningful opportunities for students to improve the environment and build community.”
ECOS’ Campus Community Garden educates students and volunteers through workshops on gardening, composting, harvesting, food security, and sustainable lifestyles. The garden’s output is enjoyed by volunteers or given to the Campus Food Bank.
The two winners of the 2011 Community Garden Award were selected through a combination of online voting and judging by a group of representatives from City Council and Edmonton's various food security organizations.
The title will be given out today during a ceremony at City Hall.
For more information please contact:
Ian Moore
Director, ECOS
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-7134
E: ecos@su.ualberta.ca
SU Executive set out benchmarks for 2011-2012 year
News Staff - Thu Jul 28, 2011President of the Students' Union, Rory Tighe, and the four Vice Presidents have compiled a list of goals they are planning to achieve during their term in office.
Each portfolio contains its own set of tasks, as the executive plans to do everything from getting voting booths on campus, to hosting an undergraduate research symposium, to revamping the food and services available for students.
The goals were presented to Students' Council on July 26.
The complete document can be found here.
Students Wanted to Help Plan Undergraduate Research Symposium
News Staff - Tue Jun 28, 2011The Students’ Union will be holding its first-ever undergraduate research symposium in mid-November 2011. This symposium will celebrate the creativity and innovation of over one hundred undergraduate researchers from all faculties and will provide over $10 000 in awards. The event will kickoff with a dinner and keynote speech in Dinwoodie Lounge.
In order to facilitate the planning of the event, and make it as valuable as possible for students, Vice-President (Academic) Emerson Csorba is looking for five undergraduate students at-large to serve on the SU Undergraduate Research Symposium Planning Committee. If you are interested in participating on this committee, please send a one-paragraph response to vp.academic@su.ualberta.ca outlining your reasons for wanting to help plan this outstanding upcoming event. The deadline for applications to the committee has been extended to July 8 at midnight. Late applications (within reason) will be considered as well.
For more information please contact:
Emerson Csorba
Vice President (Academic)
University of Alberta Students’ Union
P: 780-492-4236
E: vp.academic@su.ualberta.ca
SU Managers converge in Edmonton to talk strategy
News Staff - Mon May 30, 2011The University of Alberta Students’ Union is hosting the annual conference of the Association of Managers in Canadian College University and Student Centres (AMICCUS-C) from May 30 to June 2.
AMICCUS-C is a network of the permanent staff that work at student associations across the country and assist the elected representatives carry out their mandates.
Managers from across the country will meet in Edmonton to share ideas, network and collaborate.
New transit display helps students catch their bus
News Staff - Fri May 13, 2011A new display screen in SUB now informs students on their way to the U of A transit centre how quickly they need to run to catch their bus.
An electronic schedule displays the next three departures for all Edmonton, St. Albert, and Strathcona transit routes that leave the U of A transit centre.
The departures board is located on the main floor of SUB near the Myer Horowitz Theatre and food court. Feedback is welcome and can be sent to digitalmedia@su.ualberta.ca.
May marks beginning of the new executive's term
News Staff - Tue May 03, 2011While the end of April is a busy time for students wrapping up exams and making summer plans, it's also busy around the SU office, as the old executive ties up loose ends to prepare for the transition to the new executive team, formally on May 1.
For the coming year, Rory Tighe has been elected President, he will be a familiar face after serving as Vice President Student Life in 2010/11. Colten Yamagishi will replace Rory for the coming year, while Emerson Csorba (Academic), Farid Iskandar (External) and Andy Cheema (Operations & Finance) make up the rest of the executive team.
Every year has its moments, and with a new political climate in Ottawa and a provincial election likely in the next 12 months, 2011/12 should be an interesting and engaging year for the SU to represent students.
To “meet” the new Executive, please click here and click on Executives.
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