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Students to vote on refugee fee in 2011

Western’s World University Service of Canada rejoiced Wednesday night when the University Students’ Council approved a referendum on a $0.52 student levy.

The levy, which will support refugee students studying at Western, will pay for essential human needs such as clothing, food, toiletries and medications, as well as textbooks. The money is distributed in an allowance system in order to keep the student on budget.

Student will vote on the levy in a referendum next February during the USC presidential election.

“I was emotional. I don’t always show it, but I was really touched by how supportive the University Students’ Council was at the meeting,” James Goacher, president of the Western branch of WUSC, said.

“This program is about so much more than just [bringing] a refugee to Canada. This is about eradicating poverty, educating in ways that reduce resource consumption and environmental degradation, and giving people the tools to a greater quality of life.”

Goacher explained he approached the USC’s Finance Committee last year about the levy after speaking with other delegates of WUSC in Ottawa.

“When the conversation came to how much each university was supporting their refugee students, I was absolutely ashamed of Western’s effort and so were the other delegates.”

Dan Ferris, a social science senator who posted the motion, explained the passing of the levy was incredibly unique and has the potential to provide funding for clubs.

“It opens the door to a new avenue of obtaining funding via student fees for clubs on campus,” Ferris said, adding clubs would be able to approach the Finance Standing Committee, who would then decide whether their mandate was worthy of support.

But not all councillors were in favour of adding the levy to the referendum at the council meeting. Stephanie Sugar, a faculty of law councillor, rejected the idea of a student-imposed levy on several grounds.

“The fact that the [levy] was passed with the understanding it was a gateway for other clubs to ask to impose levies on students [is problematic],” Sugar said, explaining club fees were a more appropriate way of providing support to the system. “I don’t agree with individual clubs being able to garner such a large budget from the student body, and favouring their activities over those of other ratified clubs and organizations.”

However, Ferris said putting the voting process to the students would allow for a more democratic, transparent government, as opposed to one committee making decisions on behalf of the student body.

But Sugar cited lack of information as a prevailing problem with the levy.

“The program description was too vague. There was no information with regard to how students are selected, what the funds are used for, or how students are helped out after they get their degree. It felt that people were voting more on the feeling that this was a good thing to do,” Sugar commented.

Fundraising, Sugar mentioned, would be another way for WUSC to raise the $7,000 a year needed to support refugee students.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say that raising [that amount] is an impossible feat. I don’t know what kind of work the club is doing, but I feel it may be a lack of creativity.”

Sugar concluded she felt students shouldn’t be forced to support charities, or pay fees that may or may not operate against their personal beliefs.

But Goacher continued to stress the importance of the levy, especially now that a refugee student is studying on campus.

“I honestly don’t know what would happen to our current student without this levy. No other university has been shameless enough to send a refugee student back to their refugee camp and I have no doubt Western will be the same,” he said, adding he felt confident students would vote in favour of the levy at the upcoming referendum.

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