STUSU merchandise
Brianna Workman, president of the St. Thomas University Students’ Union, has been working with Autumn Lawrence, the director of communications for STUSU, to create clothing and merchandise. Workman said there should be mock-ups ready for the student representative council to try. Workman hopes that STUSU merchandise will eventually be available to the student body.
Funding approvals
The finance committee approved $500 for Sara Nason, the sexuality and gender diversity representative for STUSU, to attend the Interrogating Self-Care: Bodies, Personhood and Movements in Tumultuous Times conference in Boston, Mass. on March 29 and 30.
The self-defence workshop proposed by Graci Young, STUSU first-year liaison, was tentatively approved for funding by the finance committee. The date for the workshop has yet to be determined.
The debate society will be attending championships in Newfoundland and Labrador. The finance committee approved $364 for their trip.
Husoni Raymond, the vice-president administration, motioned for the UNB Ski and Snowboard Club to be approved for their request of $785 for their weekly bus trips to Crabbe Mountain. According to their clubs and societies funding application, they’re asking for funding to cover one trip. The University of New Brunswick Student Union also provided funding and since STU students are able to join the club, STU’s finance committee felt it was fair to chip in.
Activities coordinator hired
Ailish MacKenzie-Foley has been hired as the activities coordinator for STUSU. She will be starting Monday, Feb. 4. The position is 10 hours per week until April 5 and could be renewable.
LGBTQIA+ advisor position will not be filled
Sara Nason met with Brock Richardson, the director of student services, to discuss if the LGBTQIA+ advisor position would be filled, since Professor Erin Fredericks is on leave. Because the position was created for Fredericks specifically, Richardson said there won’t be another person taking over. However, student services is looking into creating a full-time LGBTQ advocate position that would oversee St. Thomas University, the University of New Brunswick and New Brunswick Community College. According to Nason, Richardson is planning to meet with Q&A, a LGBTQ club, to hear from students about this idea.
Students hesitant to join Indigenous Reconciliation Council
Kyanna Kingbird, the Indigenous representative for STUSU, said students are hesitant to join the Indigenous Reconciliation Council.
“I think particularly because of the name,” said Kingbird. She spoke with elders to try and find a solution.
Kingbird said they suggested changing the name to not include the word reconciliation and find a way to communicate the council doesn’t focus on only one tribe.
“There’s a few students who participate in really, really well in-depth conversations and have great ideas but are not open to the idea of a committee, so I’m trying to find a way to bridge the gap between those,” said Kingbird.
