THE SURE

COUNCIL NEWS AIN’T A

MUST

BE A

NEWS

LETTER

Federation of Students-University of Waterloo

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1968

S

PAPER

ith The Pe There are three major areas in which

the Federation of Students must con- cern itself with communications.

and administration have repeatedly been urged to request Council min- utes. (Anyone requesting a copy will be sent one after every meeting), min- utes were requested in turn from other bodies, with little result, and Council has pressed for student membership on these other councils and commit- tees, partly to facilitate communica- tion.

The one relating most directly to the student body is Council-constit- uent communciation, Some efforts were initiated this year to bring the Council closer to its constituents,

The Council News is a report pre- pared by Council members to suple- ment Chevron coverage and present Council viewpoints. The newspaper cannot provide coverage of all the things that Council does, nor does it (or should it) always express the opin- ions that the student government would like to put forward. The Coun- cil News is a means of presenting Councillor’s thinking first hand. It is unfortunate that limitations on time and funds have prevented the publica- tion of more newsletters.

Appropriate persons and groups are informed immediately when Council passes a policy or requests information relating to them, and on a number of occasions, guests have been invited to come to Council to exchange infor- mation and views.

In response to Council’s concern in this area, a joint student-faculty-ad- Council in Session at the Student Village. Meetings moved to different locations this year to ministration committee has been form- encourage spectators.

ed to study the problem.

Off-campus communications. aside from those with student organizations, epresentin e Council meetings are all completely

open to the public a!nd in order to en- courage spectators to attends, most meetings have been held in one or an- other of the residences. Unfortunately spectators at these meetings have little opportunity to talk to members, and they certainly don’t have a chance to get into the discussion.

To remedy this, two Council For- ums” were tried - that is, it was ad- vertised that Council members would be available at some place at a certain time for some open discussion or in- dividual conversation. Members other- wise have very little opportunity to meet most of the people they represent. The turnout was pretty depressing- next to nil in fact, but perhaps better publicity, regular time and place (the Campus Centre for example) might correct this in the future.

such as OUS, CUS, and other coun- cils, are a difficult problem. Depend-

‘3tudent participation in university problem is-whet1 is it co-optation such as appointments, relations with government”-a year ago a nearly and when is it a legitimate attempt the colleges, student involvement, and

ing upon the public media has been meaningless multi-syllable phrase. To- to achieve some of those ends like openness. The Committee hopes to of little, and in some cases, of nega- day-common-place. “community with other people”, make a public final report in April.

tive value. There are a number of pro- With the publication of the DLB- “mutual respect in the academic

Meanwhile, doors have been open- grams, however, which have been be- Berdahl report on university govern- community” etc., etc.?

ing all over the place to student repre- gun which involve working relations ment in the spring of 1966 came an With some individuals-faculty a/id sentatives. As well as those shown in with off-campus groups, Perhaps our increased waareness of the effect of ~id?~~i~listratio~l-I deal with, I know the chart on paged, two students have

best hope is to stimulate those pro- the university’s structure on faculty the conditions (for co-operation and been seated in the Engineering Facul- and students alike. All across Canada

grams of service to the community mutual respect) are being met. With ty Council, non-voting student parti-

study committees were set up to make others, I think they are, and then cipants welcomed in the Undergrad- which will increase contact and un- revisions to the existing hierarchies: I’m stabbed in the back. With still uate Affairs Group in Arts, and liaison derstanding. most tinkered, few really started with others we know damn well they’re committees established in Mathema-

the basics of what makes the univer- playing around and grandly propos- tics and Science. A recent seminar was held by the

Board of Publication to study com- munications, and it is to be hoped that its findings will be helpful to the in- coming Council.

sity tick and who should be in charge. ing their advisory atzd liaison com- mittees in attempts to stifle and side- track studeli t interest.J’

The effect of the Federation’s brief “A Proposal for University Govern- ment at the University of Waterloo”, written by Neil Arnason, Steve Flott, Steve Ireland and Peter Warrian, and adopted by Students’ Council last April, have been widely felt in the student community. Whether the Fed- eration’s major proposal, a single-tier- ed system of government with heavy student involvement is accepted re- mains to be seen. But our foot is in the door!

And debates among students became commonplace. “Tokenism” or “real involvement”? Recently in a speech at a conference on student government at U of T, Preisdent Steve Ireland summed it up this way:

“The more subtle means (of destroy- ing student governme/lt, the base for developing student power) are goi?lg to involute things like “unitary structures”, “conmunity govern- rneut”-a lot of words like that. The

Like other universities, the Univer- sity of Waterloo set up a study com- mittee, which after some haggling in- cluded three student reps. The Com- mittee has now been deliberating for over 16 months and is currently study- ing the advantages of the single-tiered (merging the Board of Governors and the Senate) versus the traditional structure, as well as related matters

The problem of communications is largely a symptom of some very fun- damental ailments in the structure and atmosphere of the University, and ul- timate solutions will necessitate a very broad and searching study of the uni-

Many attempts have been made to establish better communication with other sectors of the university. Faculty versity as a whole.

OF The primary goal of this year’s Q of emphasis on certain educational fea- paper on this year-3 programme. And

E committee was to organize an en- tures, we stressed that any thoughts on because of the students’ lack of inter- and the Campus Shop .It will be a quiry into all aspects of undergrad- any matters pertaining to undergrad- est in contributing their own views in building for the use of everyone on campus, and should provide much more opportunity for socializing be- tween the three estates-faculty, stu- dents, and administration.

On March 18, the Federation of Stu- dents will be moving into its new quarters in the Campus Centre.

uate instruction at the department, faculty and university levels.

uate instruction would be welcomed. Faculty members were also en-

couraged to express their views on these topics, for we felt that the lack of communication between faculty and students was a major case of the dis- satisfaction with university education experienced by many students. This leads to a second objective of the com- mittee, that of establishing a signifi- cant and constructive communications link between the student body and the faculty.

report form, we have decided to take a different approach for next year.

Since the Federation will be located in the building, it is hoped that more people will drop in to the offices, and become more familiar with its oper- ation.

We agreed that the study should not get bogged down with specifics or sta- tistics. That is, we deliberately avoid- ed any questions concerning particular professors or courses, and we felt that a survey of students’ thoughts and im- pressions rather than a fill-in-the- blanks questionnaire would best suit our purpose.

The Campus Centre Director, Paul Our aim was to solicit student opin-

of instruction and ions on: methods By expressing student opinion in the

The committee intends to stimulate undergraduate thinking on the quality of education using such methods as: an Orientation lecture for freshmen, a major Teach-In, and more weekend seminars along the lines of “Weekend in the Woods”. Once we have gener- ated such thought and interest, we will then ask for submissions, but concern- ing only one facet of undergraduate education at a time. (For example, our first enquiry could quite likely be

Gerster, hopes that the Centre will be examination, programme flexibility form of a summary of the submissions a discussion of lectures: their possible able to sponsor its own educational and content, faculty-student communi- received, and by drawing valid con- use as opposed to their present abuse).

and social programs. cations, and the general purpose of a elusions from this summary, we hoped Here again we will be asking for stu- university degree. Various questions to provide basis for future constructive dent support. If we get it, we hopefully - --.

The absence of a centre of some kind has in the past been very detrimental to communication and a sense of un-

ity, and social facilities have long been inadequate. In the 196566 year, when it appeared that the Centre might not be built, Council and the Coryphaeus exerted a great deal of pressure on the administration to be- gin construction.

But the University finally went a- head with the building, and it is now almost ready for occupancy. Facilities We have waited a long time for the which we hoped would inspire student criticism of educational methods be- will accomplish our original goals. If

will include lounges, a games room, Campus Centre, some would suggest thinking along these lines were formu- ing employed at this university. not, it can only mean that the present-

music room, coffee shop, dining room, ten years too long, but if it is success- lated and distributed among the stu- Unfortunately the number of stu- ly employed methods are acceptable to dent body, a separate questionnaire dent submissions was too small to jus- the great majority of students; and

private dining lounge (available on ful, it could alter the entire character for each faculty. While the questions tify such a summary, so we are in the that a piece of paper is worth three or reservation), meeting rooms, a bank, of the campus. included represented the committee’s process of writing simply a working more years of your life.

ere The People’s The Federation of Students is in the

last stages of rectifying its financial difficulties.

In the past, the major social funct- ions have presented major budgetary problems. In addition, there were num- erous minor problems keeping track of finances when the business office of the university handled the Federation’s books and kept all our accounts.

New policies and actions in the past few months have gone a long way to cleaning up social functions (hiring a house broker, rigid financial policies, convenient access to office and bank- ing records).

business manager, and a revamping of

The incorporation of the Federation of Students, the hiring of a capable

policies and procedures have greatly streamlined and improved the day-to- day operations. When handling the accounts through the business office it was always very difficult to determine the up to date financial status of the organization.

As a result of the overall effect of these difficulties, last year’s council left behind a twenty-three thousand dollar deficit. Some forms of govern- ment believe in deficit financing but we don’t!

As you can see from the circle charts, a large portion of this deficit

and this write-off figure is anticipated

will be erradicatbd. The Federation budget year, unlike the Council year, is from May 1 to May 1. As a result many of these figures are projection

to be higher since all other projected expenses are expected to come in low- er than estimated.

The fact that this has been done in one year is proof of an improvement!

You will notice that two of the Fed- eration’s financitG1 endeavours are omitted in the circle charts, namely

present time.

the aircraft and the Campus Shop. These are both set up to operate on a break-even basis by themselves. Their initial capital was obtained through loans and they operate with their own bank accounts. If at any time they show a profit they will contribute to the income circle and in the meantime they will continue to cover their oper- ating expenses and gradually pay off their loans as they are doing at the

NEXT: T

With the new council comes the task of drawing up and passing a new budget for the coming fiscal year. When drawing up this budget, the new council and the new executive board will examine the present expeness and decide whether they should be con- tinued as well as review all suggest- ions ofr new programs within the scope of the Federation.

together how much each will receive. These meetings are advertised in the Chevron and are usually held early in each academic term.

After deciding what they would like to accomplish, they project their in- come and then mold their expenses to fit within their means - the only way to run non-deficit government!

Once the budget is passed it is the responsivility of the Federation treas- urer and business manager to check over the bills. They are watchdogs on behalf of the council and it is their duty to ensure that the funds are spent according to the intent indicated at the time the budget was passed. It is also their duty to be unbiased in the enforcement of Federation financial policies.

Within this new budget there will After a new budget is passed, it is once again be an allocation for Clubs published in the Chevron. If you don’t and Organizations. All clubs and or- agree with a portion of this budget or ganization presidents meet as a com- wish a portion of it explained-call a mittee to put in their bids for this council member or the Federation of- portion of the budget and they decide fice and express your opinion.

Services, academic or otherwise, are always a source of complaint in the University. The Library is no except- ion.

Fifteen months ago the first protest -the bookstore sit-in exploded after constant complaints about bookstore operations. New rumours are flying about study-ins and pickets over in- adequate library hours and resources.

Council has been accused of being derelict in its duty in not brotesting the hours and resources of our librar- ies. Unfortunately the critics know little of the efforts of the Council to date.

One of the first items of business considered by this Council in March 1967 was an extensive motion on general and circulation hours, faculty

borrowing privileges and student re- presentation. These recommendations were submitted to the Senate Library Committee which accepted them often unanimously. However, inadequate operating budget and staff shortages prevented their implementation, ac- cording to Mrs. Doris Lewis, Chief Librarian.

Discussions were held with Dr. H. E. Petch, Academic Vice-President, shortly after his appointment in Sep- tember and Council was informed of the dissolution of the Senate Library Committee and the structuring of two library committees, one for each lib- rary.

These policy-making committees each were to include 3 students (2 un- dergrads and 1 Ph.D. candidate) and

ew General Rules After a delay of four years, the cur-

rent Council has written into legal form the by-laws cf the Federation.

Always a dull, legalistic task, the by-laws were pushed to near the top of the priority list by the act of incor- poration, April 27, 1967.

The old constitution under which we operated from 1964 until last April was rewritten as Bylaw Number 1, and passed in a well-attended general meeting in January 8, 1968. By-laws for the four boards of Council and a by-law on general meetings and refer- enda were dealt with at another gen- eral meeting on February 19, 1968.

At both meetings several amend-

ments were also presented and lively debate ensued.

It should be noterd that referenda are no longer necessary for “constitu- tional” changes, these being done now at general meetings.

To avoid “stacking” of meetings, notice of general meetings is given well before the meetings, calling for items of business for the agenda. All mo- tions or items of business to be con- sidered are then fully published in the Chevron before the meeting, giving all members of the Federation a chance to attend and vote on matters of in- terest to them.

meet very regularly to direct the oper- ations of the libraries.

Through the actions of the student reps on the Arts Iibrary Committee, hours have been increased. Monday to Thursday hours have been extended from 11 to midnight, Friday drops from 11 to 10, Sunday increases from 2 to 10 to 1 to midnight. Circulation, hitherto unavailable on Sunday, will be open from 1 to 5.

In addition, the deans have re- sponded to the need for study space and are making many rooms available for evening study. Council is pressing for these rooms to be open until 2:00 or 3 :00 a.m. University departments now occupying space in the library will not be moving out until the summer so that study space near the stacks will continue t obe limited.

The problem of acquisitions is more difficult. While the holdings of the libraries are far from adequate, those holdings present are a high quality, so that straight numerical comparisons with other universities are not suffic- ient. Nevertheless? the administration has been made aware on many occas- ions of Council’s concern and the 1968-69 Council must continue to press for improvements.

Co-operation in this effort must be forthcoming from individual classes, course clubs, and departmental un- ions. These groups must impress upon the faculty the inadequacy of library resources. Combined faculty and stu- dent pressure on the departments, fac- ulty councils and budget committee could bring about the badly needed improvements.

!fUlr. Yates

dents’ Council and has all the usual duties of an office manager or exe&- tive secretary of a professional associa- tion, being responsible for staff, ac- counting, financial records, purchas- ing, contracts and acting as secretary of the Students’ Council.

“It’s a far different atmosphere from the bank9’ Mr. Yates says, in a char- acteristic understatement. “The de- mands are different-I enjoy working wit11 students more than the customers in the bank.”

Federation accounts and office stall! have been under a new watchful eey

The excellent financial position

since July 17. which the Students’ Council now finds itself, after inheriting a $22,000

G. W, Yates

Mr. G. W. “Pete” Yates has served as Business Manager of the Federation since the resignation of Paul Gerster who left to become Director of the Campus Centre.

debt last year, can be credited to the efficient teamwork of Mr. Yates and treasurer Ross McKenzie.

“Most people who teach at colleges are doing it for very simple security reasons and they don’t like people to rock the boat even though they make a big thing about intellectual inquiry and all that. A professor will allow you to put down the administration but will get of/ended if you say the faculty is ir- relevant, which they are, by and large, except for maybe ten people and they’re relevant as people because they’ve delfeloped a style of living that has relevance to other lives.”

Having spent 28 years (except dur- ing the war) with the Royal Bank of Canada, Mr. Yates has brought to the Federation a wealth of experience. He served with the bank in Hanover, Hayesville, Ingersoll, St. Catharines, Gravenhurst and Kitchener. He is married with four children, a son (graduate of WLU) and three daugh- ters aged 19, 17 and 4.

The Business Manager is responsible to the Executive Board of the Stu-

David Harris, student president at Stanford University, quoted in Esquire, September 1967.

THEY REPRESENT YOU! Current list of students serving on University Committees as of February 29, ‘68

(Most of the following positions were achieved through the efforts of the past years Students’ Council)

Appointed By the Federation of Students

University Operations Council

Council on Student Affairs

President’s Advisory Committee on Ancillary Enterprises

Athletic Advisory Board

Council on University Planning and Development

Provost’s Advisory Committee on the Campus Centre

President’s Ad Hoc Committee on Communications

Engineering, Mathematics & Science Library Building Committee

President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline & University Regulations

University of Waterloo Committee on the Study of University Government

Residence Advisory Bldg. Comm. Development subcommittee

Otherwise Appointed

Bus Service Committee

Minota Hagey Mem. Residence Bldg. Committee

Arts Library Committee

Eng. Library Committee

- President (ex officio)

- 7 students (to be named)

- Peter Birrell - Geoffrey Moir - Tom Patterson

- Pres. or delegate (ex officio) - 3 other student appointees

- Bill Roy - Jeff Pearson

- President and Executive Board of the Federation of Students.

- Martha Brook - Frank Bialystok - Geoffrey Moir -David R, Young

- John Bergsma - Dave Busch - 1 graduate

- Bill Kirton - Bob Cavanagh - President and Chief Justice

(ex officio)

- Steve Flott - Steve Ireland - Brian Iler

- Steve Ireland - Heidi Lukas - Bill Snodgrass - Richard Stuart

- Tom Patterson

- Barbara Logan, - Pamela Tallon

- Vedah Hamon, Brad Munro, Ron Trbovitch

- John Bergsma - Jim Belfry - Chris Bruckschwaiger - 1 graduate student

THIS WAS YO COUNCIL

{Names in parentheses held the positions but unfortunately resigned during year)

President

Vice-President

Treasurer

Chairman, Creative Arts Board

Chairman, Board of External Relations

Chairman, Board of Publications

Chairman, Board of Student Activities

Executive Members

Speaker

Secretary

ARTS

Bill Bryce

Tom Patterson

Martha Brook

Dave Witty

Stewart Saxe

(Frank Bialystok)

Roman Winnicki

ENGINEERING

Gary Wedlake

Brian Iler

Jack McCollum

Joe Giver-is

Bob Cavanagh

(Kelly Wilson)

Bruce Bodden

Bill Snodgrass

RENISON

Chalmers Adams

ST. JEROME’S

ung) (Mike Sheppard)

Steve Ireland

Bob Cavanagh

Ross McKenzie

Dave Blaney (Paul Olinski)

Stewart Saxe

John Shiry

Brian Iler (John Willms)

Tom Patterson

Peter Warrian

Jim Lindsey

Pete Yates (Paul Gerster)

GRADUATE

C. Peter Benedict

William Goddard

Richard Kinler (P. Fried)

SCIENCE

Peter McWha

Ron Rumm

Wayne Watts

Greg Miller (J. Willms)

Jim Robinson (T. Taylor)

INGS Bookings, long a sore spot for the

Federation of Students, should no longer be a problem. As a result of a number of innovations, the Board of Student Activities, which is respon- sible for most of the major social events on campus, is confident that the mixups in concerts and entertain- ment over the past few years will sel- dom occur again.

The Federation of Students has hired a professional agent, Joe Rec- chia, with the title of Entertainment Co-ordinator. He will handle all book- ings for the B.S.A., and instead of re-

ceiving commission, will receive a fixed monthly salary.

In the past, B.S.A* events chairman -Orientation, Homecoming, Winter-

land, Grad Ball and Summer Week- end-have each done their own book-

ing. They were, for the most part,

CONFUSION OVER inexperienced in the complex field of entertainment booking, and often had started booking much too late. No one person co-ordinated all of the bookings, and the same mistakes were made over and over.

With the new set up, the event chairman, who is now appointed al- most a year in advance, consults with the Entertainment Co-ordinator, who has extensive knowledge in the field, makes all the arrangements, from pre- liminary negotiations to ingsing the contracts, to arrangin gfor the facil- ities, and many of the little details.

Since he is on salary and not com- mission, the Co-ordinator will do his best to obtain the best price possible. Since it is always cheaper to sign an artist if he is performing nearby, the Co-ordinator will also contact other universities to arrange additional per- formances.

For the first time, a comprehensive file on entertainment is being set up and maintained? by the Co-ordinator, in the Creative Arts Board Office, for

the use of any student group.

And, the services of the Entertain-

ment Co-ordinator are available to any group recognized by the Board of Stu- dent L4ctivities, to book band sfor

dances, or just to give advice. Mr. Recchia can be contacted through the Chairman of the Board of Student

Activities.

The Entertainment Co-ordinator is

responsible to the Board of Student Activities through a Booking Commit- tee, chaired by the Chairman of B.S.A.

with membership comprised of the Board Treasurer, Mr. Paul Berg, Dir- ector of the Creative Arts Board and the B.S.A. events chairmen.

Athletics: A Good CornpromIse Last summer the Federation Coun-

cil adopted some strong policies on Athletics, criticizing the existing pro-

gram, and pressing for changes in both the activities offered and the ad- ministrative structure.

To recapitulate: Council criticized the heavy emphasis on the costly and time-consuming inter-collegiate pro- gram, recommending a much greater emphasis on intra-mural and recrea- tional programs, broader student re- presentation on the Athletic 14dvisory Board, and transferral of the Board from the School of Physical and Health Education to the Federation of Students.

It appeared, as reflected by the strong wording of the Council resolu- tions, and by the Chevron headline? “Sports Fight Looming”, that a major pressure move was in the offing. Such action has never materialized, for a number of reasons.

In the program area, we have seen a great improvement. The intra-mural program has been stepped up to meet

TH

demands, and there have been very notable efforts to improve communi- cations. The new building will hope- fully be in use for next year, and the Athletic Department assures us that more time for casual recreation will then be available. It seems then, that further action should be lelayed until the new situation can be observed in operation.

The Council continues to believe that Athletics should be student con- trolled, but there have been improve- ments in this area as well. Besides the President of the Federation, and the Chairman of the Men’s and Women’s Intramural Councils, who are students, there will now be three Council ap- pointmented student members of the Athletic Advisory Board.

The budget must be approved by the Ancillary Enterpriess Committee, which includes three students. And the A.A.B. has constituted committees with student members to administer inter-collegiate sports and recreation programs.

Whie thle Department of Athletics is still part of the School of Physical Education, the School’s Director, Mr. Pugliese, has stated that this structure is for purposes of development, and that a Board that reports to the stu- dents might well be constitued in an- oher five years. Council is not entirely satisfied with this arrangement9 but it is a good step in the right direction.

Council has decided that accept- ance of this compromise for the pre- sent is the best policy. Were the Ath- letics Department to become part of the Federation of Students, students would be working closely with Ath- letics personnel, and it would be unwise to unduly strain relations without ex- tremely pressing cause.

Furthermore, there is a question of priorities. The Federation is reluctant to become embroiled in any disputes which may prove both detrimental to its more important programs, and un- justifiably disruptive of the atmos- phere of trust and co-operation which must be encouraged in the university.

Student as nigger ?Well, we do have some legal rights.

Council backed four legal actions this year-three dealing with land- lords and one common assault case. While only two of these ended in court, all four were successful.

In June the Executive took action in backing some 40 students presented with eviction notices by the landlord of Waterloo Towers Apartments. By a succession of meetings and corres- pondence and in the face of lock-out situations, the students? the executive and lawyer Rich Hobson successfully won concessions from the landlord such that the tenants could remain un- til the end of the summer term and have all damage deposits returned.

The case received considerable pub- licity in the Chevron and from the local radio stations. The K-W Record maintained its usual policy of ignor- ing any story on town and gown re-

lations which puts students in anything but a bad light-

The Federation also backed a sec- ond-year Arts student in an assault case which saw the owner of Simons- Eastern convicted on December 12. Interestingly enough, the crown at- torney’s office saw fit not to lay a charge and action had to be taken by the aggrieved party. Counsel Bob Morris successfully prosecuted on be- half of the student.

The other two cases involved land- lords and the withholding of rent and damage deposits. Both were suc- cessfully fought, one receiving public- ity in the Chevron.

According to Steve Ireland, Feder- ation president, legal assistance is not available just for the asking. “We just can’t afford it and it is too time-con- suming for the Executive. The cases we’ve backed have been, in our view, of benefit to th.e Federation as a

whole. They have shown local land- lords and the courts that students are not going to be second-class citizens and accept unfair treatment.”

Investigation during the summer the Ontario Civil Liberties Commis- sion proved that the courts are stacked against tenants. Students can be dis-

criminated against as student, since the law does not recognize social classes as it does race and religion, which cannot afEect renting proced- ures.

The Students Administrative Coun- cil of the University of Toronto has a legal services program but the advice is provided by law students, therefore involving a minimal budget. Until a faculty of law is cteated here, or the office of Student Affairs can tee its way clear to establishing a legal coun- selling service, students will generally be on their own in solving their legal problems.

Limited Funds Why Cough Up 5 Bucks? Beginning next fall, you’ll be pay- compulsory fee, or voluntary dona-

ing more at registration-five dollars tions. Both had drawbacks. The com- per term-but it’s not another fee pulsory fee method has been used at

hike! In fact it’s not compulsory. It’s other universities, but Council hesi- your contribution to the University’s tated to impose it, or even to call a

Tenth Anniversary Fund, and you can referendum, There are students who get a refund, if you don’t wish to con- really can’t afford a higher fee, and tribute, by applying within three it would be unfortuate to innflict the weeks of registration at the Federation wishes of others-even a majority- offices in the Campus Centre. upon them.

The Tenth Anniversary Fund ob- Voluntary donations -wouldn’t be

jective is $5,500,000-the University’s feasible either, said Council. A canvas share of a $65 million building pro- of students would be time-consuming,

gram. It will provide (and has pro- would have to be done yearly, and vided, since some of the buildings in owuld create mountains of paper-work

for the University the program are already finished) more and better facilities, resulting in a better education.

The five dollar per student per term contribution-which will be col- lected until $500,000 is raised-was Students’ Council’s unique solution to a difficult problem. Members were near unanimous in their support for some form of donation-they felt that students, as members of the University community, do have a definite respon- sibility to the University, along with the other members-faculty and staff -and society at large.

The problem was how. Council originally saw two alternatives-a

Finally, at Council’s January 22 meeting, Engineering reps Bodden and Cavanagh hit upon the ideal solution -a fee collected at registration from all students, but refundable, if de- sired. Councillors agreed, and voted to petition the University Board of Governors to collect the five dollars per term.

To date, the student commitment has been the largest single donation to the Fund. It has served as a pace-set- ter for other donations. And, most important, it has shown that students have faith and pride in their Univer- sity.

The Discipline Problem The regulation of student conduct

and the rights of universities to pun- ish student offenders is becoming a contentious issue on campuses across Canada.

Such cases as the attempt of the administration of McGill University to censure the student press for re- printing an allegedly obscene article from “The Realist” and the Kirk mari- juana case at Western has brought the issue into full focus and the need for universities to codify their disci- plinary procedures has become acute.

At the University of Waterloo, the Presidents Advisory Committee on Student Discipline and University Reg- ulations (PACSDUR) has been form- ed to sudy the problem and establish formal disciplinary procedures assur- ing protectiion for both the University and the student. This committee, chaired by the Provost, Prof. W. G. Scott, composed of five faculty mem- bers, four students and five adminis- traors, has been meeting on a regular basis since December.

The committee is studying a very comprehensive report on Student Dis- cipline prepared by Mr. D. R. Young in the summer of 1966 for the Pro- vost. This rep<;r details a highly structured judicl 1 system modelled upon that of the criminal courts. Fol- lowing this model but simplifying the structure wherever possible, without jeopardizing the rights of the student, the committee is now detailing a work- able structure.

One of the main points of discussion is the role of the Provost. Should he sit in judgement or should he be some- one a student in trouble may come to for advice? Most committee members would have him take the role of the student’s advocate, however, it is ex- tremely difficult to find a more suitable person to oversee the disciplinary

function A compromise will have to be found.

Another area of contention is whether to have justice served by hearings before a single disciplinary officer or a group of jurors’ such as the Judicial Committee of the Feder- ation of Students. Expediency rules for the former but he latter seems more just. It is likely that both systems will be utilized with the student offend- ers choosing the method he prefers.

One more problem that the commit- tee has to face is where University discipline leaves off and the jurisdict- ion of the criminal courts begins. In many cases an offense may be dealt with in either court. Very serious cases will be sent to the criminal courts while minor cases will be dealt with by the university. Each case will have to be dealt with on its own merit.

Unfortunately it is the right of the University to proceed with its own disciplinary action even though a case is being tried in the civil courts. It is hoped that the committee will set strict regulations on the use of this right and will protect the student from possible disciplinary action from two sources.

An interesting discovery during the study was that charges laid during university procedures had been word- ed differently than the equivalent charge in the criminal code to avoid violating the jurisdiction of the civil courts. Thus “theft” must become something like “Unauthorized Use and Detention of University Property.” A series of such charges will have to be worded to cover conceivable areas of University discipline.”

It is hoped that PACSDUR will complete its work within the next few months and a. smoothly operating dis- ciplinary system will be in existence next September.

Priorities Students and faculty have in recent years been becom-

ing ever more aware of their positions as members of soc- iety. Student governments have been taking stands on issues all the way from capital punishment to draft resistance, and students are being urged by many of their peers and by many faculty to stop ignoring the world off campus, to start becoming aware and active.

At the same time a number of students are taking con- siderable interest in the operation of thier universities and the content and methods of education, for years the exten- sive field of teachers and administrators.

Students’ Councils in Canada are rapidly becoming much more than “toy governments” for building policies and Big Men On Campus to play with. Thus has required a lot of consideration about just where it is all going, and of how student government can fulfil1 its functions most effectively.

One of the most imperative requirements is a good overview of the total institution, a sense of direction, and an ability to put things in perspective.

First of all comes an awareness of problems to be solv- ed: on campus, the viabiity of the student government it- self, the improvement of our education, the creation of an open society in the university, cost of education, student aid; off campus: social injustice, poverty, racial inequality, war. But we can’t neglect the other activities; weekends, plays, concerts, athletics, club activities, and so on, are all essential parts of a complete community.

Then there must be a consideration of which problems are most important, and which can be dealt with by a stu- dents’ council.

Council would be foolish and negligent to spend a lot of time on the parking problem when the quality of our education is in question. On the other hand, a long debate on the Viet Nam war with a resulting policy would be of questionable value. This is not to say that students should not be deeply concerned with such problems, and in fact, they have an obligation as citizens to act when they can. But Council must evaluate when such action will have act- ual value, or when it will be merely an empty academic exercise, consuming time and energy that might be spent really accomplishing something.

There is a revolution going on in our society, the result of technelogy and mass media, and it is apparent that Council can meet it most effectively by working for better education. Education, today more that at any past time, is the key to making people able to cope successfully with their world.

Responsibility is another question to consider, because there are so many kinds of responsibility.

One type that we hear a great deal about implies con- forming to rules and structures laid down by someone else. To use this criterion as a basis for responsibility would be most irresponsible to one’s self, and in the case of Council, to its constituents.

A Council member must consider any matter in the light of his own conscience and intellect, and also in light of the opinions of the people he represents. Council will often lead student opinion, but it is responsible to the electorate, and must not act in ways which a great many

would find objectionable. I tmust always consider the effect of its actions: to act rashly, or to cause an unwarranted split on campus, serves only to alienate students from their Council, and is detrimental to ultimate success, even when the action is in itself consistent with the basic goals and principles.

In light of the crucial necessity that our education be the very best possible, the priority programs of the 1967-68 Council have been studies of educational methods and the university environment. The chief of these was the Quality of Education program, which had the dual function of col- lecting information and views for the preparation of a re- port, and stimulating a questioning attitude by everyone in the university and a desire to actively take part in bring- ing improvements.

Another was the Study Committee on University Gov- ernment, a university committee including three student members representing the Federation. It was their concern that the study be genuinely very penetrating, getting down to fundamental issues, and developing a truly new and bet- ter structure for the university.

Meanwhile, there has been a considerable amount of publicity and pressure on faculty and administration aimed at achieving student participation as members in all aspects of university decision-making.

In order to maximize the ability of Council to work ef- ectively as a group, with a clear sense of direction’ the Council held the first retreat immediately after taking of- fice. The retreat provides an opportunity for Councillors to spend a day or so together, in an informal setting, away from the University where they can get to know each other and talk about general concerns, free of the stifling formal- ity of the Council meeting and the weight of minor and administrative problems.

A second retreat was held in the fall term as a means of standing back from the whole situation, and regenerat- ing the sense of perspective.

To stimulate interest and disseminate information, there have been steps initiated to improve communication, such as this newsletter. And the instrument of student govern- ment has been raised to a new level of effectiveness, through incorporation, a new set of by-laws, a complete review of all policies that have ever been adopted by Council, and a number of refinements in administrative procedures. This has been enormously time-consuming, but will be to the benefit of future Councils.

To many this has seemed a quiet year; there have been no colourful draft-dodger type issues. It was felt that this type of issue would only divide the campus, accomplish little in itself, and distract attention from more important matters.

In fact, a great deal has happened this year, and there are exciting prospects for the future. This campus is start- ing to come alive, and its Federation of Students is respect- ed as one of the most effective student governments in Canada.

1967-68 has seen the near completion of the building of a structure of student government, along with many beginnings in putting that instrument to work in the quiet revolution taking shape in our University.

Published by the Federation of Students, University of Waterloo from time to time. Included as a Special section of the Chevron for off campus mailing.

President of the Federation: Stephen W. Ireland

Production staff: Saxe & Ireland

Writers: Calvert, Cavanagh, Iler, Ireland, McKenzie, Patterson