U of R evicts students' union from campus spaces

Yahoo

3 days ago

The University of Regina has evicted the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) from campus.
"As a result of the University's loss of confidence in URSU's ability to serve and represent students, additional steps have been taken heading into fall," U of R president Jeff Keshen said in a statement posted Friday afternoon on Facebook.
"Effective immediately, the university has terminated its main lease agreements with URSU, meaning URSU leadership is required to vacate the office and commercial space it occupies on campus."
URSU occupied office space on the second floor of the Riddell Centre. It was also responsible for running the multi-purpose room and the Lazy Owl bar and restaurant.
Keshen said The Lazy Owl will remain closed until further notice and bookings for the multi-purpose room will now be handled by the university's hospitality services team.
On Friday, URSU members arrived at their office to see an eviction notice and changed locks. URSU general manager Aoun E. Muhammad said the university's decision will have a big ripple effect.
"In the end, our students will be unemployed. We will be closing down [the] union as well. But eventually, students are getting affected," Muhammad said in an interview.
"I am afraid that students will not have representation on campuses at all, no one will be elected. If they start something, it will be appointed or hired. And hired by who? I don't know, most probably by the people who are doing this right now."
The lawyer representing the students' union said it has not official comment at this time.
Keshan said current tenants — including Extreme Pita, Gong Cha, Campus Dentist, the Carillon, the Women's Centre, UR Pride, the Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG), Engineers Without Borders and the World University Service of Canada — will continue business as usual.
Michelle Hood, outreach and events co-ordinator with the RPIRG, said her group doesn't work directly with URSU beyond receiving funds.
"We've been able to manage because we've been saving," she said.
Hood said she would like to see some sort of student representation in administration.
"Our main concern is student voices. This is a student campus. We are the main part of this place. There needs to be representation," Hood said.
Hood worries that without an elected students' union, decisions like U-Pass fees could be made without student oversight.
"If they took over U-Pass, they could raise it without any concern," she said.
Saga continues
The U of R cut off student levies to URSU back in January, saying it had spent the previous year trying to work with the students' union's board and management to address its financial troubles, but was unable to do so.
URSU's financial report found that during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, it had posted revenue of $8.9 million and expenses of $10.2 million, leaving the organization in a deficit position of approximately $1.3 million.
On April 2, Keshen said the university had "lost confidence" in URSU serving and representing students, and was terminating its fee agreement with the union starting Aug. 31.
In response, URSU launched a lawsuit against the university. URSU was hoping to get the university to release fees collected from students and stick with the existing fee agreement.
That effort stalled last week, when a Court of King's Bench judge in Regina dismissed the student union's request.
U of R says essential student services will carry on
The U of R confirmed it will not release fall semester funding to URSU, but said it has measures in place to keep core student services, like health and dental coverage and the U-Pass transit program, active.
"The University will also ensure the flow of funds to student groups and associations that rely on student fees for their ongoing operations," Keshen said in a statement.
URSU historically allocated funds to numerous student groups and associations. The university said it will make sure organizations that depend on student fees "for their ongoing operations" continue to receive them.
"The university remains committed to collaborating with student leaders who uphold good governance and strong financial practices in the best interests of students," Keshen said. "We encourage students to step up, get involved, and help build an effective, accountable student representative body."