This year’s CSU seems to have everything under control.
The fall orientation featured a number of diverse activities that benefited both new and returning students. Coffee and reusable coffee mugs were provided on a daily basis during a two-week period, the open air pub was largely successful providing food for meat eaters and vegetarians alike, as well as wide assortment of alcoholic beverages. According to what we’ve heard, complaints were few and far between and this year’s orientation (especially in comparison to last year) was a hit.
Despite rain, the Clubs Fair was well organized and saw a large turnout. So far the CSU has provided Concordia with buzz-worthy lectures such as Anne Frank’s stepsister, Eva Schloss and Noam Chomsky. Furthermore, the CSU has a number of projects they’ve been helping students to facilitate, such as combating the P6-bylaw, tar sands and divestment and most recently they approved the addition of a fee-levy referendum question on the byelection ballot for the Community Food Coalition, assisting them in their goal to provide Concordia with more sustainable food options.
If the start of their mandate is any indication, this year’s executive will be one of the best.
Communication on social media about events has been regular and informative, although there is still much to be desired from their website.
The CSU initiative, the 101s, had to cancel some of their programs because of lack of interest, but it was well advertised and there was definitely more of a push for participants than in previous years.
Although the bi-weekly Wednesday council meetings have been running rather long, a lot seems to be getting accomplished. Furthermore, the council should be commended for insisting on taking the former executive to task over their extravagant spending.
Finally, if we compare the number of resignations and ineligibilities that plagued last year’s CSU, this year is doing well. So far the chairperson has stepped down and Scott Carr, VP finance, was briefly ineligible due to a university administrative error, but otherwise the entire executive and council has remained the same.
It’s a little bit sad that we should be so surprised by a council that functions efficiently, but we should by no means feel as though this is a gift. The CSU is finally doing its duty and excelling at it, but this should be the norm, this is what the Concordia undergraduate student body should expect and receive from the people it elects and pays. Hopefully this year’s executive will continue to earn the student body’s approval and not fall short of the expectations it has set by getting off to such a good start.
