REGINA, Sask. — As students prepare to return to the University of Regina for a new school year, the University of Regina Students' Association (URSA) is working to establish itself as the new voice for students following the turmoil surrounding the university’s previous student union.
URSA president Ethan Wiechert said rebuilding trust with students will be one of the association’s biggest priorities as it begins its first full academic year.
“I think it's going to be a little bit of an adjustment just in terms of rebuilding that trust with all the students,” Wiechert said.
That trust was broken after the former student union on campus, the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU), was found to have mismanaged student fees, which were intended to fund events, initiatives and student staff.
URSU eventually dissolved, although the vote to break up the union came with ethical concerns.
URSU had also found itself in legal action with its former president, Haris Khan, with a judge ordering the student union to pay $87,000 in damages.
Even with the turmoil of URSU, Wiechert said it’s apparent students still want a voice on campus.
“The students wanted representation on campus. I think it's very important that students have that representation.”
URSA was officially announced last November, with the student union winning an independently held referendum for student governance in December.
All five current members were then elected in March through a campus voting process.
URSA is being guided by various pillars, explained Wiechert.
“Transparency, being student-led and ensuring students have a meaningful opportunity to participate in decisions.”
Transparency is a key focus for URSA, with plans to hold an annual general meeting and submit monthly financial reports to a student committee.
“We have a very interesting and unique governance structure where students are direct participants in what we’re doing through ratified clubs, elected positions and faculties. Every month, the elected team, including the executives, has to present reports to this larger group,” said Wiechert.
He added, “everything that we have purchased, we have written a report on why we've purchased this, what exactly it facilitated, and why we needed that?”
Wiechert also opened the door to students to access their reports and challenge URSA on any apparent issues.
“If we provide a report and it doesn't make sense to you, question it, and that is something that I really want students to carry throughout their entire time at university and through their lives.”
URSA is also planning to keep staffing to a minimum to put more funds toward campus events.
“We are working on minimizing the amount of staff that we need while maximizing the resources and programs that we're able to do.”
To ensure a fair and smooth transition in leadership, URSA will hold elections each winter semester, with outgoing leaders helping newly elected members transition into their roles, which will begin in the summer.
“We have a full policy on the election to ensure it’s fair and are working with the university to facilitate the elections platform.”
Looking long-term, URSA is hoping to introduce a food program on campus for all students as people across the country continue to struggle to purchase food.
“Food insecurity in general is a really big issue that we’re facing, not only at the University of Regina, but throughout Canada. Realistically, it’s probably going to take a bit of a hybrid approach, where we provide free food to all students while also focusing on those who are most vulnerable,” said Wiechert.
In the coming years, Wiechert said shelter is another component the students' union will look at.
