I know there are a few students that have talked to me on campus that are planning to attend this Sunday’s SRA meeting, the first chance to get some answers from the MSU Executive. I just got an email an hour ago from the Speaker informing me that the meeting has been moved to Friday at 5:15pm. No explanation was given for this sudden change. The only reason I was informed is because I am on the agenda for three presentations. Luckily, I have been able to juggle my day at the last minute to get to the meeting.
I am writting this for two reasons:
1) Inform students that I cannot reach of this sudden change, especially since the MSU website still has the original meeting time listed and has not been updated: http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/sra/.
2) Encourage students to come out to the SRA meeting especially to ask questions and give input. Students do not have speaking rights at the SRA unless a member gives you their speaking rights for your question/comment. This has never been a problem in finding a SRA member to do so, hence you will be able to speak.
The Agenda is as follows:

AGENDA – SRA 06D
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
Friday June 9, 2006, 5:15 p.m.
Council Chambers, Gilmour Hall, Room 111
PROCEDURE
Call to Order, Call of the Roll, Adoption of Agenda, Adoption of Minutes 06C, Delegations from the Floor, Information Period, Question Period, Business Arising from the Minutes, Business, Unfinished Business, New Business, Time of Next Meeting, Adjournment, Call of the Roll
DELEGATION FROM THE FLOOR
HSR Bus Service & GTTA – Joey Coleman
Federal Budget Briefing – Joey Coleman
Tuition File: Action Plan, The Fairness for McMaster Students Act – Joey Coleman
BUSINESS
1. Recess for a Meeting of Full Members of MSU Inc. Popham
2. Recess for a Meeting of Full Members of CFMU Inc. Popham
4. Approval of SRA logo Moran
5. Open Nominations for SRA member on Silhouette Board of Publication Dowell
6. Ad-Hoc Committee on Board of Directors Job Performance Dowell

This is your chance to prove to get engaged and hear the plan that Mr. Popham must have for the tuition situation since he says it is not too late. He says there is still time to make a difference. I know that I cannot figure out how to make this difference considering that the Board of Governors as already approved the tuition hikes by a large vote of the Board in favour. The only way (that I have found) is for the Provinicial Cabinet to issue an Order-in-Council. I am looking forward to his plan and to see what he has found, it should be good.
Hope to see people there. I will put my presentations online following the meeting for people to discuss.
- Joey Coleman
COMMENTS HERE: http://community.livejournal.com/mcmaster/288949.html

I did some investigating of John Pophams claim that students did not come out to some protest the MSU organized and hence students must have been in favour of the tuition hikes. So he went to lunch (yes he really went to lunch) instead of attending the Board of Governors Meeting. I posted to LiveJournal:

I have done some research into this protest that the MSU organized, that students were not out at, and therefore John Popham went to lunch instead of attending the Board of Governors meeting when tuition was hiked (Attending the Board of Governors Meetings is 5% of the MSU President Job Description.)
He could have been there to ask questions to make sure the money was going into classes etc. The VP Education should have been there as well.
I tried to find the advertisement or something on the MSU website.
All I could find was a story they wrote about it after the fact:

http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/index.php?story=5

This what was on the MSU site prior to this rally:

http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/index.php?story=4

Here are all the MSU listservs for the time period prior to this protest:

http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/listserv/archives/mar_15_06.php

http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/listserv/archives/mar_22_06.php

http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/listserv/archives/mar_29_06.php

Look at the Official MSU Calendar and you will notice that it is not even there:

http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/events/events.php?cmd=view&date=2006-03-31

You would think that if the MSU is doing something and they want people out, they would advertise it somehow. Maybe the MSU listserv?
Students were not at the rally because the MSU never bothered to tell us!
The timing of the rally, on March 31st in Toronto. A school day, right before the test ban, a week before the end of classes when Professors and T.A.’s are starting exam review. Seems like really bad timing to me to begin with. Add to that the typical MSU not communicating with students problem and you have a recipe for no turn out.
Here are two pictures from the MSU “rally”. The first is from the MSU webpage. The second was given to me today.


Yes, students were not at the rally but it was not cause we did not care. It was because the MSU did not care to tell us.

COMMENTS HERE: http://community.livejournal.com/mcmaster/288332.html

I have been busy informing on the McMaster LiveJournal Community about what is happening in the MSU.
Last Friday, I posted the following:
This is from the Silhouette today {Friday} (The Sil did not do any stories on tuition or the fact that Popham and crew did not show up to the Board of Governors Meeting where tuition was hiked)

It’s Your Money
- John Popham, MSU President
In March, the Provincial government announced that they would be lifting the freeze on tuition and allowing for limited increases across the province. At this point in time, the Students Union joined in response with the Ontario Undergraduate Student alliance, lobbying schools around Ontario to protest against the increases at Queen’s Park in Toronto. The MSU advertised, and promoted the rally to the student body. The turn out was limited to about 15 students from McMaster, and about a dozen students from other post secondary institutions. This disappointing turnout could have been partially due to its proximity to the exam period, but we have recieved little feedback on the issue.
In May, McMaster’s Board of Governors made an annoucement that they would be taking advantage of the limited tuition increase, by raising tuition across all faculties a total of 4.7 percent, just shy of the maximum allowable increase of 5 per cent. (At McMaster it was not mathematically possible to raise tuition to the highest allowable limit.)
Between the time of the Provincial Government’s announcement, and the University’s annoucement, there were very few students who approached the MSU with concerns. As students ourselves, we felt the initial announcement was unacceptable and that we would not stand for any rise in tuition costs. This prompted us to take action and hence why we held and attended the rally, but, after the poor turnout and the lack or response from students, we have been encouraged to take a step and back re-examine our stance on tuition increases. Perhaps, the majority of the student body is in favour of the tuition hikes, and understands the need for an increase to their yearly costs, or perhaps, they are in fact very against any increase in education costs. With our email inboxes void of complaints, comments and criticisms, any assumption on the rise in tuition becomes far too dangerous to make. Without the direction of our constituents, it is difficult to lobby one way or another, as we would not want to be misrepresenting those who have elected us.
Therefore, I write this today to seek the input of all students, whether for, or against the rising costs of tuition. It is important to make your point, and give us a chance to work for what our constituents want.
We have been actively seeking your input for the month we have been in office, and we will continue to do so to our fullest ability. There is still time to make a difference, there are still methods of lobbying the Provincial Government for a change and lobbying the University Administration.
There is also time to applaud each of these bodies for the hard work they have done with the tuition issue if it is that work you appreciate.
We welcome your input and look forward to representing your interests.

I will leave the rest of my opinion for comments later. The MSU has a tuition policy that was worked on by numerous students. You cannot get this document from the MSU website but someone gave me a copy. I have uploaded it here: MSU Tuition Policy
There was also the campaign promises of Mr. Popham when he was elected and received 1500 votes. That is a gauge of student opinion when he promised to work to stop any increases as part of his campaign promises.
COMMENTS AT LIVEJOURNAL: http://community.livejournal.com/mcmaster/286372.html

UPDATE SEPT 22 ’06: You may be looking for Fred’s Campaign website, it is here: http://www.fredformayor.ca/. I believe that Mr. Eisenberger is the best choice for Mayor.
You can read my original post below:
From Today’s Spectator:

Hamilton may end up with a real mayor’s race after all.
Fred Eisenberger is seriously pondering taking on Mayor Larry Di Ianni in this fall’s municipal election.
The former chair of the port authority and previous mayoral candidate says it’s no secret he’s interested in the job.
“It’s something I want to do, and I have aspired to do,” Eisenberger said.
“I’m passionate about public policy and I’m passionate about the direction of the city.”
And, as the November election draws closer, Eisenberger says more and more people are asking him about running.
…
Eisenberger, running on a shoestring budget of about $80,000, placed third behind winner Bob Wade and runner-up Bob Morrow in the hotly contested 2000 mayoral race
…
Prior to running for mayor in 2000, Eisenberger represented Ward 5 in east Hamilton for nine years, during which time he developed a reputation as a sharp and issue-oriented politician, if something of a lone wolf.

I voted for Eisenberger in 2000. He is an amazing man and independent of developers and the other individuals that have run this city into the ground. Eisenberger already has my vote if he runs and my support if I can find time to volunteer!

I like this one (Student Federation University Ottawa) simple and to the point:

Members of the SFUO who have meals with administrators of the University of Ottawa will pay their own meal.

Officially, I am just browsing for fun…. I am not working on anything to improve the MSU cause that is against the Student Code of Conduct to do anything that may make the MSU work for students. We cannot have that, especially since it means that the MSU will no longer by the University’s lapdog.
Also of note, this is my 500th blog entry according to my counter!