UNBC's Northern Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS) will hold a referendum to increase student fees to help deal with its ongoing financial issues.
On March 20 and 21, current students will vote for or against increasing the fees by $6.50 to $42.19 per semester. The increase will be used to cover the cost of the projected losses incurred by the on-campus Thirsty Moose Pub. The additional revenue would ensure the society continues to operate the pub in its present location and avoid seeking lease options elsewhere for the fall or possible closure of the establishment.
It got a fairly positive reception in the room but it's hard to tell how people will actually vote but in terms of having that question brought forward, there was no outright opposition to the idea of having a referendum," said NUGSS president Arctica Cunningham.
In another effort to save money, NUGSS voted Wednesday to reduce the size of the board from 11 members to eight to save $8,500 per year.
"Students are in favour of the change that we brought forward and clearly people are in agreement that's a positive direction for us," said Cunningham.
Nominations open today for the NUGSS board and close March 9.
Campaigning starts March 10 and speeches by candidates, along with an information session about the referendum will be held March 17.
Campaigning ends March 19. The election and referendum will be held March 20 and 21 and successful candidates take office on April 1.
In October, NUGSS announced it was not in a stable financial position and the society has been making changes to correct that situation, said Cunningham.
What wasn't on the agenda was a motion that came from the floor offered up by two students who wanted to create an oversight board consisting of five members who would scrutinize the work of the paid directors and provide input around what the jobs the directors were doing.
"So it wouldn't be a governance body, rather it would be a reflective body on the work being done," said Cunningham.
The motion did not pass with the necessary 75 per cent support as required by the NUGSS bylaws and will be revisited at the next annual general meeting.
