Advocacy

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Q&A with Rachel Notley, Disney Trivia at the Den, and BSD
Q&A with Rachel Notley, Disney Trivia at the Den, and BSD 150 150 Gene Baines

Hello UCalgary,

April is finally here, and we have a few more notes on events and programs for this winter term. The big event this week is a Q&A with Opposition Leader Rachel Notley – there are still a few seats left, and you can RSVP below.

Evening Q&A with Rachel Notley: April 5

The SU is hosting Opposition Leader Rachel Notley for an evening Q&A on post-secondary and Calgary issues. Join us Wednesday, April 5 at 5 p.m. in MacEwan Ballroom for this free event. RSVP at this link.

Disney Trivia Night at the Den: April 4

Who is the villain in Sleeping Beauty? Who is Pinocchio’s conscience? Join us for Disney Trivia night at the Den: Tuesday, April 4, from 6 – 8:30 p.m.

SU Living Room: April 5

Take a study break with us! Drop by That Empty Space any time April 5 for complimentary movies, snacks, and fun activities. We’re showing Top Gun Maverick at 10:30 a.m., and Everything Everywhere All at Once at 1:00 p.m.

Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD) in the Den: April 12

Celebrate the last day of classes in the Den: April 12, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. There will be drink specials and special drinks (with alcohol and alcohol-free), free food and snacks, games and prizes, DJs, karaoke, and more.

Get Out the Vote: now until May 29

Alberta’s provincial election is coming up at the end of May. Are you new to voting, or wondering how to vote on campus? Sign up for text and email updates from the SU and you will be entered to win great prizes like $250 at the campus bookstore or $100 to spend at the Den! Sign up here to get out the vote.

Good Food Box order deadline: April 11

The SU Campus Food Bank is your local Good Food Box depot. The next order deadline is April 11. Order a small, medium, or large box of affordable fruits and vegetables by emailing foodbank@ucalgary.ca

Ramadan hampers: now until April 17

From March 13 – April 17, the SU Campus Food Bank is offering a special food hamper for those campus community members who may need a little support to celebrate the occasion this year. Request a Ramadan Hamper through the SU Campus Food Bank by emailing foodbank@ucalgary.ca

Lockers
Make sure you clean out your locker by April 26. If you leave anything behind, you’ll be able to retrieve it at a cost of $10/bag at Bound and Copied. Unclaimed items will be donated to local charities. Please visit the locker page on our website for more information. If you need a locker for the spring or summer semesters, they’re available on your Student Centre now!

Consign your used textbooks

If you need to get rid of some of those textbooks from your locker, consign them and make some money. Bring your used textbooks to Bound and Copied, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Check out Bound and Copied’s website for more information.

Good luck with your final projects and exams – you’ve got this.

 

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt
President, Students’ Union

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Q&A with Rachel Notley, Alberta Student Day of Action, and BSD
Q&A with Rachel Notley, Alberta Student Day of Action, and BSD 150 150 Gene Baines

Hello UCalgary,

We are less than four weeks away from the last day of classes. And there is still a lot going on and a lot to look forward to – including a Student Day of Action, a Q&A with Opposition Leader Rachel Notley, and of course, Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD).

Alberta Student Day of Action: March 27 

Join us in the TFDL Quad on March 27 at noon for the Alberta Student Day of Action. We’re standing up against tuition increases, the cancelled student jobs program, and lack of mental health support on campus. Let’s show politicians that these issues matter. Will you be there? Let us know.

Evening Q&A with Rachel Notley: April 5 

The SU is hosting Opposition Leader Rachel Notley for an evening Q&A on post-secondary and Calgary issues. Join us Wednesday, Apr. 5 at 5 p.m. in MacEwan Ballroom for this free event. RSVP at this link.

Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD) in the Den: April 12 

Celebrate the last day of classes in the Den: April 12, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. There will be drink specials and special drinks (with alcohol and alcohol-free), free food and snacks, games and prizes, DJs, karaoke, and more.

Trivia Night at the Den: The Office 

Who is Big Tuna? What is the name of Angela’s favourite cat? Join us for The Office Trivia night at the Den: Tuesday, Mar. 21, from 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Pet Therapy in That Empty Space 

Join our fluffy friends from P.A.L.S. on Wednesday, Mar. 22 in That Empty Space. (This is the last Pet Therapy of the year, so make sure you come by for a visit!)

The SU Volunteer Tax Clinic 

The tax clinic is open and accepting new clients until April 6. Tax filing services are provided by CRA-trained volunteers for qualifying clients at no charge. Eligibility and booking on our website.

Ramadan hampers 

From March 13 – April 17, the SU Campus Food Bank is offering a special food hamper for those campus community members who may need a little support to celebrate the occasion this year. Request a Ramadan Hamper through the SU Campus Food Bank by emailing foodbank@ucalgary.ca

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt
President, Students’ Union

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Teaching excellence, SU election candidates, and jobs at the SU
Teaching excellence, SU election candidates, and jobs at the SU 150 150 Gene Baines

Hello UCalgary,

I hope you are enjoying a well-deserved rest on your term break. (And if you have a few extra minutes, consider nominating your most deserving prof for an SU Teaching Excellence Award!)

SU Teaching Excellence Awards: nominations are due this Friday

If your professor or TA has helped make this semester great, it might be time to nominate them for an SU Teaching Excellence Award! Show them you appreciate their efforts and help us recognize them by filling out a quick online form. The deadline for nominations is this Friday, Feb. 24, so please make some time this week to let us know who they are, and what makes them so excellent.

SU General Election: get to know your candidates

This is the time of year that you get to select who represents you at the SU. Check out all the candidate platforms to learn about who is running, and watch one or more of the candidate forums next week to see them in action. This year’s General Election ballot will also have a plebiscite question about the mandatory Dinos Athletics fee. You can preview the question here. Voting days to elect SU leaders and participate in the plebiscite will be March 7, 8, and 9 through your my.ucalgary.ca student centre.

The SU is hiring: student staff positions available

We’re hiring! The SU is looking for a variety of part-time positions for the spring/summer and for next fall. Are you looking for real world experience in planning events, administrative or volunteer leadership experience, or social media marketing? See all the opportunities on our website.

The SU Volunteer Tax Clinic opens next week

The tax clinic will open on Monday, Feb. 28. Tax filing services are provided by CRA-trained volunteers for qualifying clients at no charge. Eligibility and booking on our website.

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt, President, Students’ Union

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GENERAL ELECTION 2023: NOTICE OF ELECTION
GENERAL ELECTION 2023: NOTICE OF ELECTION 1920 1080 Gene Baines

Notice is hereby given that an election will be held for the filling of the following offices:

(Parentheses denotes number of positions to appear on the ballot.)

  • President (1)
  • Vice President Academic (1)
  • Vice President External (1)
  • Vice President Operations and Finance (1)
  • Vice President Student Life (1)
  • Faculty Representatives, Arts (2)
  • Faculty Representative, Cumming School of Medicine (2)
  • Faculty Representatives, Haskayne School of Business (2)
  • Faculty Representative, Kinesiology (1)
  • Faculty Representative, Law (1)
  • Faculty Representatives, Schulich School of Engineering (2)
  • Faculty Representatives, Science (3)
  • Faculty Representative, Werklund School of Education (1)
  • Faculty Representative, Social Work (1)
  • Senate Student at Large Representative (2)
  • Board of Governors Student at Large Representative (1)

Online voting will take place on the 7th, 8th, and 9th days of March, 2023 through the myUofC Student Centre. Polling stations will be available at these locations: MacEwan Student Centre, Science Theatres, and TFDL. Voting opens at 9 a.m. on March 7th and closes at 4 p.m. on March 9th, 2023. All University of Calgary undergraduate students registered in the Winter 2023 session are eligible to vote. 

VACANCIES

In accordance with section 48 of the The Union Bylaw, the Chief Returning Officer declares the following positions vacant:

  • Faculty Representatives, Arts (2)
  • Faculty Representative, Nursing (1)
  • Faculty Representatives, Schulich School of Engineering (1)
  • Faculty Representative, Veterinary Medicine (1)

 

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WinterActive, Sex Week, and SU Election details
WinterActive, Sex Week, and SU Election details 150 150 Gene Baines

Hello UCalgary,

February is just around the corner and it’s going be another busy month around the SU – here’s what we have lined up:

WinterActive: physical fitness, games, and prizes

We’ve partnered with Active Living to help you jumpstart your semester. Drop by Mac Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and participate in some easy physical games and activities designed to energize you. Looking for a bigger challenge? Register your team of five for a dodgeball tournament in the Gold Gym on Thursday, Feb. 2. (Participants on both days will be entered to win lots of prizes, including a Nintendo Switch!)

SU General Election: important dates

Nomination Days are from Feb. 6 – 8. If you have decided you’re going to run for a position, download the nomination package here, and make sure to drop it off in person at Council Chambers 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Voting days will be March 7, 8, and 9 through your my.ucalgary.ca student centre.

Sex Week (Feb. 13 – 17)

Join us in the Mac Hall North Courtyard on Monday for a resource fair/carnival, and all week long for trivia, speakers, and other events throughout Mac Hall. Check out the full week of events here.

Sex Week Speaker Event: a Conversation with Martin Boyce

Join us on Thursday, Feb. 16 for a conversation with Martin Boyce, LGBTQ2SIA+ activist and participant in the Stonewall riots. This event is presented by SU Q Centre, RBC, and your SU. RSVP at this link.

Fines for Food (Feb. 13 – 19)

We are excited to continue our partnership with UCalgary’s Parking and Transportation Services – it’s called Fines-for-Food. Have you got outstanding parking fines? Pay them between Feb. 13 – 17, and half of the revenue will be donated to the SU Campus Food Bank!

All tickets paid during this period will be included in the program, regardless of when they were originally issued. Not sure how to pay your tickets? Visit parking.ucalgary.ca.

SU Survey

Got a few minutes to fill out a survey? You could win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards just for letting us know what you think of the SU’s programs, services, and advocacy. The survey is open until Feb. 13. Take the survey now.

Students for Literacy Book Sale

Browse through a tonne of books for just $2 – $3 from February 6 – 10 in the North Courtyard, Mac Hall. All proceeds will go directly towards supporting literacy in our community.

Trivia Night is back at the Den

Join us for a Valentine-themed trivia night at the Den: Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Last (but not least) – do you have an exceptional prof or a TA this semester? Show them you appreciate their efforts and nominate them for a Teaching Excellence Award! The deadline for all TEA nominations is February 24.

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt,
President, Students’ Union

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SU Survey, Run in the Election, and Trivia Night at the Den
SU Survey, Run in the Election, and Trivia Night at the Den 150 150 Gene Baines

Happy New Year, UCalgary!

In case we haven’t met yet, I’m Nicole Schmidt – your Students’ Union President. I have a few updates for you as you ease back into classes as well as updates on events for the winter semester.

Take the SU Survey: Open now until Feb. 13

Take the annual SU Survey now and enter to win one of ten $100 Amazon.ca gift cards. It’s your chance to voice your thoughts on the SU and your student experience – we want to make them even better, but we can’t do it without your help. It only takes 10 minutes: take the survey now.

SEED Conference: RSVP by Jan. 13

Explore what leadership means to you, and discover resources that you can use to support yourself and your peers right here on campus. The SEED Conference will be held in MacEwan Conference and Event Centre on Friday, Jan. 27 beginning at 10 a.m. Sessions will include Mental Health and Wellbeing, Conflict Management, and other leadership topics, with an insightful keynote talk from our VP Academic, Shaziah Jinnah Morsette.

RSVP by Jan. 13: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/students-union-seed-conference-tickets-473425015967

Trivia Nights at the Den!

Who is the manager of Central Perk? Who gets meat sweats? Join us for F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Trivia night at the Den: Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Run in the SU General Election 

Have you ever thought about taking on a leadership role at the SU? The SU General Election is coming soon. Official nomination packages will be available at the end of the month – but in the meantime, we’re regularly updating our election webpages with important information and deadlines.

Want the details about what it’s like to campaign? Need insight into the life of an SLC member? Attend one of our Pre-Election Workshops (Jan. 24 online, and Jan. 25 in person).

SU Clubs Week: Jan. 16 – 20

Clubs Week is back! Stop by the North and South Courtyards in Mac Hall – there’s bound to be one or more clubs that’s a perfect fit for you. If you are a club leader and want some help getting the word out about your events, we are happy to help. Make sure to connect with @SUUofCClubs on Instagram.

Wayback Wednesday: movies in That Empty Space Jan. 25

Put a movie break in your calendar this month. Drop by That Empty Space any time Jan.25 for free movies, snacks, and fun activities. We’re showing The Devil Wears Prada at 11 a.m., and School of Rock at 1:30 p.m.

More events in That Empty Space…

The puppies are back! Pet Therapy returns on Jan. 18 at 12 p.m.

Mind and Body in the Space: join us for free guided meditation sessions at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and free yoga classes at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

Last call to join our Election Staff Team! Part time work in February and March.

Join our elections team to help run the SU’s General Election this semester. The deadline has been extended to Tuesday, Jan. 10. Apply on the SU website.

Health and Dental Plan Deadline (Opt-out and Family Add-on): Jan. 27

If you are a new student this semester, you should know that you are automatically enrolled in the SU’s health and dental plan. If you have alternate coverage, you may opt out by Jan. 27.

If January is your enrolment anniversary (you are not a new student but you started at UCalgary in a previous January), then this is also your annual deadline for adding family members. Details and forms are all here at: https://www.mystudentplan.ca/uofcalgary

 

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt,
President, Students’ Union

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Undergraduate Research, Stress Less Events, and World Cup at the Den
Undergraduate Research, Stress Less Events, and World Cup at the Den 150 150 Gene Baines

Hello UCalgary,

I know it’s crunch time right now, but if you need a quick break we’ve got a few events to help you recharge before exams, and a few more updates to look forward to in the new year.

Undergraduate Research Symposium (Nov. 23 – 24 in MacEwan Conference and Event Centre/MacEwan Hall)

The SU’s 17th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium is happening this week. On Wednesday, we are hosting six different research workshops with topics like how to find research opportunities and even presentation techniques. On Thursday, we celebrate the undergraduate research award winners with an all-day drop-in event in MacEwan Hall. Drop by any time beginning at 10:00 a.m. to see short presentations from across all faculties! See the full schedule of presentations on our website.

StressLess Week is next week (Nov. 28 – Dec. 2)

StressLess Week returns to Mac Hall just in time. Drop by the North Courtyard every day for fun activities like aromatherapy, painting, and origami. Or join us in That Empty Space for a free meditation session on Tuesday, and yoga on Thursday. And last, but never least, we’ve got Pet Therapy on both Monday and Friday.

SU Living Room (Dec. 7)

Take a study break with us! Drop by That Empty Space any time Dec. 7 for free movies, snacks, and fun activities. We’re showing Lightyear at 10 a.m., Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings at 12 p.m., and The Incredibles at 2:30 p.m.

Q Centre presents Intro to Dungeons and Dragons (Nov. 30)

Q Centre is hosting an intro to Dungeons and Dragons on Nov. 30 from 4 – 6 p.m. Beginners are welcome – come and learn the basics of character creation and gameplay!

Catch World Cup Games at The Den

The Black Lounge will be showing World Cup games at noon weekdays beginning Nov. 21.

Textbook Consignment

Are you ready to say goodbye to some old textbooks? Consignment will be happening in the North Courtyard from 11AM – 2PM the week of Dec 12-16 BUT consignment can be brought directly to Bound & Copied during regular operating hours; 9:00AM to 5:00PM.

Locker Rentals

It feels like winter is going to stick around – are you tired of lugging a heavy jacket around campus? We’ve got lockers in convenient locations all over campus, and you can rent one through your my.ucalgary.ca student centre.

Are you already thinking about 2023? So are we.

Clubs Week

Clubs Week returns Jan. 16 – 19 in the Mac Hall North and South Courtyards.

SU General Election

Have you ever thought about taking on a leadership role at the SU? Official nomination packages will be available Jan. 23, but in the meantime, we’re regularly updating our election webpages with important information and deadlines. If you have questions about life as an SU elected official or campaigning, we are also hosting pre-election workshops Jan. 24 and 25.

Good luck on your exams! You’re only a few weeks away from a well-deserved break.

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt
President, Students’ Union

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SU Teaching Excellence Awards: Nominations Close this Friday, Oct. 21
SU Teaching Excellence Awards: Nominations Close this Friday, Oct. 21 150 150 Gene Baines

Hello UCalgary,

Thank you so much to all those who voted in the SU By-Election and Referendum last week. I’ve got just a few more quick reminders for this month.

Teaching Excellence Nominations close on Friday, Oct. 21

This is the last week to nominate your prof or TA for an SU Teaching Excellence Award. Has an instructor or TA gone the extra mile this semester to make your class extraordinary? Nominate them for a Teaching Excellence Award. It’s super easy: just complete the short online form.

Fall Food Drive continues until Oct. 31

October is Food Security Awareness Month at the SU, and we are holding our annual Fall Food Drive. You can make a donation in person at the Information Centre in Mac Hall, or a monetary donation on our GoFundMe page. Your support helps us provide healthy food options for campus community members in need.

SU Quality Money proposals are due Nov. 25

Finally, SU Quality Money is a program that funds projects and programming that improve campus life. In the past, we’ve funded brilliant ideas like club scholarships, the SU Pride Scholarship, study space renovations, and free menstrual products in Mac Hall. If you’ve got a big idea, apply for a SU Quality Money grant and make it a reality. The deadline is November 25. Need some inspiration? Check out the hundreds of projects we’ve funded already.

I’ll be back with another email soon, and in the meantime, the best way to stay up to date is to follow the SU on social media, @SUUofC.

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt
President, Students’ Union

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Clubs Week, SU By-Election, and Pet Therapy
Clubs Week, SU By-Election, and Pet Therapy 150 150 Gene Baines

Hello UCalgary,

There’s already a lot happening this fall, and we are only in the third week. Here is a quick round-up of upcoming events and important deadlines:

Clubs Week

Clubs Week is back in Mac Hall! Check out hundreds of different clubs, explore your interests, and make some new friends. You can preview the whole Clubs list here, or just drop by Mac Hall North and South Courtyards all this week.

Pet Therapy

The puppies are back, too. Join us on Wednesday from 12 – 1:30 p.m. in That Empty Space (lower level Mac Hall), and enjoy a visit with our friends from PALS.

SU By-Election

Are you a leader in the campus community? Would you like to be? Consider running in the upcoming SU By-Election. We have eight vacancies (faculty rep positions for Kinesiology, Social Work, Haskayne, and Schulich (2), a Board of Governors Student-at-Large, Vice President Operations and Finance, and Vice President External. Nomination days are coming up Sept. 26 – 28. All the info you need is here on our website.

Health and Dental Referendum (SU By-Election)

You may not have heard yet, but there will be a referendum question on the ballot during the SU By-Election. We’re asking students to make a decision about indexing the SU Health and Dental Plan fees to inflation, to maintain existing benefits and keep the cost of the plan predictable over time. It’s really important that you learn about this issue and vote (on your Student Centre, October 12 – 14!), even if you don’t use the plan yourself. You can read the question and learn more on our website.

Advocacy Survey

We are running an advocacy survey right now to learn how students feel about the return to campus, access to voting, and rising costs. Your responses will guide our efforts on these issues. We have extended the deadline until this Friday, Sept. 23 in order to hear from as many students as possible. Please take a few minutes to fill out the to fill out the 2022 SU Summer Advocacy Survey.

Fall Food Drive and Stack the Mac

October is Food Security Month, and we are holding our annual  Fall Food Drive. There are three easy ways to make a difference on campus. You can make a donation in person, a monetary donation on our GoFundMe page, or join us Oct. 5 in Mac Hall for our Stack the Mac event. (Bring a box of mac and cheese and help us build a tower taller than Rex!)

Are you an undergraduate researcher?

Finally, have you spent some time in the lab and made a unique discovery? Will your critical analysis lead to positive social change? Share your accomplishments at the Undergraduate Research Symposium for the chance to win a scholarship. Abstracts are due Sept. 29 at 4:00 p.m. For more information or to submit an abstract, visit our website.

I’ll be back with another email soon – there is always lots to share. In the meantime, the best way to stay up to date is to follow the SU on social media, @SUUofC.

 

All the best,

Nicole Schmidt,
President, Students’ Union

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The Facts About the Q Centre Pandemic Closure
The Facts About the Q Centre Pandemic Closure 1200 801 Gene Baines

Over the last couple of years, the Q Centre, along with many other SU and campus spaces, have not operated to full capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, the SU was forced to make many difficult administrative and operational decisions about our spaces and services, such as ensuring an essential level of staff and appropriate financial resources were available. Because more than 90% of our annual revenue is generated through on-campus businesses that had to be closed, the SU’s finances were devastated over the last two years, and we had to lay off more than 80% of our staff.

Despite this, the Q Centre was identified as a high priority service, even if we were only able to run it at limited capacity. We recognize that the centre provides vital support for vulnerable LGBTQ2SIA+ students, and this is precisely why we made efforts to provide programming and supports (including peer support) throughout the pandemic. While some have not been happy with this solution, our Q Centre coordinator and volunteers worked hard under difficult circumstances to offer peer support by appointment, information booths, social media content and engagement, and events during the physical closure of the centre.

When most classes returned to in-person learning in March of 2022, the SU made the difficult decision not to re-open its physical student spaces or the SU office. Clubs’ spaces, Volunteer Services, and the Q Centre remained closed. However, we’re happy to announce that the SU has hired Q Centre coordinators who will begin their roles shortly prior to the centre re-opening in the upcoming fall semester. We look forward to welcoming back students to these spaces.

There has been inaccurate information circulated recently about the decision to not re-open the Q Centre for the final weeks of the Winter 2022 semester. The SU would like to take the opportunity to address that here.

Why was the Q Centre not re-opened when most students returned to class in March 2022?

The SU was not able to open several physical student spaces in March and April 2022 including the Q Centre, Clubs’ spaces, and the Volunteer Services office. Opening these spaces required ongoing compliance with health measures from both government and university policies and presented potential health concerns for staff and students. When these policies were lifted, the SU made the decision (like many other university services) to prioritize safety and caution over a rapid, politically motivated re-opening and did not follow suit. We lacked the staffing and resources to ensure a safe re-opening at that time. Hiring and training volunteers was also challenging with the limited amount of time left in the term when students did return to campus. The SU did commit to offering some in-person events in the final weeks of the term while students were on campus. However, we remained unable to re-open the centre fully.

In light of the decision to keep these spaces closed, our Q Centre student coordinator and small team of volunteers continued to work hard to engage with students via social media. They made themselves available for support through appointments, information booths, and continued to run events when pandemic restrictions allowed. They also provided peer support appointments and other virtual resources upon request.

While we recognize that not everyone agrees with this solution, we did the best we could under challenging circumstances and sincerely appreciate the patience and compassion students have shown throughout this period of transition.

Why isn’t the Q Centre open for Spring and Summer 2022?

The Q Centre has never in its history been open during the spring and summer semesters. The space will be open again in fall 2022.

Why haven’t there been support services available for LGBTQ2SIA+ UCalgary students?

This is false information. While the physical Q Centre space has been closed, the Q Centre volunteers and SU staff have continued to provide support and important programming for students both virtually and in person.

Our Q Centre coordinator and volunteers offered support to the LGBTQ2SIA+ community through peer support by appointment, information booths, social media content and engagement, and events during the physical closure of the centre. Students were able to participate in a film screening, discussion night, information booths, and a skating event this past semester.

Why were decisions about the Q Centre space made without consulting the LGBTQ2SIA+ campus community?

The SU has always been committed to consulting with students on advocacy and programming. We do this frequently with the students who frequent the Q Centre, especially when it involves issues with the potential to impact the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. However, we hire staff to make operational decisions for the centre. Decisions that involve staffing, budgets, and safety are made by SU staff who are subject matter experts and have the experience to make informed and calculated choices.

Was the Q Centre Coordinator on the SU payroll during the Winter semester?

Yes. A part-time coordinator was hired to work 15 hours a week to coordinate the limited service the Q Centre could offer during the pandemic. During a “normal” year with the physical space opened, though, two coordinators would have been hired to effectively manage all the requirements of the centre.

Isn’t the Q Centre ‘self-sufficiently’ run by volunteers?

No. The day-to-day operations of the Q Centre in a “normal” year are managed by two paid Q Centre coordinators as well as volunteers. The centre is also supported by full-time SU staff who manage IT, risk management, budgeting and finance, human resources, health and safety, marketing, and maintenance of the facilities. Re-opening the centre is not as simple as unlocking the door.

Do volunteers only need a small amount of training to be able to support the Q Centre?

As with all of our volunteer programs, Q Centre volunteers are required to meet the SU’s high standard for volunteer management. This means that volunteers go through a rigorous training process and returning volunteers must complete this process annually.

Wasn’t the Q Centre created and fought for by students?

Queers on Campus proposed the creation of a centre for LGBTQ2SIA+ students over a decade ago and the idea was immediately and enthusiastically embraced by the SU. A queer SU staff member, who is still with the organization, was tasked with making the centre a reality and the SU opened the Q Centre less than a year later. To suggest that the SU fought against the creation of the Q Centre is completely false and erases all the hard work done by members of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community to build it.

Why did the SU stop responding to certain student communications on this matter?

The SU is proud of our reputation of being responsive to student concerns. SU staff and officials have continued to respond to student inquiries about the Q Centre. However, there has been an increasing amount of inappropriate, aggressive, and harassing behavior directed at SU elected officials, staff, and volunteers from a small group of students upset about the closure of the Q Centre. The SU has had to respond to threats to publicize names and contact information of SU officials and staff and belligerent in-person conduct at our information booths – this is unprofessional and bullying behaviour.

While the SU is always open to respectful advocacy, SU officials, staff, and volunteers do not deserve to be exposed to communications that harass them whether by phone, email, or social media. It is hypocritical of individuals who claim to be concerned about mental health issues to engage in behaviours, such as making personal threats and bullying, that are profoundly traumatizing for people. Such behaviour, coupled with a lack of accountability regarding their call to harass SU staff and officials, resulted in the SU ceasing contact with the individuals calling for this harassment.

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