As such, CUSA has completely pulled its support from the show and will be reimbursing all of the students who have purchased their tickets from the association starting as early as Monday, April 8th. No more tickets will be sold through the association here on.

We would like to emphasize that this decision was made collaboratively in conversation with different parties involved. The respectful dialogue included the organizers, the executive team and most importantly our students.

The Vice President Student Life and the rest of the executive are now looking to host an alternative event to celebrate the end of the academic year at Carleton University.

For questions:

Alexander Golovko
President
pres@cusaonline.ca
(613) 520-2600 x1603
Carleton University Students’ Association

CUSA entered into an agreement with an events and promotional group in late January that was already in the planning stages of hosting the aforementioned artist. This agreement entailed a bulk purchase of tickets by CUSA to sell to Carleton University students, at cost.

As such, this is not an exclusive CUSA event; this same practice was carried out in the summer when CUSA purchased tickets for the Ottawa Folk Festival and again in the fall when Wiz Khalifa came to Ottawa.

The controversial song featured in the media this week, by Rocko which featured Rick Ross, was released sometime in February well after our ticket sales had began and was not brought to our attention until the last week of March.

We would like to re-affirm our stance that we consider the lyrics in question to be repulsive and uncharacteristic of the views and beliefs of CUSA as an organization and its members. That being said, we are now in the process of looking into selling off the remainder of the tickets back to the organizers.

This incident is regrettable and unpredictable. CUSA remains conscious of the fact that it has reflected poorly on the organization and its members. In the upcoming weeks and months our team will be working hard to ensure that adequate strategies and campaigns are implemented to educate our students on the issues that actively contribute to rape culture on campus and furthermore in our community.

For questions:

Alexander Golovko
President
pres@cusaonline.ca
(613) 520-2600 x1603
Carleton University Students’ Association

The TEDx Talks took place on March 20th and featured independent presentations from three students and two faculty members. One hundred students, staff and faculty were able to witness the event live along with countless others who tuned in to watch the live stream.

Under TEDx Talk rules and regulations the first two shows are limited to an audience of one hundred people. After these two trial session the next series of talks can feature a larger audience and a greater number of speakers.

It is the hope of CUSA and CASG that this event will continue to grow and become a fixture of the Carleton University community. The event itself highlights the intellectual and creative abilities of Carleton’s students and staff. By hosting TEDx, CUSA and CASG have demonstrated their continued commitment to highlighting the dedication of its members to Carleton University and to the greater community as well.

CUSA President Alexander Golovko and CASG President Andrew Kwai would like to extend a special congratulations to the great talks provided by the five speakers; Trevor Deley “A Selfless Good Deed”, Dr. Rena Bivens “Why Gender Matters in Social Media Design”, Chris Sauve “The Habits of Highly Boring People, Michael Chacho “Brands Beyond Different” and Dr. Steven Cooke, “Fishing for the Future”.

CUSA and CASG would also like to give a special thank you to Dr. Kim Matheson, the Vice-President (Research and International) and her office, particularly Julie Carl, for all their advice and support throughout the planning and implementation process.

CUSA and CASG will submit the recording of the talks in the coming days, once received TED will review the results and notify CUSA and CASG of their decision.

-30-

For more information:
James Armbruster
Administrative Officer and Executive Assistant
Carleton University Students’ Association
613-520-2600 ext 6688
admin@cusaonline.ca

With an electronic poll going out to all students that resulted in over 70% support for bringing a Fall Break to Carleton and the largest voter turnout in Carleton history, Golovko and Kwai wasted no time bringing students what they wanted.

The timing of the Fall Break is scheduled so as to ensure Carleton students will still start and end school within the same time as previous years. It also ensures that all students will get the Fall Break, as it does not reduce the number of teaching days.

The creation of a Fall Break will allow for students to have a much-needed break after or before their midterms and contribute to greater mental health for students before they enter into the final half of the semester. Considering the rising costs of post-secondary education, a Fall Break also presents a financial incentive for students as it allows for a week in which students will have more available time to work.

The Fall Break will be in place for the next two years while students, faculty and staff assess the value and advantages of having the break. This will give students an opportunity to test the new schedule before making a final decision on its retention.

Golovko and Kwai have continued to produce results as they work tirelessly to deliver on their campaign promises and to make a better Carleton for all students.

Alexander Golovko
President, Carleton University Students’ Association
pres@cusaonline.ca
@alexandrgolovko

Andrew Kwai
President, Carleton Academic Student Government
president@casg.ca
@andrewkwai

Thursday, January 16, 2013 —

Earlier today, fellow CUSA member and Carleton University student Zane Colt stepped down from his position with the University Board of Governors. This action came as a result of a comment made by Zane in early January that misinterpreted an important cultural symbol within the Arab community, which in turn has affected our campus as a whole.

Carleton University is an institution of higher learning where all views are to be respected and represented equally. As a sitting member of the University Board of Governors and current CUSA President, I was motivated to reach out to Zane on this matter in an attempt to find a resolution. After a long discussion of the impacts of his statement and the division it has created on our campus, Zane agreed that in an effort to resolve any tensions that may exist and to rectify the situation, his resignation from the Board of Governors was the appropriate action to be taken, effective immediately.

I am confident from my discussions with Zane that he is aware of the impacts of his comment and is remorseful for their effect and offensive nature.

Let us remember that Carleton University is an institution where all views are to be tolerated in a safe learning environment.

Sincerely,

Alexander Golovko
President
Carleton University Students’ Association

Zane Colt Resignation

Over the past few weeks we have been collecting stories from students about their experiences with cyberbullying. The result was the Carleton community coming together and vowing to help end cyberbullying.

This video is an opportunity for Carleton students to share what cyberbullying means to them. Cyberbullying will not be solved with one video but this video is a chance for the conversation to start and more importantly an opportunity for us to listen to the victims of cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying can come in many forms, including: unwanted sexting, cyber stalking, impersonation, threatening messages, identity theft, defamation, and unauthorized publication of private information or images.

Please share the video below with your friends and peers and lets start the conversation on cyberbullying, it is only as we come to together as a community will we have an opportunity to end cyberbullying.

CU Speaks Out to Stop Cyberbullying

Thank you,

Hayley Dobson
CUSA Vice President Student Issues
vpsi@cusaonline.ca
@cusavpsi

Some 5,655 students or close to 70% of the total number of voters have responded favorably to the CUSA/CASG Fall Break Poll. With over two thirds of participants voting in favor, CUSA President Alexander Golovko and CASG President Andrew Kwai will carry on with their continued lobby efforts to the next level. Golovko and Kwai made bringing a Fall Break a centerpiece of their election campaigns and are pleased to deliver on this promise less than halfway into their terms.

Going forward, Golovko and Kwai will report the results to the Carleton University Senate Committee on Curriculum Admissions and Studies Policy for further review and analysis of the results. SCCASP will then present a motion to the November session of the Carleton University Senate to amend the Academic Calendar to include a Fall Break

As over 8,000 students cast an electronic ballot, Carleton University students showed their desire to come together and have their voices heard. No other poll in our university’s recent history has brought about such tremendous participation. On behalf of CUSA and the CASG, Golovko and Kwai would like to wholeheartedly thank all those who participated in this process and took part in the discussion.

The results of the CUSA/CASG Fall Break Poll give Carleton students a strong voice in the continued effort towards bringing a Fall Break to Carleton University.

Please do not hesitate to contact CUSA or the CASG if you have any further questions or concerns.

Alexander Golovko
Carleton University Students’ Association, President
@alexandrgolovko

Andrew Kwai
Carleton Academic Student Government, President
@andrewkwai

CUSA President Alexander Golovko and the CASG President Andrew Kwai, have worked tirelessly to lobby senior administration, faculty and staff to ensure that students will get the best possible deal for their Fall Break.

The semester would still consist of 62 teaching days, meaning that students will not be loosing any teaching days and all accredited programs such as Engineering will maintain their status. The examination period of the Fall semester would be spread out into Sundays. In some years, the exam period may be scheduled as late as the 23rd of December as opposed to the 22nd of December.

The specific days that will be utilized to create a full Fall Break week are as follows; Thanksgiving Monday. Once or twice in every seven years, there will be a one-day break in between the last day of classes and the first day of examinations OR Orientation Week will have to start a day earlier. In the two weeks of fall examinations, there will be some examinations on the two Sundays. Carleton University Day will be moved from the week prior to Thanksgiving to the week of Thanksgiving. This adds up to five business days and paired with the weekend results in a full week break.

The creation of a Fall Break will allow for students to have a much-needed break after or before their midterms and contribute to greater mental health for students before they enter into the final half of the semester. Considering the rising costs of post-secondary education, a Fall Break also presents a financial incentive for students as it allows for a week in which students will have more available time to work.

This poll presents an opportunity for students to voice their opinion on an issue that will affect generations of Carleton University students to come. It is a chance for students to come together and build A Better Carleton.

Please do not hesitate to contact CUSA or the CASG if you have any further questions or concerns.

Alexander Golovko,
President, Carleton University Students’ Association
pres@cusaonline.ca
@alexandrgolovko

Andrew Kwai,
President, Carleton Academic Student Government
president@casg.ca
@andrewkwai

The rationale of the PAPM Councillor’s motion was that Oliver’s makes a profit on beer. This is true. What the motion failed to account for is the high and rising costs of running a campus bar, especially with the consistently low prices at Oliver’s. Revenue from beer goes to paying staff (who are now working more hours due to the implementation of table service), maintaining bar facilities and keeping the costs of food and other drinks low. The continually rising wholesale cost of beer caused management to make the decision to implement a modest price increase for the first time in three years. The price of beer at Oliver’s still remains the lowest in the city.

In the course of advocating for this motion, the PAPM Councillor leveled a number of personal attacks at me, at my fellow CUSA Executives, at fellow Council members and at one of CUSA’s full-time staff members Rod Castro, the CUSA Business Operations Manager.

The attack on Rod is absolutely inexcusable. As a long-time and tireless employee of CUSA, Rod is entitled to basic respect from those elected to lead the Association. He is doing a difficult job – and doing it well – and should not be dragged into anyone’s political agenda.

Among the PAPM Councillor’s charges, he claimed that this year’s CUSA Executive has raised their benefits by several thousand dollars. As matter of fact, the CUSA Executive actually cut their benefits this year in the amount of $6000, as we promised to the students. This money was put towards the CUSA Scholarship Fund.

While the Executive cut their benefits in this amount, the CUSA budget still represents an increase in the line. As the CUSA budget is delivered to CUSA Council in the summer and is only a projection of revenues and expenditures, it is sometimes difficult to calculate certain lines with complete accuracy. Executive benefits is one of these lines as Executives do not always finalize their classes, means of transportation and health plan options until the fall.

A motion has been tabled in Council to amend the budget to properly reflect Executive benefits now that they can be properly accounted for. This will result in the Executive benefits line to be reduced by $6000 overall in comparison to what was spent last year. This is exactly what this year’s CUSA Executive pledged we would do – cut our Executive benefits.

Although the numbers in the budget had not been updated to reflect accurate amounts for Executive benefits because this information was not available during the summer session, we feel that it is incumbent upon CUSA Councillors, such as the one for PAPM, to consult with the Vice President Finance prior to making falsified allegations against the CUSA Executive and even more importantly, against one of our long-time, hard-working employees. For this, we apologize to the parties affected by this representative’s actions and hope that moving forward that all members of CUSA Council will represent their constituents in a professional manner and communicate with the CUSA Executive.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss these issues further. We work for you, and we always want to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Alexander Golovko
President
Carleton University Students’ Association

The CUSA Executive would like to formally apologize for this incident to all those who were present on Tuesday and generally to any member of the Carleton or larger community who may have been affected by this situation.

CUSA believes it is important to provide a safe space for all members of the Carleton community and to proactively prevent occurrences such as the one that took place on Tuesday night. While precautions were taken by the CUSA Executive to prevent the language that was used, this clearly was not enough.

Moving forward, CUSA will be reviewing the process by which the organization chooses and evaluates performances that it sponsors at Carleton. In the coming weeks, CUSA’s Equity Committee will develop a policy to regulate how this process is undertaken in an attempt to avoid instances such as this in the future.

CUSA will continue to advocate for and provide a safe space for all our members.

Sincerely,

Hayley Dobson
Vice President Student Issues
Carleton University Students’ Association