TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
2
Commission
3
Ministries
4
Events
10
Campaigns
14
UTMSU Team
17
How to get Involved
18
Why you should get involved
19
Come Visit
20
1
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Team!
This is your handbook on how to get involved with your University of
Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union and your UTM community.
There are opportunities available for all students on our campus. There are
many times we see signs and posters regarding opportunities and the sight
may trigger a fight or flee feeling inside all of us. Let us step away from that
for a moment and realize the plethora of opportunities around us.
UTM students are one of the most diverse and skilled group of students’;
constantly engaging in ways to be involved within their campus. At the
UTMSU we try and harness your creativity to match the environment or
areas you will excel in. We provide you with the resources you may need in
order to achieve high levels of success and involvement. We ask our
students’ to step up to the plate and apply themselves through events,
campaigns and the development of campus services.
There are available opportunities to plan for events and develop campaigns
through ministries, clubs, commissions, UTMSU programs and open campus
committees.
Your involvement is important to enhance the student movement the
students around us and pave the way for students to come. Involvement in
the past has created many opportunities for students today. In solidarity we
can achieve much more because students’ are the most effective when we
stand in numbers. Our activity creates an environment and life on this
campus that adds to the everyday student experience.
Get Involved!
UTMSU
2
COMMISSIONS
Commission is a way for students to get their voices heard. This is a forum
where you can bring your concerns to us as your student representatives.
We want to hear what issues you want us to work on, what services you
want to implement and what events you want to make happen.
At this meeting, students can become commissioners for UTMSU.
Commissioners are ambassadors of the union; commissioners help carry out
the work of the union and partake in the regular functions such as
campaigns and events held by the union.
There will be free food, refreshments and amazing discussions about the
upcoming year and how you can get involved!
3
MINISTRIES
UTMSU Ministries are a way for students to get involved with the
decision-making taking place at the students union. Ministries are a way for
interested students who have brought forward ideas to get involved with the
process of making an event, service or campaign happen. At UTMSU we
have 9 ministries
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MINISTRY OF
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Have you ever wanted to be part of a rally? Have you ever wanted to be part
of a sit in or an action? The Ministry of education and Outreach is an action
ministry geared towards getting student voice heard on issues that affect us
on this campus. The Ministry of Education and Outreach at UTMSU works on
campaigns to lobby for more accessible post-secondary education through
creative and effective lobbying. This ministry is for students who are activists
and believe in a better and more equitable society in general.
Topics Discussed:
• Tuition Fees
• Food Options on Campus
• Lobbying: institution & government
• Campaigns: Campus & Community
• New issues arising from postsecondary education
MINISTRY OF EQUITY
UTMSU recognizes that inequality is based on many factors and aims to
challenge oppressive systems of power. UTMSU strives to create an
environment on campus and within the community that is free of classism,
sexism, racism, gender-bias, ageism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia,
islamophobia, sexual violence, and colonialism. The Ministry is an open
forum for students to discuss their experience on campus and in the
community. One can also participate in projects and events pertaining to
equity issues including Disorientation Week, eXpression Against Oppression
and our new Mental Health campaign.
Topics Discussed:
• Queer Orientation
• Disorientation
• Pride Week
• Food Centre
• Mental Health
• Equity Handbook
• Black History Magic
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MINISTRY OF
SOCIAL JUSTICE
On a campus that is as diverse as ours, events that are happening around the world
can affect many of our peers at UTM. It is important that social justice issues that are
happening on an international level be addressed on our campus in order to raise
awareness and in order for us to make change and advocate for human rights for all.
MSJ is a forum where rape culture, indigenous rights, capitalism, war and
militarization, poverty, genocide, uprisings, and more are discussed and addressed.
MSJ is not only a forum for discussion, but it is also a forum for action, with one of
the biggest events on campus, Xpression Against Oppression (XAO).
Topics Discussed:
• No means No
• Know Your Rights
• Multi-faith Space
• Decolonization
• eXpression Against Oppression
MSJ is a forum where rape culture, indigenous rights, capitalism, war and militarization, poverty, genocide, uprisings, and more are discussed and addressed. MSJ is not
only a forum for discussion, but it is also a forum for action, with one of the biggest
events on campus, Xpression Against Oppression (XAO).
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
The Ministry of the Environment at UTMSU is dedicated to promoting and educating
students about the environmental concerns we share on an individual, community
and global level. We also focus on implementing sustainable initiatives on campus
such as access to free water, reusable drinking bottles and respecting the environment.
Topics Discussed:
• Bring a farmers market to UTM.
• Educate students about environmental issues on campus through various
campaigns and outreach. Provide students with the necessary materials to start a
sustainable lifestyle
• Ensure the university maintains its green initiatives (LEED Silver buildings, water
bottle free campus, proper waste management, anti-littering campaign)
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MINISTRY OF UNIVERSITY
AFFAIRS AND ACADEMICS
The Ministry of University Affairs and Academics at UTMSU advocates for
academic integrity, student rights and progressive academic polices at our
university. This group gives an opportunity for students to share their ideas,
concerns, and even provide opportunities to get involved.
Topics Discussed:
• Advocating on behalf of students for progressive academic policies: such
as Grade Forgiveness Policies and Late Withdrawal initiatives, 1.0 Drop
Credit Campaign
• Promoting awareness about and providing advice to students on their
academic rights.
• Implementing regular school de-stressors throughout the year
• Bringing in co-op and paid internships to our campus
MINISTRY OF STUDENT LIFE
The Ministry of Student Life at UTMSU handles the planning and organizing
of social life on campus. This group gives an opportunity for students to
share their ideas, concerns, and even provide opportunities to get involved.
University is not easy! This ministry will provide you with an opportunity to
have some fun and escape the stress of university life!
Topics Discussed:
• Social events: Sports Nights, Multicultural Week, Welcome Weeks,
Halloween, etc.
• Pub Nights: artists, themes, etc.
• Competitive events: UTM’s Got Talent, Clubs Olympics, etc.
• Budgets: All Budgets for events are proposed at these meetings
• Clubs: issues, updates, purpose, etc
• PUMP SQAUD: promotional group on campus
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MINISTRY OF
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES
International students are a growing population on the UTM campus. This ministry
is geared towards making this space on the UTM campus more international
student friendly. This year the focus will be on building an international student
community and making sure international students feel like a part of this campus.
The Ministry of International Student Affairs also handles all issues focused on the
development and learning of
international students. This group promotes an internationally informed and
culturally sensitive community that enhances the positive experience for international students in UTM.
Topics Discussed:
• International Students’ community building
• Cultural events: Winternational, International Students’ Formal
• Volunteer, leadership programs & opportunities
MINISTRY OF STUDENT SERVICES
The Ministry of Student Services is an open forum that provides every student the
opportunity to ensure that UTMSU offers only the best and most efficient services.
Here, the students suggest what services need to be improved or discontinued, and
what new services should be introduced.
We currently provide a wide array of services such as:
• The 5 cents photocopying
• Aquarium tickets
• Cell Phone Chargers
• Discounted Cineplex & Empire Theatres tickets and Classic Bowling
• Graduation Photography
• The used book exchange
• A Free-Tax Clinic
• A health and dental plan
• The amazing U-PASS Programs for Full time and Part Time students. (Fall/Spring,
and Summer).
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
• Shuttle bus – This is a service between UTMSU and UTM administration, but the
Ministry of Student Services has always represented the students that have
suggestions on how to improve the shuttle bus service.
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MINISTRY OF
PART-TIME AFFAIRS
The Ministry of Part-Time Affairs welcomes both part-time and full-time
undergraduate students at UTM to work towards addressing the issues and
concerns faced by part-time undergraduate students. Any student is
susceptible to be classified as a part-time student given their personal
situations at home, in the office, an emergency and any other situational
experience. Part-time Students can be students that are working, raising a
family, attending to personal matters and all other circumstances while
STUDYING! This warrants a critical focus on the needs of this constituency
as well as any student that might be classified as a part-time student
throughout their stay at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Topics Discussed:
• Part-time issues and concerns
• Part-time students inclusion of services at the University of Toronto
Mississauga
• Financial Assistance for Part-time Students
• Child care accessibility and subsidization
• Access to residence housing
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EVENTS
• Exam De-Stressors: We had on during the exam period in June and will have
another in August. This will give the students a chance to take a break from
their studies with free food, music and raffle prizes. I will also want to
incorporate healthy options to accommodate for all students. I was unable to
do so in the first one but will do my best to get that up and running for the
second. I will also work alongside Genny to implement regular destressor to
help student through the whole term and not just at exam times.
• Clubs: We are currently in the re-recognition process with our clubs. A
majority of clubs have submitted their forms and once we get the Clubs
Coordinator trained, we will be able to finish the process. New club
recognition forms are due on August first. I will also like to hold a clubs
training session earlier than usual. This will be held around the last week of
August. Clubs will receive all the information needed to successfully run their
clubs, as well as, equity and anti-oppression training. Three last things I am
working on for clubs is furniture, photocopy credits, and re-writing the clubs
handbook.
• Orientation Week: This is held the first week of September for new students
to UTM. All the planning done in the summer will be put into effect this week.
Please refer to my slides for more information.
• Welcome Week: This week will take place the first week of classes. It will
incorporate various events into one fun-filled week!
• Clubs and Societies: This will give clubs and societies the opportunity to
show students what they are about and options of how to get involved on
campus. Having this well greatly help the first year students get
integrated with what happens on campus if they were unable to attend
orientation week.
• Events: Since the World Cup of Soccer would have passed, we can host a
soccer tournament and the winning team gets free tickets to the pub
night.
• Outdoor Carnival: This will be a full day of events open to all students.
Carnival events will be set up one the south hill/south field free to
students.
• Welcome Back Pub: This will take place the first Thursday of the school
year. Possible themes are: Tight and Bright, Black Light, Summer Lovin', or
Summer Get Away. We are looking to get a known DJ or artist for this
event
• I also would like to incorporate academic workshops in the student centre
board rooms.
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• Clubs & Societies Charity Event: This will be an opportunity for all clubs and
societies to meet one another and form new bonds, all the while, giving back to
society. I will like to hold one at the end of September if possible, but forsure in
November before the holiday season.
• Haunted Carnival: This would be a collaboration with the Ministry of Part-Time
Affairs. Together we will work on transforming the Student Centre into an eerie
carnival which will then lead into the Halloween Pub night.
• I would like to add more to this event by incorporating contests to win Pub
night Tickets during the day. Events such as a pie eating contest can take place
in the pub, where the winner will win tickets. Other events can take place
outside, such as "Haunted obstacle course" (weather dependent).
• Halloween Pub: This will take place the day before Halloween since it falls on a
Friday this year. It will be a fun-filled night with great music, decorations, and prizes
for the costume contest.
• Wonderland Fear Fest: We will sell discounted Fear Fest tickets to students who
would like to go. Transportation will be provided to and from Wonderland.
!
• Leafs/Raptors Night: This is an event I started on campus last year and it was a
success. We show the Leaf and Raptor game in the pub and have free prizes for
students. I’m hoping to make this even bigger this year and try to incorporate free
food. I am looking to have a big event for the Leafs season opener and for the
Raptors season opener.
• Sticking with the theme of sports, we are offering discounted TFC vs Tottenham
tickets. Students will be able to purchase these from the info booth and
bussing will be provided. If this proves to be successful then we can look into
getting more TFC tickets in the near future.
• We offer discounted raptor tickets as well. Once the schedule comes out we
will be able to choose which games we will attended.
• Finally, I will like to look into getting discounted Blue Jays tickets to offer to
students as well.
• Frost Week: This is a week similar to Welcome Week in September. It will be
designed to let student have some fun before their studies become more intense
again. It will include:
• Clubs and Societies: This will give clubs and societies the opportunity to show
students what they are about and options of how to get involved on campus.
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• Events: have tournaments (volleyball, basketball, videogames), where the
winners receive tickets to the pub night.
• Winter Carnival: Set up a carnival similar to the setup we had for Haunted
carnival.
• Welcome Back Pub: The theme for this will be Winter Wonderland, Igloo, or
Narnia. Great music will lead to an amazing night with some great prizes.
• Multicultural Week: Every day will consist of something different. Day one we can
have an art show in the student centre displaying all the different cultures. Day
two we can have a cultural fashion show in the pub. Day three will be
international food day where clubs can give away food from their cultures. The
final day will be a cultural show in the pub which will then lead into a
Multicultural Pub Night.
• UTM's Got Talent: This will be held in February. This happens every year and my
goal will to make it bigger and better. It will take place in the pub with free food
and prizes. The students performing would have been chosen from the auditions
in January, and the top 5 performance will be chosen to take part in a Tri-Campus
Talent Show at the end of the school year. I am hoping to get the top singer to
perform the nation anthem at a raptors game!
• Reading Week: This will take place in Montreal. Last year an outside company
TNT was used, so I would like to use the same company as it was such a success!
The goal would be to bring even more students than last year. During this process,
it will be key to keep in contact with UTSU and SCSU.
• St. Patrick's Day: have a full day of festivities in the pub and keep it open until at
least midnight. We will have a DJ playing music, and it will be a true pub
atmosphere. There will be room for a dance floor and an area to play fun pub
games. The pub will be decorated in green and Irish decor and everyone will
receive green beads.
• Clubs and Societies Formal: Last year was the first time we put together a formal
for all the clubs on campus. This is a night were the clubs can come together and
celebrate the end of the year together. We also used this opportunity to hand out
the clubs awards for the year. The goal here would be to make this event bigger
and better, as well as, opening it up to the societies we have on campus.
• Last Pub: This will be held on the last Thursday of class. It is a final chance for the
students to go out and have fun before the study break and exams.
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Possible themes would be to keep the 70's theme from last year, Spring Fling, or
Glow stick pub.
• Tri-Campus Talent show: This will be held on the last Friday of classes. The top 5
performers from UTM's Got Talent will participate in the show against the best
performers from the other two campuses. This can hopefully take place down
town.
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CAMPAIGNS
UTMSU CAMPAIGNS 2014/ 2015
Fall Reading Week
There is already a winter reading week in February, however establishing a fall
reading week would provide domestic, international, full time and part time
students a better opportunity to enhance their academics with free time for
themselves to study or whatever they wish to do. This may increase the amount of
passing students and lastly, a fall reading week incorporates with mental diversity,
which is a serious issue for post secondary students.
Food on Campus
Food on the UTM Campus has always been an issue and this year we have the
opportunity to make a change to the way food is seen on the UTM campus. The
chartwells contract will be expiring this year and this is the perfect time for us to
get student voices in these discussions and make sure our voices are heard and our
opinions are given priority. This year we will also be working to introduce farmers
markets on campus in the fall semester and we hope to make this a regular
occurrence depending on the reaction from students. This year we will also be
converting our food bank to a food center. This change is geared towards reducing
the stigma associated with food banks and also educating students on the issues
associated with food insecurity and why students go to the food bank in the first
place.
Student Space on Campus
Student space whether it be multi-faith space or study space is a priority for
students on this campus. We at UTMSU have been putting pressure on the
university for the past couple of years to make sure that student space is a priority
in the new buildings being built. This year with the new buildings we hope to see
an improvement in the space for students and continue fighting for more
multi-faith space on campus so as to satisfy the diverse array of students we have
on campus.
Grade Forgiveness
Current academic policies indicate that if you fail a course or do poorly in it, you
may request to re-take the course, however the mark you get the second time
around does not replace the first mark or even goes towards your cgpa. The grade
forgiveness policy allows a student to re-take a failed course and use the better
mark towards their cgpa and therefore erase the poor mark that was initially there.
This is a progressive academic policy that allows students to succeed and acknowledges that students have other serious circumstances that may result them to do
poorly in their studies.
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Mental Health
It may come off as a taboo to talk about depression, serious anxiety, eating
disorders, and suicide, but many students go through mental diversity in their
undergraduate years due to harsh stress from the university and other unfortunate
circumstances that occur in their lives outside of school. Campaigning for a fall
reading week, grade forgiveness, social justice and equity related campaigns and
etc., not only talks about mental diversity but also lessens the severity of mental
diversity, which is a goal from the students’ union. We want students succeed
academically, financially but also mentally. These three work together and it’s time
for the university to fully understand this.
Unfair Ancillary Fees
If you check your ROSI invoice, you’d see that you are not only paying for tuition
and program fees but you are also paying incidental and ancillary fees, which are
services you use for example. Some ancillary fees however are illegal, in which the
university cannot charge students for. Examples of illegal ancillary fees are charging
students to pay for an iClicker through their tuition, or charging a systems access
fee. The current systems access fee is $50, which means you are paying $50 to go
on ROSI. To emphasize, this is illegal and needs to be immediately educated to all
students and lobbied to the university..
Increase Co-op Opportunities for Students
The University of Toronto Scarborough is the only campus that offers co-op
opportunities for science and art students. It is important to lobby our
administration to provide these opportunities for UTM students because greater
opportunities for students to find stable careers after they graduate, allows greater
success.
Know Your Right Campaign
As UofT students, we have a set of rights and responsibilities. The university can
violate our student rights, which is why it is important to educate the students of
what they have and can do. These rights are related to academics, equity and social
justice, housing, internships, and rights in the criminal code of Canada.
We also have responsibilities as UofT students regarding academics and safety of
others. If we do not do our due diligence as UofT students and violate academic
integrity or harass a student on campus, then students will have to pay serious
consequences from the university. We can campaign and advocate about academic
integrity and what really is plagiarism, and how the university does not take
anything lightly and will always act as deterrence.
International students Issues
International students are an increasing part of our community here at UTM and
there is o community for them on this campus. The campaign for international
students this year centres on building a community for international students on
campus as well as continuing the fight for regulation of international student fees
and OHIP for international students.
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Deregulated Fees
Deregulated fees are something that has affected students in specific programs
here on the UTM campus. This campaign around deregulated fees involves doing
research and educating students on the issues with deregulated fees. The campaign
also centres around getting academic societies involved in the fight to get input into
the campaign and beginning the fight.
Lowered Parking Fees
Parking fees gave been steadily increasing here on the UTM Campus for the past
couple of years. This campaign looks to lobby members of different committees
within the university to ensure that parking fees do not increase. The reduce
parking fees campaign focuses on reducing parking fees by 5% and keeping it at a
constant rate for 5 years.
Municipal Provincial and Federal Elections
These Campaigns are to encourage students and youth on campus and in the wider
community as a whole to vote in municipal, provincial and federal elections. With
the recently conducted provincial and the fast approaching municipal elections. We
are working to ensure our members know how to vote and are well informed
around issues that affect us in particular, including post secondary education,
unpaid internships and illegal fees. Our goal is to generate enough excitement
around voting and to encourage students to look get out during elections to get
their voices heard by those who seek to represent us.
The Hikes Stop Here
The Hikes Stop here is a provincial campaign calling upon the Ontario government
to take immediate action to increase funding for post secondary education
institutions and address the rising cost of post-secondary education by immediately
reducing tuition by 30 per cent for all students, and instituting a long-term plan to
fund post-secondary education. In Ontario, students pay the highest tuition fees in
Canada and graduate with the most student debt. This is directly linked to chronic
underfunding by our government.
Education is a Right
The education is a right campaign is a national campaign calling for the federal
government to increase federal transfers to the provincial government specifically
to post secondary education. The campaign calls for a National post secondary
Education act, which would require the federal government to regulate the
accessibility of post secondary education, similar to how the health care is federally
regulated. Additionally, the campaign calls on the federal government to increase
funding to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) to make post
secondary education more accessible to indigenous students, and to increase the
availability of non-repayable grants.
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UTMSU TEAM
Your Student Union Representatives, 2014-15
Hassan Havili – President (President@utmsu.ca)
Amir Moazzami - Vice President Part-Time Affairs (VPparttime@utmsu.ca)
Genny Lawen - Vice President University Affairs (VPua@utmsu.ca)
Ebi Agbeyegbe - Vice President External (VPexternal@utmsu.ca)
Bryan Chelvanaigum - Vice President internal and Services
(VPinternal@utmsu.ca)
Melissa Theodore - Vice President Equity (VPequity@utmsu.ca)
Francesco Otello-DeLuca - Vice President Campus Life
(VPcampuslife@utmsu.ca)
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HOW TO GET INVOLVED
You can get involved in a number of different ways:
Volunteering:
Volunteering is a magnificent way to get involved because your students
union provides events campaigns and services that don’t just benefit you as
a students but every single student on this campus. This year UTMSU is
implementing a brand new volunteer recognition program on top of the
existing certificates and recognition volunteers already receive. For more
information as to how you can volunteer email our volunteer coordinator at
volunteer@utmsu.ca
Pump Squad
If you are looking to get more involved on campus and looking for ways to
make difference, then this is the group for you! Pump Squad gets people
excited and help them get their minds off the stress that comes with
studying. Pump Squad promotes all the events that UTMSU is holding and
any campaigns that we have going on. Join the team and add to the social
life on campus! EAT. SLEEP. PUMP. REPEAT.
You can also choose to get involved directly in the campaigns services and
events by coming out directly to the ministry meetings or commissions
meetings. For more information about when these meetings take place
please feel free to email VPexternal@utmsu.ca
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WHY YOU SHOULD
GET INVOLVED
• Learn about all social events being planned for the year
• Give feedback, ideas, and concerns
• Get involved (volunteer positions: event execution tasks, etc.)
• Meet new people
• Make a difference on YOUR campus!
• Implement projects and campaigns relating to racism, classism, and other
forms of discrimination affecting our peers at UTM.
• Improve the status of women and minorities on our campus, in our
community, and on an international level as well.
• Work on improving the accessibility of the UTM campus.
• Help students cope with mental health diversity.
• Create positive spaces on campus for students who identify within the
LGBTQ* spectrum.
• The purpose of the Ministry is also to act as a liaison between politically
active groups, and on and off campus social justice groups. Ministries
hosts regular events including rallies, teach-ins, movie and documentary
screenings, anti-oppression workshops and on-campus simulations to
address major political, social and environmental issues.
• All students are welcome in this Ministries, and are encouraged to join. If
you have any ideas, concerns, or questions, please do not hesitate to drop
by the UTMSU office or contact any executive.
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COME VISIT
The UTMSU office is located in room 100 of the student centre. Our door is
always open to students to come in and ask questions about anything.
Our hours of operation are between …
Follow us on Social Media
Website: www.utmsu.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UTMSU
Twitter: @myUTMSU
Instagram: myutmsu
Youtube: www.youtube.com/myUTMSU
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