Students asked to pay fifty dollars in services referendum

“Do you wish to continue to support student services at a cost of $44 per annum. Do you also wish to spend $6 per annum for the creation of an ombuds office.”

– possible referendum question

By Rob Granatstein

The cost is $50. That has been decided.

The answer is yes or no. That will be decided.

Student services, like the Career Centre and Financial Aid, as we now know them hang in the balance. And if the answer is no and the October 25 referendum fails?

“Chop, chop, chop,” said Paul Cheevers, RyeSAC president.

Ryerson v-p Linda Grayson echoed Cheevers’ sentiment.

Although the above question has not been made official, cost negotiations are finished.

For $50 students get the statue quo on services and an ombudsman.

“The cost came down quite a bit from where we started,” Cheevers said. “We were able to cut a very fair deal at $50. Now it’s up to the students to decide if they want to vote for it or not.”

The first rumors of a referendum had estimates of a $300 fee. The cost was reduced substantially with the elimination of the Campus Centre from the list of services.

Continuing education students will pay a $4.50 fee, per course, for services and the ombudsman.

Full-time students now pay $399.22 in ancillary fees, including RyeSAC, athletics, and the health plan. The $50 increase would put Rye in the middle of the pack in student services cost among Ontario universities.

Student services include the Career Centre, Financial Aid and Awards and Athletics.

The ombudsman will function as a neutral party receiving investigating complaints and problems.

Ryerson administration will pay all costs of running the referendum and will promote the referendum like crazy.

Referendum day is October 25, and it will be coupled with Board of Governors elections.

For the referendum to be binding, a paltry one in 20 students must cast a vote.

The fee is frozen for four years. The only way there can be a hike is if Ryerson’s operating budget is cut over 12 per cent. There will be an adjustment to the fee based on inflation.

There is one more major step before the referendum is officially announced – the issue must past Ryerson’s Board of Governors, on Monday.