UNews - Lethbridge Students' Union

Food bank continues to serve a valuable need

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:34:28 +0000

Bringing Home The Bacon challenge on throughout February

The phrase "one must eat well in order to learn well," has never been truer than it is today.

Twenty years ago, graduate students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta launched the first campus food bank and today there are more than 70 student food banks nationwide. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) is proud to be the host of one of those food banks.

The issue of starving students comes as a result of a number of factors, including increased tuition rates, a shortage of youth jobs and ever-rising food prices. The reality is that most students rely on some form of financial assistance to supplement their post-secondary educations and all too often they stretch their funds by going without healthy meals.

The ULSU recognizes the financial constraints involved with post-secondary education and offers students both single and family-sized food hampers that are designed to give those in need a healthy alternative to going hungry. However, the food bank is a limited resource, as it is a volunteer-based service that relies completely on donations in order to survive. Events such as the Faculty Food Bank Fundraiser are hosted by the Students' Union to help meet the food bank's needs.

For the month of February, bright pink piggy banks can be spotted in departments throughout the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Faculty, staff and students are all asked to dig deep and "donate some bacon." The fundraiser entices its contributors by offering a foodie gift basket and snacks delivered to the department that donates the most bacon, metaphorically speaking.

"This year, I thought it would be a good idea to add some incentive to the project by offering a food-based prize," says organizer Brady Schnell, ULSU vice-president Operations and Finance. "Last year, $298 was raised and it is my hope to beat that this year by offering a prize and extending the fundraiser to an entire month."

Schnell says that the demand placed on the campus food bank has increased significantly over the last couple years.

"We provided 154 single hampers and 80 family-sized hampers last year," he says. "This past November we provided 45 hampers in a single month!"

The ULSU supports a number of initiatives that benefit the food bank. Just last month, Schnell was involved in a local food and beverage exhibition where student volunteers received enough donations to fill six food hampers and were also given an additional $200 to go towards supporting the food bank's needs.

Schnell says the demand speaks for itself and he's thankful to everyone in the community and at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ who support the needs of students.

To donate to the food bank, look for the pink piggy banks or visit the ULSU in SU180.

New food vendor coming to campus

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:09:23 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has reached an agreement with ARAMARK to provide onsite food services on its Lethbridge campus.

The decision to choose ARAMARK as the U of L's food provider was, after a long and inclusive process, finalized at today's Board of Governors meeting.

After conducting a thorough and extensive review of food services on campus, the U of L released a Request for Proposal for campus food services in the summer of 2012. This began the most transformative food services change at the U of L in 30 years.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge president Mike Mahon says that a high-quality student experience is a critical factor weighed by prospective students when choosing a university. This is especially important for the U of L, as 70 per cent of its students come from outside the Lethbridge area.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge prides itself on the experience it offers its students," says Mahon. "We recognize that food quality is critical to that experience, and we are thrilled that our campus community will be provided with a variety of high-quality food options for the foreseeable future."

The process in choosing a new food vendor included many campus constituency groups, the most critical being students. Students were surveyed, invited to participate in discussion groups and included as members of the final selection committee.

"We have listened to what our students have told us about the importance of food services on campus. It was critical to have them included in the process of choosing a food services provider," says Mahon.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union President Armin Escher says students benefit greatly from a variety of food options, and that he is looking forward to experiencing the transformation of food services at the Lethbridge campus.

"A variety of food options not only adds to the quality of campus life for students, but high-quality offerings are essential for student health and student success," says Escher.

In approving the agreement with ARAMARK, board members focused in part on the link between providing high quality food and the ability of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to recruit students.

"In order for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to continue to flourish as a destination university, food options and the quality of those options are critical. Providing good food to our campus community will attract students to our campus," says board member Kathleen Willms.

ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world.

"ARAMARK is proud to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to enhance the living and learning environment on campus," says Brian Struthers, Regional Vice President, ARAMARK Canada Higher Education.

"We look forward to serving the entire campus community. In spring 2013, there will be many enhancements made on campus in preparation for the fall semester and beyond. ARAMARK will be investing in the campus community with new dining venues that include a mix of national and proprietary brands."

The U of L's 10-year agreement with ARAMARK commences on May 1, 2013.

Students earn greater voting flexibility

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:46:55 +0000

Voting in provincial elections has become a little easier for students who attend a post-secondary institution located outside their permanent place of residence.

Bill 7, or the Election Accountability Amendment Act, had its third and final reading in the Alberta Legislature recently. The bill includes several changes in how Alberta's elections are carried out and allows for post-secondary students to cast their ballots in the riding they attend school or in their home riding.

"This is going to make voting much easier for students in the next election," says Armin Escher, president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union. "The Elections Act is going to be amended as per our recommendation to the government and I hope we see even more students turn out to vote in the next election as a result."

Escher adds that the change is a huge accomplishment for the Council of Alberta ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Students (CAUS), a provincial lobby group compromised of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Students' Unions, who has been lobbying the government since 2008, to make it a little easier for students to vote in this province.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union, members of CAUS, hopes to see an increase in voter turnout in the next provincial election, particularly among students.

"This past May we saw a lot of students being turned away at the polls because they were not able to vote due to the fact that their home riding was not Lethbridge," says Julia Adolf, VP academic, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union.

"The changes to the election act will give our students' the ability to vote in Lethbridge."

This is not the only issue the bill addresses; it also changes provisions on campaign finance and new changes to municipal elections.

The bill was originally based on recommendations put forth by the Chief Electoral Officer, however, the recommendations that CAUS made were accepted.

Many parts of this bill have been met with controversy but the portion pertaining to student voting has been met agreement by all parties in the legislature.

Students' Union Food Bank always in need of support

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:55:09 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union has a number of services that assist in allowing students to focus on their studies.

Understanding the financial constraints involved in obtaining a post-secondary education, and the difficulty in making ends meet, the ULSU is helping students alleviate the pressure of food insecurity by offering the ULSU Food Bank.

"The Students' Union Food Bank is one of the most widely used resources we offer on campus," says Shuna Talbot, ULSU vice-president internal. "Unfortunately, going to school is expensive and that leaves a lot of students with less money to cover costs for food, rent and other necessities."

All current students, faculty and staff of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are eligible to access the food bank. The food bank has a wide range of users and everyone has a different story; whether it is a delay with a student loan, an emergency situation, unexpected expenses or other budgeting issues, the ULSU Food Bank is there to help.

The ULSU Food Bank is a not-for-profit service, but it is also a limited resource dependent on donations. The food bank can be accessed twice a month to a maximum of 10 visits in an academic career. Every October, the Students' Union hosts the Feed or Famine Food Drive, which pits student clubs against each other in a challenge to collect food bank donations. It's a friendly competition where clubs select an area of Lethbridge and go door to door to collect food bank donations. The clubs visit homes in Lethbridge and leave a notice that they will come back on a designated day and collect non-perishable food items.

This year, over the course of seven days at the end of October (Oct. 29 through Nov. 4), the Feed or Famine Food Drive crowned the Trolls Rugby Club as the winner of the challenge after they collected the most non-perishable food items.

The Trolls were awarded $300 for their win, followed by the Pre-Med club ($200) and the Geography club ($100). A total of 2,476 non-perishable food items were collected and club participation was up from the previous year.

"We are in constant need of donations, due to the increasing amount of students who access the food bank every year," says Talbot. "We continually have to replenish the food supply due to the high demand."

The Students' Union is always accepting donations for the food bank. For more information on how to donate, e-mail food.bank@uleth.ca or visit www.ulsu.ca.

Alumna Thomas earns ULSU honour

trevor.kenney — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:20:20 +0000

Melanee Thomas, who led the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union as President in 2002-03, is the recipient of the Students' Union Alumni Achievement Award for 2012.

Thomas, originally from the Granum area, graduated from the U of L in 2003 with a degree in political science (Great Distinction)

She went on to achieve her masters in political science with a specialization in Canadian Politics from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary in 2006, and completed her PhD in political science at McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 2011.

Now back in Alberta, Thomas is an assistant professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary in the political science department. Prior to her position at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary she was The Skelton-Clark Post Doctoral fellow in the Department of Political Science at Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"The reason we chose Melanee as the recipient for the ULSU Alumni Achievement Award is we were blown away with the success she has had in her academic career, and the fact that she was highly-esteemed by her co-workers and colleagues at the ULSU," says Shuna Talbot, the SU vice-president, internal.

Among numerous awards, Thomas received a Young Woman of Distinction award from the YWCA in 2003 and a Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) 2005 scholarship for her research into how gender influences the participation of women and men in politics.

She also has direct political and election experience as a candidate for the NDP in the Lethbridge Riding during the 2004 federal election.

Outside of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Thomas is also an accomplished runner and maintains an interest in music, having studied piano at the ARCT level with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Zoo summer hours begin

trevor.kenney — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:50:06 +0000

The Spring 2012 semester has come to a close and only a quiet murmur propagates through many of the campus hallways, and yet the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is still a vibrant, busy place.

A strong contingent of students, staff and faculty will remain busy through the summer months, and for the first time in recent memory, the Zoo will be open for everyone to enjoy.

In past years, the Zoo closed at the end of the spring semester and would re-open again in September. This year, the Zoo will be re-opening its doors on Monday, May 7.

The Zoo will offer a great summer menu that includes numerous Zoo classics and some new summer flavours to spice things up. Specials on libations will be available every day with savoury offerings for all tastes.

A great new addition to the Zoo's atmosphere is the bright, comfortable outdoor furniture that populates the patio. New seating, tables and umbrellas promise a delightful place to enjoy the best the Zoo has to offer during the upcoming Lethbridge summer.

The Zoo will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 11a.m. to 7 p.m. (with Happy Hour running from 4 to 7 p.m.) on Thursday and Friday.

To view the Zoo's new summer menu, visit www.ulsu.ca. Please feel free to contact the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union at 403-329-2222 or stop by our office in SU180.

ULSU charitable efforts laudable

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:17:01 +0000

Life isn't always a breeze, and every once in a while we are all in need of a helping hand. Students are no different.

Thankfully, there are numerous services offered by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) to help students whenever life's pinch gets a little too tight, but this is only one side of the charitable coin at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The flip side to the long list of services offered to students are the charitable actions and efforts of students who want to make life just a little easier for those who need it. The beneficiaries range from those within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community to the local and provincial communities and as far reaching as beyond international borders.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union works diligently to provide an avenue for motivated students to host charitable events on campus. Most recently, Paul Klein and Maxine Saretsky, members of the ULSU General Assembly (GA), organized a shoe drive benefitting Soles 4 Souls. The Nashville-based organization has been collecting and distributing shoes to disadvantaged persons since 2005 and they currently reach people in need in 127 countries.

Over the course of a frigid week in January, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community donated 194 pairs of shoes to the organization's cause. After this year's successful showing, Maxine and Paul hope to have the event return next year.

Another annual charitable event by students profiting students is the ULSU and Education Undergraduate Society (EUS) Fashion Drive. Now in its third year, and spearheaded by GA Education Rep Eva Gorny, the EUS Fashion Drive benefits scholarships for Faculty of Education students. The proceeds raised help to assist future teachers during their third practical semester and their first year in the profession.

The goal of this event is to raise enough money to keep this scholarship going for at least two additional years. Funding will be distributed in $500 increments to education students who qualify.

The collection period for this year's event takes place from Feb. 6-17 and there will be collection boxes located across campus. The fashion sale will take place on Feb. 28-29 in the Students' Union Ballroom B (SU200B).

The focus of the sale may be to help education students through their studies but the entire ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community benefits from the great prices and items available at the sale. Students will have the opportunity to refresh their wardrobe with minimal impact on their pocketbooks, all the while helping their fellow students – a win-win situation.

The well-being of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's student community remains at the heart of the ULSU's charitable efforts and they continue to seek out new and innovative efforts to improve the lives of their students and the community.

Bill Nye visits U of L campus

trevor.kenney — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:27:04 +0000

This event is sold out

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Graduate Students' Association (GSA) are proud to welcome Bill Nye to campus as part of the ULSU's Annual Student Speaker Series.

"One of our primary mandates is to increase student engagement on campus and create a unique and memorable experience for our students," says Andrew Williams, the ULSU vice-president academic.

With that in mind, Williams began the process of courting and finalizing a deal with Nye's camp over eight months ago. It was a lengthy process but Williams believes it will pay off in a very big way with the Monday, Jan. 23 (Noon to 3:30 p.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre) appearance.

"I chose to bring Bill Nye to the U of L for a number of reasons," says Williams. "He is a man, who for many current students, ignited a passion for learning and pursuing knowledge, and that passion and enthusiasm are contagious."

Bill Nye popularized the study of science for a generation of youngsters.

For over 15 years, Nye has been providing audiences with exciting, educational science entertainment. His most prominent persona, Bill Nye the Science Guy, began in September 1993 and ran for five years. Nye hosted a total of 100 episodes to much critical acclaim and captured 19 Emmy Awards.

The excitement from both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community and the greater Lethbridge area to the event is apparent in the brisk ticket sales. Williams says the ULSU has already sold more than 2,200 tickets.

"My hope is that Bill Nye's appearance will remind students of their strong passion and desire to learn, as well as recharge their batteries, so to speak, before mid-terms begin."

The event's attendees are not the only ones who stand to benefit from Nye's colloquial monologues. All proceeds from the event go to the ULSU Food Bank, helping to ensure that its shelves remain full and at the ready for all those who seek its services.

"The ULSU Food Bank is there to provide students in need with one of the most basic of human necessities," says Williams.

The 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium will host the noon event, with the popular ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chem Guys – John Eng & Wayne Lippa – serving as the opening act.

For more information about the Bill Nye appearance, or to purchase tickets, contact the ULSU at 403-329-2222 or stop by their office on the first floor of the Students' Union Building (SU180).

This story first appeared in the January edition of the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

SU looks to mobilize voters

trevor.kenney — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:04:09 +0000

The Council of Alberta ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Students (CAUS) and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) recently rolled out an ambitious Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaign to get young and first-time voters in Alberta's post-secondary institutions involved in the impending provincial election.

"The goal of the campaign is simple, get as many students out to vote as possible," says ULSU president and CAUS Chair Zack Moline. "Students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will be asked to sign a pledge form with a commitment that they will vote in the next election."

The contact information that the students provide on the pledge form will be used to update them with the necessary information to make an informed decision on Election Day. It will also provide CAUS and the ULSU the opportunity to encourage students to get out and exercise their right to vote.

"As a Spring election appears imminent, the ULSU is preparing now to ensure that the campaign is an overwhelming success," said Moline.

Together with CAUS, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Students' Unions, the ULSU hopes to inform and encourage a record number of students to pledge and then get out to the polls in the potential spring election. This upcoming election will be exciting, and will be the first provincial election for many new voters and the ULSU is optimistic that droves of students will pledge.

Students can pledge to vote online at the campaign website www.getoutthevote.ca but will also be given numerous opportunities to pledge in person throughout the campaign.

Any students interested in participating in the GOTV campaign to help inform their fellow students can contact ULSU Volunteer Coordinator Mike Solberg to get involved. Mr. Solberg can be contacted via email at su.volunteer@uleth.ca.

For more information about CAUS' GOTV campaign, visit www.getoutthevote.ca or contact the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union at 403-329-2222.

Food bank a valuable service

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:39:28 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU), an organization mandated to aid students and governed by students, offers a long list of excellent services to the student population throughout the year; but few are as valuable as the ULSU Food Bank.

Formally introduced by the ULSU General Assembly in 2004, the ULSU Food Bank has been growing with every new academic year. Last year, the Food Bank provided over 140 food hampers, both single and family, and saw a consistent increase in new students utilizing the services from the previous year.

The food hampers are designed to assist a student or a family for a period of five to seven days and each contains various healthy food choices. Students are eligible to utilize the Food Bank's services twice a month up to a maximum of ten times throughout their entire academic career.

The Food Bank is a donation driven service and the ULSU hosts numerous fundraising events every year to ensure that the shelves remain stocked and the hampers are plentiful. This year's fundraising efforts kicked off in September with a Car Wash and BBQ held at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Drive Alliance Church (UDAC).

"With the help of UDAC, the General Assembly, our friends at CKXU, community members and volunteers, the ULSU raised $350 to stock the Food Bank shelves," says VP Operations & Finance Leyland Bradley.

The last week of October brought on the second fundraiser of the year, the Trick or Eat Food Drive. Trick or Eat pits campus clubs against one another in a friendly competition to see which of them can raise the most donations, both edible and monetary, through an extensive community canvassing campaign.

At a time when rising education costs and living expenses are scrutinized and discussed at every societal level, and students are feeling the financial pinch more than ever before; now is the time to champion services that facilitate the post-secondary experience.

The ULSU Food Bank is an invaluable service to many ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students that is only made possible by the generous donations from the Lethbridge and area community, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community and countless individual donors and volunteers.

If you are a student who requires assistance or you wish to donate to the ULSU Food Bank, do not hesitate to visit www.ulsu.ca, our offices in SU180 or call 403-329-2222 for more information.

This story first appeared in the November issue of the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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