UNews - vice-president Operations and Finance

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.

Incoming executive excited about opportunity to boost student engagement

trevor.kenney — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:43:49 +0000

The spring winds bring an annual changing of the guard at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU). As another successful year at the Students' Union comes to an end, a new Executive Council is poised to usher in new, and what it expects will be prosperous, student initiatives.

"All of the initiatives and projects we will be working on will fall under at least one of six headings: increasing the effectiveness of our communications, increasing our presence on campus, strengthening our lobbying voice, improving our events, expanding our service base and promoting sustainability on campus," says newly appointed ULSU President Zack Moline.

Executive Council has taken a particular interest in boosting the organization's digital presence and online services. Numerous initiatives are taking shape that will make the Students' Union available on more media platforms and subsequently to a larger audience.

One particular undertaking is part of two Executive Council members' campaign platforms. Andrew Williams and Leyland Bradley are guiding a venture that would see the creation of an online tutor database.

"Students are currently forced to refer to cluttered posting boards, giving them only a small chance of actually finding the academic assistance they require," says Andrew Williams, ULSU vice-president academic. "I see this as simply unacceptable."

ULSU Executive Council also plans to utilize new avenues of communication to diversify and improve on-campus events.

"Students have such great and unique ideas. I want their input," says Lisa Rodych, the vice-president of Internal Affairs.

This year's council is also excited about the opportunity to advocate for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students' interests. As members of both the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and the Council of Alberta ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Students (CAUS), Moline and his colleagues intend to make major strides in improving the post-secondary experience at not only the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, but for students as a whole in Alberta and across Canada.

"Every year, every new council puts student engagement at the top of their list of priorities for their year in office, and I feel that our council will exemplify this," says Leyland Bradley, vice-president Operations and Finance. "We want to ensure that our campus events and our advocacy efforts are parallel with the opinions of our students."

This story first appeared in the Legend. To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Mayoral candidates at U of L, Thursday

trevor.kenney — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:35:08 +0000

Lethbridge mayoral candidates will be on the spot Thursday, Sept. 30 at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the Students' Union presents a candidate forum in the Atrium.

Beginning at 12:15 p.m., the forum allows candidates the opportunity to introduce their campaign platforms and to answer questions from both U of L students and the broader Lethbridge community.

"There are a variety of reasons that we are hosting this event," says Allan Hall, ULSU vice-president operations and finance. "We want to give our students an opportunity to raise issues that they feel are important, and to be better informed about the upcoming municipal election. This allows students a convenient opportunity to educate themselves about municipal politics."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is a key stakeholder in the City of Lethbridge and by hosting this forum at the U of L it will give students the opportunity to challenge candidates about important post-secondary education issues.

"This is an opportunity for the mayoral candidates to articulate their vision for the future of Lethbridge to its constituents," says Hall.

The forum is not only for students to hear the views of candidates; the ULSU would like to extend an invitation to the community to participate in the event.

"The ULSU would like to see a broad representation of the Lethbridge population attend the forum, it's not just for the campus community but for the entire community of Lethbridge," adds Hall.

Constituents will be given the opportunity to ask questions after each candidate presents a brief introduction about themselves and their platform.

Perspective changes with new faces

trevor.kenney — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:51:06 +0000

Every year, there's an influx of new talent to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) – this year is no exception.

The ULSU Executive Council has brought a great many new ideas to the organization and is ready to make some positive changes to the student experience at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

"It is my hope to provide students with a unique experience that reflects the essence of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," says Taz Kassam, ULSU president. "We want to compliment the academic programs, thereby enhancing the educational experience as well as the quality of campus life for students."

Kassam looks to do this by showcasing the services and opportunities offered through the ULSU. She also intends to see the ULSU recognized locally, provincially and nationally as a dynamic and innovative leader.

"It is very important that the ULSU has a strong representation on campus, as well as municipally, provincially and federally," says Allan Hall, vice-president operations and finance. "All four of these government bodies play a significant role in the lives of undergraduate students, and it is paramount that we ensure student voices are heard at these levels."

With a municipal election on the horizon, this is an exceptionally important year for the ULSU in terms of its advocacy on issues involving housing and transportation in Lethbridge.

The ULSU encourages student involvement both on campus and in the community, and this year the Executive Council is committed to increasing student engagement.

"The lifeblood of the ULSU is students," says Keith McLaughlin, vice-president academic. "We need to be engaged with and responsive to our students in order to be effective. Through our positions, we hope to invigorate the student body."

Open lines of communication are not always easy to achieve, but the ULSU is working hard to break down any barriers that may exist between students and the ULSU. Simple acts, such as having lunch with students and talking to students face-to-face help to create an awareness of the ULSU around campus and keep them in touch with who they elected.

"We really hope for a high level of transparency with the student population," says Nate McCowan, vice-president internal. "We want to engage our students and provide an atmosphere that fosters both learning and having fun."

UNews - vice-president Operations and Finance

Food bank continues to serve a valuable need

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