Brandon University Students' Union Explained

Brandon University Students' Union (BUSU)
Institution:Brandon University
President:Anugo Okudo
Vice Presidents:Linden Haubrick (VP Engagement)
Location:Brandon, Manitoba
Members:3,375[1] (2020)
Affiliated:CFS
Free Label:Employees
Free:9

The Brandon University Students' Union (BUSU) represents undergraduate, graduate, and distance students at Brandon University (BU) in Manitoba, Canada. BUSU is a not-for-profit organization that represents 3,375 (2020) students. BUSU was incorporated in 1969, and joined the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) as Local 37 in 1984.

BUSU hosts a variety of events such as speakers, socials, and free food giveaways as well as organizing orientation events at the beginning of each September and January.

BUSU is contracted by the Knowles-Douglas Commission to maintain the day-to-day operations of the Knowles-Douglas Centre, which includes the campus bookstore, Baileys, and The Quill as tenants.

The BUSU office is located on the first floor of the Knowles-Douglas Centre at Brandon University.

Services

The BUSU office functions as the central lost and found for BU. Each year the students' union produces about 3,000 student planners, which are available to students for free. The handbook provides information about the university and the students' union along with a weekly calendar for students to track course assignments and all of their extra curricular activities. BUSU and BU each contribute $15,000 annually to the work study program. The funding is granted to professors and other members of the BU community to hire students to assist in research projects, or in other engagement with the local community.

BUSU and BU each contribute $6,000 annually to the Student Travel & Conference Fund. This service is intended to assist students in covering their travel expenses and conference fees associated with participation in off-campus learning experiences. BUSU works closely with the BU Career Planning office and other employers to provide students with a current website for part-time and summer jobs. In 2015 the Assiniboine Community College Students' Association (ACCSA) and BUSU began a partnership to implement a student discount program with participating businesses throughout Brandon.

Between May 2015 and April 2016 over 300 hampers were distributed helping almost 900 people by the food bank. Every year BUSU hosts the Halloween Food Drive. Student clubs from BU compete to collect the most weight of non-perishable food by trick-or-treating around Brandon. In 2008, Brandon University students voted in favor of creating a Health and Dental Plan for students who do not have alternative coverage. BUSU administers the Health and Dental plan provided by C&C Insurance and Student VIP.

Collectives

BUSU funds, houses, and helps organize four[2] Collectives on the BU campus. The Collectives have guaranteed funding from BUSU each year and deal primarily with topics of gender, expression, diversity, nationality, and inclusion.

Fees

The following are fees collected by BUSU through the Brandon University.

Campaigns

BUSU runs a number of campaigns in conjunction with the CFS on a number of social, economic, and educational issues. On occasion, BUSU decides that larger actions are necessary to spread awareness and lobby the government about pressing issues.

All Out Nov 2

On November 2, 2016, BUSU and the CFS held rallies at Brandon University and the Manitoba Legislature in Support of Bill 15, The Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Act, the creation of an Indigenous course requirement, the removal of mandatory attendance requirements, and halting the increase of differential fees for international students.[7] The Manitoba Government passed Bill 15 in April 2017.[8]

  1. Scrap Bill 31

On October 25 and 26, 2017, BUSU and the CFS held rallies at Brandon University and the Manitoba Legislature in Opposition of Bill 31, The Advanced Education Administration Amendment Act, which would allow tuition hikes of up to 5% plus inflation every year[9] and deregulates course-related fees.[10] Over 200 students rallied at Brandon University,[11] and more than 50 people spoke out in opposition at the public hearing on Bill 31.[12] On Nov 10, 2017, the Manitoba government passed Bill 31.[13] On March 17, 2018, BUSU President Nick Brown proposed a motion to the Brandon University Board of Governors to keep tuition increases to a maximum of the rate of inflation, but it was defeated.[14]

Controversies

Brandon University Students For Life

In November 2015 BUSU did not accept the application for Club Status from the Brandon University Students for Life (BUSL).[15] In August 2016 BUSL took legal action against BUSU, suing for reinstatement of Club Status.

At the Fall 2016 Annual General Meeting, the following motion was passed:

2020 Election Interference

During the 2020 BUSU Election the Elections and Referenda Disciplinary Interpretation and Enforcement Board (ERDIE) received multiple reports regarding "intimidation, threat, or undue influence".[16] The ERDIE Board investigation resulted in the candidates for president and Vice President Internal, Olusola Akintola and Janet Akintola respectively, being disqualified from the election. Olusola and Janet filed a legal application calling for the courts to order BUSU to ratify the results of the election[17] and stated that there is "a conspiracy to prevent some of us from taking office". Janet was reinstated on June 3, and Olusola on July 13 after an independent investigation could not substantiate the evidence of the allegations. A notice of abandonment of the lawsuit was also filed on July 13.[18] On August 10, Olusola resigned stating that, "I needed to move on, actually, I just wanted to fight to get my name back. I didn't like the way I was being treated and I fought to get it back. Once I got it back, I just felt ‘well, let me just leave.’"[19] On October 5, 2020, BUSU put out an ad to fill the vacant position of Vice President Internal, indicating that Janet had also resigned.

There were also allegations stating that a candidate mislead students into believing the polls had closed earlier than expected. The other two candidates in the election were Whitney Hodgins, and Zach Roozendaal, nephew of former BUSU President John Roozendaal.

Hodgins was reached for a comment on the controversy by the Brandon Sun, though Roozendaal states he was never approached for a comment or asked to discuss his feelings by BUSU or any media outlets.

Elected Positions

The BUSU Council is elected on an annual basis from May 1 to April 30 every year. The General Election takes place around reading week in late February.

The BUSU Council currently has 18 positions:[20]

Executive

Directors

YearPresidentVice President InternalVice President External
1968/69David J. RinnRick MarshallWarren Brown
1969/70Clark FraserJim PringleColleen McGuinness
YearPresidentVice President InternalVice President External3rd Vice President
1970/71Colleen McGuinnessBeverly BosniakWayne MclennanGordon Hornbeck
1971/72Lyle DickBert RobinsonVacantGeorge Ulyatt
YearPresidentVice President InternalVice President External
1972/73Doug FraserMorrie KilbergDennis Darling
1973/74Bob Hunter[21] Andre DelaurierGuy Thornton
1974/75Dave WellbornBarb DanielsJim McManes
YearPresidentVice President InternalVice President ExternalVice President Activities
1975/76Fred MasonShannon BellGraham AvonWill Smolkowski
Arnie Francis
1976/77Gordon MorrisseauBob HammondGordon MalcolmLang Mackie
Bill McNaughton
1977/78Bill McNaughton
1978/79Joe ZdebiakRod Foster
1979/80Keith Poulson
1980/81Craig DuttonDave WilkeStan StruthersBill Garratt
Dave Wilkie
1981/82Drew CaldwellBill GarrattCharmaine SchensteadTimothy Conlin
1982/83Charmaine SchensteadMark BonnorScott StewartRae Plowman
1983/84Reg HelwerTracy BlanchardJillian HicksTim McCartney
Ruth Pryzner
1984/85Jes AagaardBruce HickeyRuth PryznerWesley Turk
1985/86Ruth PryznerSean FedorowichClark MarcinoDawn Aberson
1986/87Scott WileyDave SheachJoe OdarteiBruce Barber
1987/88Shelley IrelandMark EichorstPatrick BraatenKent Thorkelsson
1988/89Shelley IrelandElaine McCrakenAl StittVacant
1989/90Sean BowieMitch PeacockKirk BruggarBob Hume
1990/91Paul McDonaldDavid SwayzeBruce LeflarJeff Richert
1991/92Jeff RichertJames RogersJennifer HowardCraig Ferris
YearPresidentVice President InternalVice President Advocate
1992/93Jeff RichertTracey WalkerVacant
1993/94John RoozendaalLesley KretaiVacant
1994/95Lesley KretaiMarlene PowellMaezie Dadoush
1995/96Darren OttawayElliott OlesonKana Mahadavan
1996/97Erick BlaikieGaylene GurrNolan Erickson
1997/98Gari-Ellen DonohoeTravis ChastkoJoe Vercaigne
YearPresidentVice President FinanceVice President AcademicVice President Activities
1998/99Michael ElvesJanine WainesJon FriesenScott Janes
1999/00Gregory KristalovichSarah FreundLaura McDougaldGerond Davidson
2000/01Tim McKayDenise MarsdenKristina Lonstrup
2001/02Tim MckayKristina LonstrupBlaine FoleyVacant
2002/03Carla HarrisKim OlsonKatie PollockCrystal Barber
2003/04David CannonTom MatthewsJeff SykesMeeghan Gavin
2004/05Meeghan GavinTom MatthewsMitch ObachVacant
2005/06Mitch ObachCourtenay O'Brien-MoranNathan PetoZoë Gross
2006/07Stacy SenkbeilZoë GrossChris FisherVacant
2007/08Nathan PetoStephen MontagueChris FisherDaniel Arellano
2008/09Stephen MontagueVacantVacantVacant
2009/10Stephen MontagueGrant BastoneLaura BalankoVacant
YearPresidentVice President InternalVice President External
2010/11Jade VisserLaura BalankoShannon Skidmore
2011/12Deandra TousignantJonathan KeenKelsey McDonald
2012/13Carissa TaylorRaymond ThomsonSuz Duff
2013/14Stephanie BachewichMatt MayJenna Clinton(May 2013 – Jan 2014)
2014/15Joel SpringerNick Brown(June 2014 – Apr 2015)Sandra Mutasa(May 2014 – Sept 2014)
Rhoni Mohanraj(Oct 2014 – Apr 2015)
2015/16Aaron Thompson(May 2015 – Dec 2016)Nick Brown(May 2014 – 2014 Dec)Rhoni Mohanraj
Nick Brown (Interim)(Dec 2014 – 2015 Feb)Jill Creasor (Interim)(Dec 2014 – Feb 2015)
Aaron Thompson(Feb 2015 – Apr 2015)Nick Brown(Feb 2015 – Apr 2015)
2016/17Nick BrownJill CreasorGreg Monias(May 2016 – Feb 2017)
Trevor Dean Poole(Feb 2017 – Apr 2017)
2017/18Nick BrownEmily SimonMohammed Agavi(June 2017 – Apr 2018)
2018/19Justin Shannon(Aug 2018 – Apr 2019)Emily SimonMohammed Agavi
2019/20Olusola AkintolaWhitney HodginsApril Li
2020/21Olusola Akintola(July 1, 2020 – Resigned August 17, 2020)Janet Akintola(July 1, 2020 – Resigned September 30, 2020)Gaynell McCatty(May 1, 2020 – Resigned May 4, 2020)
Olufunke Sophia Adeleye(Sept 2020 – Apr 2021)James Maxon(Nov 2020 – Apr 2021)Sophia Rivera(Sept 2020 – Apr 2021)
2021/22Olufunke Sophia AdeleyeSimiloluwa Omotoye(July 2021 – April 2022)Iyiola Sanya Olabowale(May 2021 – January 2022)
YearPresidentVice President OperationsVice President Engagement
2022/23Olufunke Sophia AdeleyeSimiloluwa OmotoyeAnugo Okudo(July 2022 – April 2023)
2023/24Anugo OkudoChidimna Joy ChikezieLinden Haubrick
2024/25Charles AdamuChidimna Joy ChikezieKesha Haulder

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Enrolment dips at BU, Assiniboine . The Brandon Sun . 3 September 2020 . 18 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220718164642/https://www.brandonsun.com/local/enrolment-dips-at-bu-assiniboine-572303082.html . dead .
  2. Web site: BUSU Collectives.
  3. Web site: Gender Empowerment Collective.
  4. Web site: BU LGBTTQ*. 2017-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20170901044740/http://www.bulgbttq.com/. 2017-09-01. dead.
  5. Web site: BUASC Facebook.
  6. Web site: ISO Facebook.
  7. Web site: National Day of Action demonstration attracts large turnout of students, union members. The Manitoban. 11 May 2020.
  8. Web site: New Manitoba law aims to halt sex assaults at post-secondary schools. CBC. 11 May 2020.
  9. Web site: Day of Action 2017. The Quill. 11 May 2020.
  10. Web site: Students, faculty challenge "regressive" Bill 31. The Manitoban. 11 May 2020.
  11. Web site: BUSU Marches Against Bill 31 in Student Day of Action. The Quill. 11 May 2020.
  12. Web site: Students, faculty challenge "regressive" Bill 31. The Manitoban. 11 May 2020.
  13. Web site: Manitoba passes Bill 31 despite strong student opposition. The Manitoban. 11 May 2020.
  14. Web site: BU rejects BUSU's proposal to limit tuition hikes to inflation rate. The Brandon Sun. 11 May 2020.
  15. Web site: Anti-abortion Brandon University students sue their union, allege discrimination. CBC. 10 May 2020.
  16. Web site: BUSU election results called into question. Brandon Sun. 10 May 2020.
  17. Web site: BUSU president taking legal action. Brandon Sun. 10 May 2020.
  18. Web site: BUSU legal fight over, president reinstated. Brandon Sun. 28 July 2020.
  19. Web site: BUSU president resigns after his reinstatement. Brandon Sun. Brandon Sun. 12 August 2020.
  20. Web site: BUSU Council. 2017-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20170417072712/http://www.busu.ca/council/. 2017-04-17. dead.
  21. Web site: Obituary for Robert James Hunter . Memories Chapel . 13 May 2020.