DVD Rental Referendum
BY CHAD FULLERTON, MACINSIDERS
Have you heard about the DVD Rental Referendum?
Some students have, but we were unable to discuss it due to the rules of campaigning. The Elections Committee have since made a new ruling which allows open discussion on MacInsiders (thanks John McIntyre and Temara Brown for informing us), and therefore here is the information we know.
Feel free to now discuss this topic in the discussion thread here. Disclaimer: note that none of the information found there is guaranteed accurate.
Via
Facebook:
Quote:
PREFACE (non-binding):
In January 2008, an external organization approached the McMaster Students Union with a petition concerning the addition of a suppplementary fee for a DVD access service available to all MSU members. The service would result in an increase in supplementary fees of $24 per academic year per student. The MSU will investigate the possibility of an opt-out process.
The Official Referendum will appear as follows (binding):
Do you support the application of a supplementary fee of $24 per academic year per student for the operation of a DVD access service?
Please keep in mind the preface that appears is non-binding, merely a way of providing information on the service that has been proposed. The reason it is non-binding is because some of the suggestions (unlimited DVD availability and opt-out) may not be possible.
Due to the great interest of McMaster students in this issue, and their great interest in online discussions we have revised our rules to allow facebook campaigning [as well as discussion on MacInsiders].
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The elections committee will be providing up to date, factual information on the MSU
website as well as their official
Facebook group. They will only respond to posts if they include inaccurate information. "The initial rule was meant to ensure that only factual and unbiased information was presented and was not a means to prevent free speech. We appreciate student passion for discussion and hope that you will all come out to vote!"
Polling days:
October 22nd, 2008 and October 23rd, 2008 at:
- Arts and Science - Commons Lobby
- Commerce - MGD Lobby
- Engineering - JHE Lobby
- Health Science - Ewart Angus Centre (HSC) on first day/MDCL on second day
- Humanities - Mills
- Kinesiology - DBAC
- Nursing - Ewart Angus Centre (HSC) on first day/MDCL on second day
- Science - BSB Lobby
- Social Science - MUSC Atrium on first day/Mills on second day
For the referendum results to be binding,
10% of students must vote in this referendum (quorum is 10%), so exercise your right to vote and come out on Oct 22nd and 23rd.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to send an email to
[email protected] .ca (Jon Scheiding, Chief Returning Officer) and
[email protected] ca (Nick Shorten, Deputy Returning Officer) or feel free to send a facebook message to any of the elections committee moderators in this group as they have up-to-date factual information regarding this referendum and will be able to answer any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is this an increase in tuition?
- No. This fee, if passed would be charged by the University at the same time as your tuition, but would be charged as a STUDENT FEE.
2) How much do we have to pay?
- The fee would be $24/year.
3) If this passes, has the MSU already established a company to provide the service?
- No. The MSU is required to consider many options once a referendum is passed so that students can get the best service for their fee.
4) How was this referendum initiated?
- A referendum can be initiated by two methods. First, a 2/3 vote by the SRA. Secondly, a petition with 3% of MSU member (full-time undergraduate student) signatures. For this referendum, the SRA was presented a petition with over the 3% requirement and as such initiated a referendum.
