With the fall term underway in full swing, the Students’ Union (SU) is working extensively with the university staff to implement different committees, policies, and programs for students. Here’s a quick rundown of the meetings thus far.
The SU held its first meeting of the fall term on Sept. 17, 2026. Tara Robinson, Director of Business Operations, opened the meeting with updates on the newly renovated Wilf’s and its new management staff, as well as the recently opened Higher Grounds Cafe. Chair Corey Ferguson spoke about his meeting with the Laurier Food Security Group about the food bank programs running through the SU, followed by President Jessica Li’s updates and comments about hiring, orientation, and the student advisory committee. The board then welcomed the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA).
OUSA President Rory Norris and Executive Director Octave Andrade-Dixon spoke about their ongoing efforts in representing the nine member student associations across Ontario, highlighting initiatives such as surveys on students’ basic needs, policy development, and the work regarding OSAP changes and Bill 33. OUSA also outlined its upcoming lobbying priorities at Queen’s Park, focusing on student aid, housing, and job market readiness, and announced that Laurier will host the alliance’s Spring 2027 General Assembly.
On Oct. 2, the second meeting kicked off with the announcement that a tentative agreement had been reached between the staff association and the university. Additionally, orientation was marked as a success, with shoutouts to all members and volunteers who contributed. As the school term settles in, SU debriefs are underway, highlighting a concern with the number of volunteers in feedback from campus partners.
Following up on the update with Wilf’s, it was noted that certain programs usually held at the restaurant—such as monthly Bingo night—will be on pause as technical issues get situated.
Executive Director and COO Phil Champagne announced plans for a new building to be finished by the fall of 2030, with consultation meetings currently being held. Upgrades to the air conditioning in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre were also completed; however, conditions may take time to improve as temperature adjustments for regulation remain in progress. Additionally, it was announced that the Brantford campus restaurant, Belmont, had officially opened. Following these updates, Director of Finance and Administration, Chris Turner, recapped the overall activity in the spring and summer terms. He reported a better deficit than what was budgeted, with the key factors being decreased tuition fees and dental coverage. As that is standard during this time, it was declared that the school’s financial position faced no concerns.
This meeting concluded with the Call for Referendum Questions led by Director of Policy, Research and Advocacy Ian Muller, who highlighted that this was the point in time within the year in which members had the ability to request referendum questions. Ian recommended that any students and/or groups who may have questions connect with them via the Students’ Union website to review the submission and vetting process.
The next meeting was held on Oct. 23, 2026, and began with the board formally welcoming two new Brantford campus directors: Raina Thomas and Elizabeth Joy Phillips. This was followed by discussions on operational updates, reports on ongoing negotiations regarding university food services agreements, and special-purpose vehicles, as well as developments on the student advisory committees.
Additionally, the board engaged in an extensive Q&A period with the Vice President of Clubs and Associations, Eliana Scanga, addressing student concerns around club funding allocations, debt management, and future structural transitions for campus collectives. The Board also approved the upcoming 2027 election policy and dates, followed by the appointment of members to the direct inspection committee. The meeting concluded with a brief preview into reviewing Wilf’s operating model. The SU meetings for November are scheduled for Nov. 6 and Nov. 20 and will be live streamed on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@studentsunionvideo/streams)
Contributed photo by Stephanie Enyinnaya
