All but one referenda pass

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The Faculty of Science Students Association referendum question, which proposed a fee increase from a maximum of $15 to a maximum of $21.50, failed to pass as part of the Wilfrid Laurier University Students Union elections.

Sunny Chan, president of FOSSA and currently a director on the WLUSU board of directors, was disheartened at the results.

โ€œWe accept the results regardless, and we will not be proposing a new referendum question for the possibly next three years,โ€ he said.

โ€œLaurierโ€™s faculty of science is a small faculty in comparison to other universities,
for them to hinder our academic component of FOSSA, theyโ€™re not enriching that
Laurier science program unfortunately.โ€

Chris Walker, chairman of the WLUSU board of directors, said it would be prudent for FOSSA to wait before proposing a new referendum.

โ€œIf FOSSA wants to bring back another question for referendum it has to be different criteria or a different amount.โ€

All other referenda passed, including an inflationary increase to the WLUSU health and dental plan as well as an important constitutional amendment that would require two board members per campus.

โ€œIโ€™m thrilled about the constitutional amendments passing because it shows
students at Laurier are concerned about multi-campus governance.โ€ said Walker.

As for the health and dental plan, it appears the increase may come as a โ€˜plan bโ€™.

โ€œWhat it means is that we donโ€™t have to increase it, but we have the option to in case that crisis point should occur,โ€ said Walker.

โ€œIt will be up the board of directors as to whether to endorse it or not, and it will be a recommendation coming from management as to whether we need the additional dollars to cover increasing costs.โ€

In total four referenda were passed.


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