FINAL REPORT OF THE

PRESIDENTSHAUNSHEPHERDUNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNIONLOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

FINAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNIONLOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

FINAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNIONLOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

REPORT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRSIN THIS REPORT:1. END-OF-TERM REPORTS2. STUDENT COMMONS3. TRI-CAMPUS UNITY4. SUCCESSES5. FINAL NOTES

1. END OF TERM REPORTSEND-OF-TERM REPORTSThank you for a wonderful year of providing events, campaigns and services to our members at the University of Toronto. This year, the Executives have produced end of term reports that indicate the work that has been done year-round by the executives, board, volunteers and staff. Thank you for a wonderful year!

VICE-PRESIDENT CAMPUS LIFEYolen Bollo-Kamara was the final executive to join the Executive team. Despite this, Yolen hosted numerous events with the Campus Life Commission including the Pride Picnic, Caribana Food Fair, Blue and White Spirit Days and the Unity Ball Semi-Formal. Additionally, this team created an all-new UTSUfest, Culture Show and a reinvigorated Montreal Reading Week and 4 extra exam destressor dates. While planning returning and new events, Yolen and the campus groups team also managed to create two new types of clubs funding and allocate funding to all campus groups that were requesting it. Thank you to Yolen and the Campus Life Commission crew for all their great events and programming this year.

VICE-PRESIDENT EXTERNALAbigail Cudjoe and the Community Action Commission has had a large focus on the Pedestrianize St. George Street campaign and tenants rights. Additionally, the work that Abigail, the Commission and the Ontario Public Interest Research Group put into disOrientation was outstanding. The Commission has recently addressed the motion around public transit and will be investigating new services, universal metropasses and tactics to engage members in creating a better system of public transit for the new year. Thank you to Abigail Cudjoe and the Community Action Commission members for your great work this year.

VICE-PRESIDENT EQUITYNoor Baig and the Social Justice & Equity Commission has worked on a variety of activities and campaigns this year. The Commission hosted two eXpression Against Oppression series, with a large variety of small events in the first semester and two large internationally renown speakers. Additionally, the Commission has introduced the challenge homophobia/transphobia campaign, toolkit for combatting sexual violence and the new multifaith space at Robarts Library. The Commission has also been vocal and active in creating safe(r) spaces through events such as the townhalls on sexism and racism. Thank you to Noor Baig and the Social Justice & Equity Commission for being principled and diligent in creating safe(r) spaces on campus.

VICE-PRESIDENT INTERNAL & SERVICESCorey Scott and the office staff have been working diligently throughout the year to ensuring the growth and accessibility of services and Union information. Corey has drastically made the board packages, budget and policy more transparent and accessible to members, developed service guides and manuels for members and campus groups. Additionally. Corey’s work to redesign the ISIC program, develop a mobile kiosk and expand office hours has made the Union more accessible and available for our members. Thank you to Corey Scott and members of our staff for the hours of work they put in to make the Union function for our members.

VICE-PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS Munib Sajjad and the Academic & Student Rights Commission has worked throughout the year to ensure the student voice is involved in every discussion at the University of Toronto. They have worked tirelessly to expose the Access Copyright contract, begin discussions on the Drop Credit policy and create a submission to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities regarding the discussion paper on post-secondary education reform. Additionally, the Commission has made great strides in fighting for healthier, affordable and accessible food on campus. Thank you to Munib Sajjad and the Academic & Student Rights Commission for all their hard and often thankless work in representing the student voice.

FINAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNIONLOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSIONERWill Warnica and the Sustainability Commission have worked throughout the year to redefine the work of the Commission. This year, there have been multiple events such as the Vegan BBQ, the first ever EcoFest and a number of endorsed and sponsored events. Additionally, the Commission has actively participated in collaborations with OnTap, the Environmental Action Club and the Sustainability Office in developing campaigns, educational materials and events. The Commission also sent a large contingent to the Powershift Conference in Ottawa. Thank you to Will Warnica and the Sustainability Commission for all their work in building a more sustainable campus and community.

2. STUDENT COMMONSThe Union has been meeting with the University of Torono’s lawyers for the last few years to finalize an operations agreement for the Student Commons on 230 College Street. The Union expects that an operations agreement will be signed by the end of this year’s governance cycle. Thank you to Sandra Hudson, Adnan Najmi and the Union’s lawyers for their work in fighting for student control over student space. A fuller update will be provide upon the agreement with the University of Toronto.

3. TRI-CAMPUS UNITYIn an ongoing effort to build unity across the University, we have been working very closely with our sister students’ unions this year. As a result, we have been able to respond to issues affecting our members together. Notable examples are our joint lobbying and advocacy efforts include submissions to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, attendance at the co-curricular record townhalls, a students’ union & governance presentation to Governing Council and the Council on Student Services, participation in the Student Library Committee on Access Copyright, a submission & review on ancillary fee, and a submission & review on the Student Code of Conduct. We know that working united with our sister unions makes our advocacy more effective. We look forward to continued support and joint work with the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union, the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students, the Graduate Students’ Union and the various student societies.

4. SUCCESSESAs a Union, we have had a great year on the ground engaging our members, as well as working to improve the services, campaigns and events we offer. In addition, we have also succeeded to represent our members to institutional and governmental offices, lobbying for better supports and services for our members. For a full listing of successes and ongoing efforts, please reveiw the end-of-term reports and past board packages. Some of our victories and successes this year include: - Lobbied for the elimination of several illegal ancillary fees through a students’ union requested ancillary fee review - Lobbied for the introduction of dedicated multifaith space in Robarts Library - Worked with the Council on Student Services to host a retreat to provide constructive feedback on the services offered by Hart House, Athletics, and the Office of Student Life - Developed a Council on Student Service Report and voted against fee increases for the 2013-14 year - Finalized a Student Commons operations agreement with the University of Toronto - Hosted EcoFest and the Vegan BBQ to promote sustainable living on campus - Requested a third party audit of the Union’s electoral code and implement electoral reform modifications - Provided free Orientation kits to college and faculty constituency Orientation Weeks - Participated in a National Lobby Week and Provincal Lobby Week to inform elected representatives, senators and staff of the benefits of high-quality, affordable and accessible education - Lobbied for safe and affordable housing at the potential 230 College Street student residence - Formed a Racialized & Indengious Students’ Collective to address issues that arise on campus and in the community - Supported the Transitional Year Program, International Student, Chinese Student, Mature Student, Muslim Student and Queer Student Orientation projects - Hoste two eXpression Against Oppression Weeks which included guest lectures by Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and Winona LaDuke - Introduced a campus toolkit for combatting sexual violence - Opposed misogyny on campus by providing resources and support for those attacked by the website A Voice for Men, and acting as a beacon of organizing against sexism and misogyny on campus - Implemented the challenge homophobia/transphobia campaign and the ‘Say What You Mean’ poster series - Hosted disOrientation with OPIRG and brough renown performer d’bi Young to UofT

FINAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNIONLOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

FINAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNIONLOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

- Created two new types of clubs funding - including one for newly created clubs - Redrafted the Union’s Clubs Policy to make it for accessible to campus groups and include equipment rental guidelines - Created a new Clubs Box Office to enhance accessibility for campus group events - Worked to implement and provide feedback on the newly created Student Initiative Fund - Worked with the Office of Student Life to implement and provide feedback on the Campus Groups room booking system - Worked with the Office of Student Life to redraft the Office of Space Management Booking policy to ensure free access to audio-visual equipment, expand booking timespan and number of eligible space booking administrators - Provided clubs funding to more than 200 campus groups - Recognized over 300 campus groups and hosted a Unity Ball Semi-Formal to recognize their accomplishments - Created policy for Individual Academic Endeavours and the Book Bursary programs - Hosted Orientation week featuring Kardinal Offishall, Anjulie and La Sera - Introduced UTSUfest, a second Orientation week, that included a street festival, Hart House quad party and Varsity Blues game - Hosted the first-ever Culture Show, showcasing UofT campus dance and performance arts groups - Hosted the second Winter Week of Welcome featuring artists Unbuttoned and Shad and a street fair on Willcocks Street - Resurrected the Montreal Reading Week Trip - Developed a Blue and White Spirit Week campaign to celebrate the Varsity Blues teams - Expanded UTSU’s Got You to include two dates for Fall mid-terms and two additional dates in the Spring exam season - Collaborated with campus groups to sponsor on-campus events such as Pride, Caribana, Diwali and UofT Idle No More - Enhanced the International Student Identification Card to be co-branded with the Health and Dental Plan - Expand the number of ISIC blitz days in Sidney Smith, Bahen Centre and Gerstein Library - Hosted Lunch & Learns in OISE, Nursing, Dentistry and Pharmacy - Developed a photocopying and printing service that is the lowest cost on campus - Hosted three General Meetings with numerous bylaw amendments and issues-based motions ranging from supporting the Idle No More movement to opposing misogynistic groups on campus - Redesigned the member’s handbook to be more visually appealing and include an A-Z directory. - Developed a Library Services Guide with a comprehensive library services listings - Developed a mobile kiosk service plan to expand Union services across campus - Organized a Board of Directors retreat to better train and organize members to engage their constituents - Redesigned the Union’s budget to be more transparent and accessible to members - Posted the Union’s policy manuel and Board of Directors packages online - Met with the Vice-Provost Students Office frequently to address student concerns and achieve student goals through collaboration - Gave presentations on students’ union governance and capacities to Governing Council with other central students’ unions - Conduct two Townhalls on Food Services - Developed a Drop Credit policy discussion paper - Developed a response to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities discussion paper - Provided feedback on the proposed co-curricular record and course evaluations framework - Worked in coalition with the Transitional Year Program to defend the program and host a townhall to build solidarity - Sent delegates to teh Canadian Universities Queer Services Conference and Powershift Conference - Equipped the UTSU office with rain barrels to reduce the environmental impact on maintaining the community garden - Drafted a campaign to address the new tuition fee framework introduced by the Ontario government - Worked with Faculty of Law students to address the concerns with unpaid internships

These victories speak to our strength as a Union and our collective efforts to improve the student experience at the University of Toronto. Congratulations to our staff, board and volunteers for your efforts in making these successes possible.

FINAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNIONLOCAL 98 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

5. FINAL NOTESIt has been a blast.

In solidarity,Shaun ShepherdPresident University of Toronto Students’ UnionLocal 98 Canadian Federation of Students