Quality Money proposals rejected

By Scott Strasser, April 1 2016 —

Students’ Legislative Council voted down a resolution that would have approved 19 Quality Money grants at its last meeting on March 29.

The Quality Money program is a partnership between the university and the Students’ Union that distributes roughly $1.6 million per year to “projects that will enhance the overall student experience.”

SU president Levi Nilson chairs the committee responsible for assessing projects and recommending them for approval.

“If there’s a project, initiative or idea that any students, faculty or staff want to do, they can apply for funding through Quality Money,” Nilson said.

There were 44 Quality Money proposals this year. Nilson’s committee whittled that number down to 19 recommendations.

After lengthy discussion, eight SLC members voted against the recommendations, while six voted in favour. Since the projects were all part of one resolution, members could either approve or reject all of the recommendations.

“There were a few SLC members who had issues with various projects,” Nilson said.

Proposals of concern included disbursing $40,100 to upgrade the Students of the Arts and Sciences Honours Academy lounge and $341,000 to upgrade Campus Security’s emergency app. SLC members also questioned the practicality of a project called “The Purple Bench” — a $3,780 bench meant to create a “safe space” on campus to meet with friends and strangers.

Haskayne rep Lowe voted against the proposals

Haskayne School of Business representative Conrad Lowe voted against approving the proposal. He said the value of updating the emergency app would not be worth the money allocated.

“I didn’t see how spending $350,000 to upgrade the app to try and get more people to download it [would] really add value for everyone,” Lowe said.

As the resolution was voted down, Quality Money Committee meets again on April 1 to make changes to their recommendations. The modified list will go to a vote at SLC on April 5.

If approved at SLC, the recommendations go to the Board of Governors for final approval. The money for the approved projects is distributed through the summer.