The Students’ Union’s current MacEwan Student Centre lease agreement with the University of Calgary will expire in December 2014. The process to renegotiate the agreement is set to start within the next few months.


The almost 15-year-old lease divides up space and management responsibilities in the building, which is owned by the university but operated by the SU. The SU controls roughly one-third of the space, which it uses for businesses, SU offices and other services.


After two weeks of campaigning, the 2013–14 University of Calgary Students’ Union election results have been announced.

Raphael Jacob has been elected as the 71st SU president, taking 51 per cent of the votes. Candidate Stefana Pancic received 19 per cent and current president 
Hardave Birk received 31 per cent.


“I’m very happy and very excited,” said Jacob. “Thank you, U of C.”


Birk was gracious in his defeat, offering kind words to Jacob.


The U of C’s SU is a devoted group of students who advocate on behalf of the student body. They sit on many decision-making and administrative groups at the university.


This year’s executive team have set out attainable goals, but with only four months left in their positions, time is slowly slipping away for them to finish what they set out to do.

Student politicians met last month to develop strategies to improve the student experience for the 2012–13 year.
Over 30 student government leaders from 25 Canadian post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary Students’ Union president Hardave Birk and vice-president external 
Raphael Jacob, convened at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick for the Policy and Strategy 2012 conference of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations from July 18–20.

If students need to dish out extra dough for university, many agree that the money should enhance their experience on campus, and they should have more of a say in what they are paying for.

The Students' Union released a poll Mar. 3 which showed Calgarians' support for secondary suites in an attempt to influence City Council. Four days later, City Council made minor adjustments to the secondary suites bylaw, but Mayor Naheed Nenshi's proposal to approve the creation of secondary suites in areas that currently allow only single-family homes did not pass. The issue will return to council in December and more consultation will be carried out regarding secondary suites.

The Students' Union is working with Mayor Naheed Nenshi to relax regulations regarding secondary suites. Nenshi is proposing secondary suites be legalized in all Calgary neighbourhoods, but that they should be subject to three conditions -- the suite must meet all health and safety codes; the landlord must provide a parking spot, though this will be waived if the property is within 500 metres of an LRT station; and the owner must live on the property.