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.

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.

Like the powerful Golem, Students' Union vice-president external Hardave Birk has been a heavy hitter in the SU pokedex this year.

Birk contended with a provincial government unlikely to be offering any new funding to post-secondary anytime soon while serving as chair of the Council of Alberta University Students. Many of CAUS's questions have gone unanswered by the government, largely due to the economic situation where provincial funds are said to be unavailable.

The landscape of federal student lobby groups might be changing if Students' Union vice-president external Hardave Birk has his way.

The University of Calgary SU has been a member of two student-lobby groups, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations and the Council of Alberta University Students, for 15 and 20 years respectively. As a member, the SU fights for student rights and lobbies on issues such as tuition hikes, textbook copyrights and student funding.

The Council of Alberta University students, a post-secondary lobby group of which the University of Calgary is a member, recently released recommendations and policy goals for the year. They hope that despite the recession, schools will see additional provincial funding.

Even if it isn't where the Students' Union wanted it to happen, Calgary will potentially see an increase in secondary suites.

In June, a motion asked city administration to look at the potential effects of relaxing zoning restrictions on secondary suites. The areas examined are designated R-1N and R-CN1 -- single-family housing communities with the 'N' standing for "narrow" lots.

City administration brought the requested information and recommended bylaw changes to city council.

The Students' Union's hope of getting secondary suites on city hall's agenda was dashed July 19, after council voted against reconsidering the issue. Alderman Joe Connelly brought forward the new proposal drafted by the SU and the Urban Calgary Students' Association.

SU vice-president external Hardave Birk hoped the motion to reexamine the issue would get the 10 votes needed. It got eight.

Students' Union vice-president external Hardave Birk has added yet another role to his portfolio after being elected chair by the Council of Alberta University Students.