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.

Old electronics -- computers, cell phones and other hardware -- cause health and environmental concerns if not recycled properly. The University of Calgary sends its obsolete electronics to be recycled, but where do they go after that?

That Empty Space is looking a lot emptier these days.There have been many changes at That Empty Space over the past few months. Not only has the student-run venue moved from its home next to the food court, it also has a new programming focus and fewer concerts. Now one more big change can be added to the list as That Empty Space is without a liquor licence.

Twenty-five years ago, the world was a much different place. There was no internet, the Calgary Flames were Stanley Cup contenders and CJSW was a radio club that only broadcast to campus listeners. But history was made January 22, 1985, when CJSW officially joined FM radio's ranks and expanded to the entire city. This weekend, the popular radio station invites its magnificent musical friends to celebrate 25 years on the airwaves with a massive concert event on Sat., Jan. 23.

If the Students' Union was a driver, it would be the type that just got its licence, and was put behind the wheel of a $17 million car equipped with a strong radar detector, so that no matter how reckless it became, little would be done to stop it. It just reached the age where it can go buy alcohol and few rules of the road exist. At some point down the road, things got out of control.

With the Students' Union election approaching, many students give no more thought to it than a brief glance at an election poster. Chances are there will be more than a few students who won't vote (last year's turnout was 11 per cent) and too many of those who do attribute little significance to it. Students have the power to put the people of their choice into these positions and in so doing have a great deal of influence over the lives and careers of the candidates.

The romantic image of the guitar player, armed with only his wits and his instrument, travelling around the countryside has been engraved in the minds of musicians and fans alike since the days of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Bo Diddley's classic 1960 album, Have Guitar Will Travel. In an era of electronic beeps and boops and online downloading, that image is kept alive by a precious few that includes University of Calgary student club Busking for Smiles.

The Students' Union Alcohol Awareness Week is coming next week, with events on Tue., Oct. 9 and Wed., Oct. 10.  

Past Alcohol Awareness Weeks have been focused on presenting the message that all alcohol is evil and must be avoided at all costs. Taking the approach that alcohol is a dangerous drug that leads only to bad situations has made Alcohol Awareness events very negative and not engaging for students.

There is always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow--at least when that rainbow is in MacEwan Student Centre.

The 2007/08 budget for the University of Calgary's 65th Students' Union passed its first reading during the Students' Legislative Council Tue., Jun. 5, with a predicted net revenue of $637. SU vice-president operations and finance Fraser Stuart said the budget was a success, as the SU is a non-profit organization.

The new anti-smoking bylaw passed without torches or angry mobs, and University of Calgary students in particular have had few difficulties.

Calgary's anti-smoking bylaw came into effect Mon., Jan. 1, banning smoking in bars and restaurants. The Black Lounge was converted into a non-smoking establishment Jan. 1, although the Den went smoke-free in September. Students' Union vice-president operations and finance Cody Wagner suggested this made the transition easier.