University of Waterloo Federation of Students
Encyclopedia
Federation of Students, University of Waterloo
represents over 22,000 full-time undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo
. They market themselves on-campus as the Feds. They have an office in the University's Student Life Centre, and have nearly 20 full-time staff members. They help support and run over 120 student clubs on campus. They run six businesses and nine student services.
The Federation is governed by two bodies an elected Students' Council and a Board of Directors. Students' Council consists of the executive, student society presidents as non-voting ex-officio members and elected student councillors. Student councillors are elected by the students in various constituencies like the Faculties, affiliated Colleges, the School of Optometry, and the School of Architecture (a part of the Faculty of Engineering
). These students serve one-year terms. The Board of Directors consists of the four executive and five students elected from the student councillors.
Until the fall of 2004, Fed Hall was subsidized by a student fee. The fee was collected to cover mortgage payments for the building, with the remainder going to subsidize operations. This subsidy averaged $80,000 in the decade until the fee was terminated.
the university in March of that year for $11 million, claiming the university had breached a long-standing contract. The lawsuit was eventually settled and the bars reopened in June.
. Along with 5 other student unions, the Federation of Students left the Ontario Federation of Students (now the Canadian Federation of Students
). At that time, the Federation held a referendum in which 75% of its students voted to leave CFS. However, CFS contested the results of the referendum, claiming improprieties. More than three years later, CFS reversed its position and chose to ratify the results of the referendum, and the Federation was allowed to defederate from CFS.
The Federation is also a founding member of the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations (CASA), which represents them federally. In 2003, The Federation held a plebiscite to determine if members were in favour of remaining in CASA. The result was close and non-binding, with less than 4% of students voting. In the end, the Federation chose to remain in CASA.
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
represents over 22,000 full-time undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. They market themselves on-campus as the Feds. They have an office in the University's Student Life Centre, and have nearly 20 full-time staff members. They help support and run over 120 student clubs on campus. They run six businesses and nine student services.
Governance
The Federation is headed by a four-member executive, which includes the President, Vice-President Internal, Vice-President Administration and Finance, and Vice-President Education. These positions are elected by a vote of all Federation members in February of each year.The Federation is governed by two bodies an elected Students' Council and a Board of Directors. Students' Council consists of the executive, student society presidents as non-voting ex-officio members and elected student councillors. Student councillors are elected by the students in various constituencies like the Faculties, affiliated Colleges, the School of Optometry, and the School of Architecture (a part of the Faculty of Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
). These students serve one-year terms. The Board of Directors consists of the four executive and five students elected from the student councillors.
Bars and pubs
The Federation operates the Bombshelter Pub (more commonly known as the Bomber), located in the Student Life Centre, as well as Federation Hall (more commonly known as Fed Hall), the largest campus nightclub in North America. Until 2004, they also operated Ground Zero, a restaurant in the Student Life Centre. The space now contains a Tim Hortons, operated by the university's Food Services. The Federation was originally supposed to receive money from Food Services each year for the use of the space, but due to administrative issues has not been reimbursed.Until the fall of 2004, Fed Hall was subsidized by a student fee. The fee was collected to cover mortgage payments for the building, with the remainder going to subsidize operations. This subsidy averaged $80,000 in the decade until the fee was terminated.
Liquor dispute
In January 2003, administration at the university took control of, and eventually ordered closed, the liquor-serving establishments operated by the Federation in response to fights and a beating that took place following a New Years' party at Fed Hall. In response, the Federation suedLawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
the university in March of that year for $11 million, claiming the university had breached a long-standing contract. The lawsuit was eventually settled and the bars reopened in June.
Clubs
The Federation along with the societies beneath it have the power to recognize clubs on campus. They supervise and fund more than 170 student clubs. Clubs must have a Federation-approved constitution, submit to financial review by the Federation, and restrict full membership to members of the Federation, among other restrictions. In return, clubs receive up to $75 per 4-month term in funding, the right to use the name "University of Waterloo," the right to book rooms on campus, and the right to have a presence at Clubs Days, an opportunity to recruit new members at the beginning of each term and access to Special Projects Funding, an amount determined annually (close to $30,000 in 2008/2009).Student participation
In recent years, student participation in the activities of the Federation has declined significantly. Voting in executive elections has seen a downward trend from a high of more than 50% in the 1960s to approximately 17% (2005) of student members, up from the late 1990s. Seats for Students' Council are more often than not filled by acclamation, if at all.Representation
Provincially, the Federation of Students are founding members of the Ontario Undergraduate Student AllianceOntario Undergraduate Student Alliance
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance is an alliance of university student governments from across Ontario, Canada. Their common objective is to protect the interests of over 140,000 professional and undergraduate, full-time and part-time university students, and to provide research and...
. Along with 5 other student unions, the Federation of Students left the Ontario Federation of Students (now the Canadian Federation of Students
Canadian Federation of Students
The Canadian Federation of Students is the largest student organization in Canada. Founded in 1981, the stated goal of the CFS is to work at the federal level for high quality, accessible post-secondary education.-Structure:...
). At that time, the Federation held a referendum in which 75% of its students voted to leave CFS. However, CFS contested the results of the referendum, claiming improprieties. More than three years later, CFS reversed its position and chose to ratify the results of the referendum, and the Federation was allowed to defederate from CFS.
The Federation is also a founding member of the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations (CASA), which represents them federally. In 2003, The Federation held a plebiscite to determine if members were in favour of remaining in CASA. The result was close and non-binding, with less than 4% of students voting. In the end, the Federation chose to remain in CASA.