CSU Expedites Opening of Hive Café

NewsNoelle Didierjean — Published August 6, 2014

“[The CSU is] aiming to open the café the first week of classes,” VP Sustainability Jessica Cabana told The Link.

The CSU hit a bump however when the Fund Committee did not approve the request for funding related to operational costs, particularly “staffing and stocking costs.”

To resolve the problem, council passed a motion which facilitates “borrowing the money today, and asking students for permission to use the funds tomorrow.”

The CSU will have access the funds immediately. Students will be asked in a referendum question the next time they cast their ballots for elections to approve the use of funds. If the students deny the usage, the CSU will pay back the loan, with interest, over the next five years.

A referendum held during the last academic year mandated the CSU to replace the cafe on the mezzanine of the Hall Building with a student-run co-operative.

An additional change to student space will be taking place as the CSU Student Advocacy Centre—not to be confused with the advocacy and support services offered by the university—will be moved from the seventh floor to the Mezzanine.

“[The Advocacy Centre] hasn’t really had a lot of exposure on campus, so that’s what [the CSU] is trying to do by moving it downstairs,” explained VP Academic and Advocacy Terry Wilkings.

Conflict Condemned at Concordia

The CSU took an official position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after a motion brought forward by councillor Rami Yahia, with the support of student group Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, was passed.

The motion reads, “The CSU holds a position against the disproportionate use of force, the use of chemicals weapons, the illegal settlements in Palestine and the blockade on Gaza all caused by the state of Israel.”

The position follows the installation of a “native solidarity statement” at a council meeting in June. The statement is read out at the start of every council meeting, and recognizes “the [Mohawk people] as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we meet today.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Fund Committee denied the request for additional funds. In fact, the fund committee never formally denied the request. The Link regrets the error.