The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) unveiled its 2024-2025 Advocacy Roadmap earlier this month, presenting an in-depth agenda aimed to address core challenges within the student experience.
The roadmap, which has been in development since May, outlines 10 key priorities related to housing, transit, mental health and accessibility, along with general concerns including equity and environmental sustainability.
“The roadmap helps us stay accountable to our priorities and transparent with students,” said Artur Estrela da Silva, CUSA vice-president of student issues and a member of the advocacy team.
“For students, it is an effective way to learn about what we will be working on this year,” he added.
Reliable public transit is a pressing issue for many students, according to the roadmap.
CUSA is advocating for increased service frequency and better communication from OC Transpo, while also exploring reduced fares and transit-specific infrastructure improvements, such as championing new developments in other forms of transportations, such as encouraging biking and the procurement of bus lanes.
CUSA aims to cut down fare prices by creating a streamlined application process for student Equipass recipients who fall below the city’s low-income threshold, as well as backing proposals that offer free or cheaper fare transit on high-capacity routes.
Campus accessibility is another concern, with students voicing concerns with limited parking options and poorly maintained infrastructure. The roadmap calls for a formal review of parking services and infrastructure improvements on campus.
The roadmap recommends finding and targeting inaccessible spaces on campus while partnering with campus groups like the Paul Menton Centre.
Another challenge highlighted in the roadmap is environmental sustainability — a priority that students may not often voice directly.
CUSA proposes a handful of initiatives to combat climate change and help the environment, including launching on-campus programs such as bottle drives and thrift events to engage students in climate action, as well as advocating for a comprehensive recycling system in residence buildings.
“The harder issues to put on the roadmap are ones that we know are priorities that students may not be talking about,” said Aidan Kallioinen, CUSA associate vice-president of university governance affairs. “Environmental sustainability, … we don’t hear students talk about it often, but we know it’s important to them.”
Housing and affordability is another top priority on the roadmap, as Ottawa’s housing crisis has left some students struggling with rising rent costs and limited housing options.
CUSA is working to ensure students are heard in municipal and provincial policy housing discussions.
“Student voices are at the table,” Kallioinen said. “And we’re making sure that when we come to these meetings, we’re well prepared.”
Mental health is another major issue highlighted in the roadmap.
CUSA is pushing for university students to be recognized as a distinct group within Ontario’s mental health strategy to address the specific challenges they face.
“We need to meet with the Ministry of Health and put this data [of students living with mental health challenges] in their face,” Kallioinen said.
Ana Clara Miranda Guimaraes, CUSA associate vice-president of research and advocacy and a member of the advocacy team, said student accessibility and mental health are particular goals within this framework.
“We’re working with the provincial government to make the health-care system more available for students, making sure they have mental health coverage,” she said.
Guimaraes also said CUSA is pushing for shorter campus clinic wait times to make health services more accessible for students.
“Open communication with the government and school is the way forward,” Estrela da Silva added.
Estrela da Silva also said students can expect frequent updates on social media on the roadmap’s progress in the coming months.
CUSA will post a recap outlining its priorities and successes by the end of the academic year.
“As soon as anything we deem relevant for students happens, we post it. We like to keep everyone updated,” Estrela da Silva said.
Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.
