Student clubs at Carleton are expected to face “undue administrative burdens” after the university introduced new restrictions on booking space in the Nideyinàn Galleria, according to Carleton University Students’ Association Vice-President (Internal) Amy Kopytskiy.
For years, the Galleria, located on the fourth floor of the Nideyinàn building, has been a hub for student clubs to use for outreach, networking and fundraising.
Over the summer, the university implemented new approval requirements and limited clubs hoping to fundraise in the space to just three days during the academic year.
Prior to this academic year, the university already required student clubs to receive approval from the Risk Management department before submitting a booking request for the Galleria. Student clubs were encouraged to submit requests one month in advance of their event.
Critics say the new Fundraisers & Commercial Activity Review Committee approval requirement limits clubs’ ability to use the bookings space for fundraising and adds additional steps to the booking processes.
For clubs to use the Galleria space for merchandising or charitable drives, a submission to the committee must be completed before clubs can book a space for any form of fundraising, the university said.
According to Carleton University’s Galleria Space Booking website, requests for fundraising must be submitted 21 days prior to the proposed activity and directed to the Director of Student Life for review and authorization before any fundraising can happen.
Carleton said fundraising activities will not be allowed in university-managed spaces without prior approval, in accordance with the Commercial and Supplemental Revenue-Generating Activities Policy.
Amy Kopytskiy, CUSA’s Vice President (internal), said CUSA is ultimately concerned that the newly implemented restrictions will create “another hurdle in the path of clubs that are trying to use the Galleria as the heart of campus.”
“We’re proud of our student groups and we understand them to be resilient at whatever challenges they face, they’ll find a way around it. But we’re concerned about the increased workload especially with the fact that student groups are extra curricular,” Kopytskiy said.
Fundraising limited to three dates
In addition to the required approvals for fundraising activities, the university has also placed restrictions on the dates that fundraising events can take place – limiting clubs to three select dates for fundraising throughout the entire academic year.
Fundraising events will only be permitted in the Galleria on Nov. 12, Jan. 28, and Mar. 25. A sign-up form will be provided to clubs before the start of the fall term.
Clubs must have multiple submissions prepared and approved before signing up.
“We’re not sure that these market dates will necessarily be flexible enough for student groups and student leaders to be able to have the same level of strength engagement as they had before in the Galleria,” Kopytskiy said. “Students have such busy lives with regards to academics, part-time jobs, and other stipulations in their schedule.”
Kopytskiy added that the Nideyinàn Galleria is a central space that club leaders use to interact with students.
“Without that central space it’s a vacant building as opposed to one that is inhabited by students for students.”
In a statement to the Charlatan, the university said the new restrictions support the use of a “high-demand shared campus space”. These restrictions also align with existing policies on risk management, commercial activities and food safety, according to the school.
However, the university said it will keep note of the demand.
“The university is beginning with the three market dates this academic year and will monitor participation and demand as the model is implemented.”
The university said it does not expect the changes to negatively affect student life, pointing to the Student Experience Office as being available to support groups looking to book.
“Carleton recognizes that student clubs and organizations are an important part of campus life and contribute significantly to the student experience,” the university wrote. “The university also supports student-led initiatives through the CUx Experience Fund, which provides funding for events, programs and projects that enhance the student.”
Carleton added that funding available through the CUx Experience Fund has not been fully utilized in recent years, and encourages student groups to explore these opportunities.
In the meantime, CUSA said it will be working to provide spaces to foster student life and to allow clubs to continue with usual operations.
“We still want to make a note to clubs that we have our space on the other side of the Galleria – The Wing – that we will continue to have available to clubs given the necessary policy compliance from the university level,” Kopytskiy said.
CUSA said student clubs facing concerns about these restrictions should reach out to the student union.
Featured image by Sophia Laporte/the Charlatan
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