Carleton’s Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) is asking its members for more funding through a referendum question at its upcoming elections.
Campaigning for the elections will begin March 12 and will include debate over increasing the association’s mandatory annual levy that all graduate students pay.
“Are you in favour of a $5.00 per term increase to the GSA Operating Levy, indexed to the Consumer Price Index and pro-rated for part-time students? Yes/No,” reads the approved referendum question. It was approved at a GSA council meeting Feb. 12.
If a minimum of six per cent of graduate students vote ‘yes’ on March 20 and 21, the total levy for full-time graduate students per term will be increased from $54.32 to $59.32.
It will be the first increase in at least 15 years and is necessary given the GSA’s expansion of services and scholarships, according to the motion.
The operating budget for the association changes yearly, but usually hovers a little under $500,000, according to GSA vice-president (finance) Elizabeth Whyte. The levy is the sole source of income for the association, since Mike’s Place – the GSA-run bar in the Unicentre – is a non-profit.
Whyte said that while the GSA is not expected to run a deficit this year, an increase in usage of the Emergency Grant Fund and expanded programming has put stress on the budget.
Councillors are not allowed to express opinions on the referendum until campaigning officially begins on March. 12.
