This year’s Carleton University Students’ Association’s (CUSA) executive term is halfway complete, which means it’s time to review the progress they’ve made so far.
The Charlatan interviewed CUSA president Fahd Alhattab about some of the most important promises CUSA made and whether those promises were fulfilled, are still in progress, or just didn’t pan out.
Promise: More OC Transpo buses running to and from campus during peak student hours.
Yes: Alhattab said CUSA is still working to get more buses during certain time slots, especially since the amount of buses running to and from campus during the evening hasn’t changed.
“I would say we got 70 per cent of that promise . . . We haven’t been able to get [OC Transpo] to have an influx of buses during the evening time. We’ve spoken to the university, and the university is on board to advocate with us to OC Transpo to have more buses in the evening times,” Alhattab said.
However, buses are running more frequently during the rest of the day, and he said the new route 104 bus from campus to Orleans runs roughly every five minutes during peak times.
Promise: A summer U-Pass.
Yes: Alhattab said CUSA has signed a contract for the summer U-Pass, but a referendum still needs to happen so students can vote for one.
“A referendum is going to run hopefully in February. As long as students vote in favour, just like the original U-Pass, then you actually have the summer U-Pass,” he said. “Now, the students just have to let us know that they want it.”
Students will be eligible for the four-month U-Pass as long as they take at least one full credit during the summer, according to Alhattab.
Promise: Making financial statements available on the CUSA website.
No: CUSA had promised to make monthly expense reports available on their website.
“It’s not on the website due to the fact that we’re renewing the website,” Alhattab said. He explained the new CUSA website will launch in February.
CUSA provides financial statements, which are sent to council through the financial review committee.
Promise: Longer hours at the MacOdrum Library.
In Progress: CUSA ran a “pilot” during the mid-term period in the fall, where the library was open 24 hours for 10 days.
“The whole idea of the pilot was to collect numbers and collect data,” he said.
Alhattab said the information from the pilot revealed very few students actually use the library between 2 a.m and 5 a.m.
“Right now, that data is taken, and we’re sitting down with the librarian and a few different board of governors committees and senate committees,” he said.
The purpose of these sit-downs is to determine how to extend library hours, according to Alhattab.
“It’s something that we could actually see implemented during this semester, as long as everything goes according to plan,” he added.
Promise: Renegotiating the student health plan.
In Progress: Alhattab said it’s been a lengthy process to renegotiate the health plan, but he’s happy about the progress CUSA is making.
“A committee has been struck on council, and the council committee is doing a full and extensive review of the health plan,” he said.
Once the full review is completed in March, Alhattab said he will inform students on recommendations for changing the coverage.
He also said CUSA is looking to increase mental health coverage.
What CUSA could have done differently:
Alhattab expressed the “I’m Gunna Vote” music video was something CUSA could have taken a different approach to.
“I think the video was a great idea. The execution could have been better,” he said. “I would say that’s maybe the only thing I could point to that was a mistake on a larger scale.”
He also admitted CUSA had made several internal mistakes, including publishing agendas with spelling mistakes and releasing a volunteer engagement strategy which “came out strong, flopped, and then has recovered.”
