Graduate students voted in favour of increasing health plan costs and for next year’s student executives in elections on March 23.
The referendum question was: “Are you in favour of either: A $70 increase in the annual premium for the graduate student health, dental, and accident insurance plan to keep the current benefits package OR a significant reduction in benefits offered under the graduate student health, dental, and accident insurance plan.”
Seventy-three per cent of students voted in favour of increasing benefits, with 23 per cent voting for reduced benefits and four per cent spoiling or returning their ballots. Voter turnout in the referendum reached the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) quorum of six per cent.
In the executive elections, the nearly uncontested slate Grads United swept. The GSA’s president-elect is Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah, who was a coordinator at the Womyn’s Centre this year.
The position of vice-president (operations) was the only contested position, with Grads United candidate Eric Hitsman taking 41 per cent of the vote. Independent candidates Anujna Nagaraj and Rishi Bahri took 37 per cent and 11 per cent of the vote respectively.
