Students head for the polls November 23

Students are being asked to express their opinions on a centralized student centre in a referendum November 23 to 25.

“A student centre would be a great legacy. Students should have it,” says Concordia Student Union President Heather Lucas. Although she inherited the campaign that was started years ago by her predecessors, she’s committed to the project, “I want to see it happen.”

Currently, the Sir George Williams Campus has no centralized space for students. Student associations, government and services are scattered across the campus. Lucas envisions a location offering services and student-needed facilities, “it would be great to have a huge multipurpose room where we could host the speakers we want to hear and not have to turn students away,” she says.

Students have consistently endorsed campaigns to raise funds through per-credit fee levies. If the current campaign is successful, students will have raised about $10 million by 2012.

“That will give us a down payment,” explains Lucas. The university administration supports the project, having signed an agreement two years ago with the CSU on how to develop and manage the facility. The administration will kick in significant funds as well. Having student services centralized in one location will be a great benefit to students, and will also free up space around the campus to reduce pressure on other, crowded, facilities.