Blog

Hello!

My name is Shemar and I’m very excited to be back at OUSA, this time as a Research and Policy Analyst!

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope you’ve all had a safe and restful holiday season! 

I’d first like to acknowledge that the ongoing pandemic and changing restrictions can be very challenging and cause a lot of stress. It's very hard to be a student at such an uncertain time and I know that a lot of you may be frustrated about online learning, while others may feel safer learning from home. Please remember to do what you can to take care of yourself and your mental health. OUSA has been voicing our students' needs and concerns and will be continuing this advocacy as things continue to develop.

OUSA is proud to introduce the Ontario Tech Student Union (OTSU) as an official observer school! Since joining OUSA this fall, UOSU has attended OUSA’s Fall General Assembly and Student Advocacy Conference. OUSA is excited to work with OTSU as we continue to advocate for accessible, affordable, accountable and high-quality post-secondary education in Ontario.

We had a chance to chat with Joshua Sankarlal, President of OTSU and Steering Committee representative. Here's what Josh had to say about OTSU, student advocacy, and what matters most to students right now: 

The state of student housing is at a crisis point. Increased rent, decreased availability, and quality of housing are all issues facing students attending post-secondary institutions that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Within my own university community, Queen’s University, over-enrollment combined with poor quality of housing and high rental rates have posed significant financial and accessibility barriers for students.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!! My favourite holiday is upon us and I could not be more excited! 

As Steering Committee prepares for the Christmas break, we’re wrapping up some work from the past month. A few weeks ago we held our Student Advocacy Conference where Steering Committee and other student delegates met with around 50 members of Provincial Parliament to discuss our advocacy priorities for the year. It was a great and busy week and we are now conducting lots of follow-ups to keep the advocacy going! A big thank you to all MPP’s who met with us and took the time to discuss issues that are important to our students.

(CW: transphobia)

November 20th is internationally recognized as the Trans Day of Remembrance in honor of Rita Hester, a Black Trans woman who was killed in her home in November 1998. Since Hester’s death, every year on November 20th we participate in an important tradition of hosting vigils and reading the names of Trans community members we have lost to transphobia.

Hello and Happy Fall!!!! (my all-time favourite season)

I start off every blog by stating that it has been a busy month but it truly has been another busy month! 

TW: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Hello and Happy Spooktober!!

It’s been a long and busy month since our students headed back to campus early September. Steering Committee was hard at work planning and executing our respective Orientation Week’s to welcome first-year students to our campuses. I want to first recognize that for many, the beginning of the school year did not start off how we had all anticipated. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) is a serious and prevalent issue that should not be tolerated on any campus. For all those who feel frustrated or scared, to every survivor, to every student – we stand with you and we will continue to advocate for trauma-informed and survivor-centric prevention and response to this violence.

OUSA believes that all willing and qualified students should have access to affordable, accountable, and high quality education in Ontario, a principle that extends to all students, including those with suspected or documented disabilities. 

TL;DR? Ontario students are not receiving more OSAP, even though the federal government is spending more to support students during the pandemic. The provincial government is clawing back the provincial portion of OSAP, which means students aren’t feeling the full benefits of the federal government's investments into financial aid. The province is using these clawbacks as a cost-savings mechanism instead of continuing normal levels of OSAP spending to support students.