Hello!
Now that January – the Monday of the months – is over, I’m excited to share some OUSA updates with everyone.
First, I want to congratulate students and student associations across the province for engaging in the democratic process and participating in their local student government elections. Electing strong student representatives is vital to ensuring that the student voice is not lost.
Over the past few weeks, OUSA has been hard at work highlighting student concerns to the provincial government through Ontario Budget 2020 consultations. OUSA released its 2020 pre-budget submission, Educated Investments: Supporting Students for a Better Future, which focuses on the need for investments in student financial aid, mental health care, sexual violence prevention, and experiential learning opportunities. These investments are more important than ever, with many students feeling uncertain about their future after significant changes in the post-secondary system.
We’ve also partnered with Colleges Ontario, the Council of Ontario Universities, and the College Student Alliance to develop recommendations aimed at improving mental health care on Ontario’s post-secondary campuses and building on the government’s recent investment in the Good2Talk helpline. On February 25, the partners will host an event at Queen’s Park to highlight the release of our report, entitled In It Together 2020: Foundations for Promoting Mental Wellness in Campus Communities.
OUSA visited Laurentian University and the University of Waterloo this past month, wrapping up campus visits for the school year. Thank you to everyone who met with us, and to the students who stopped to chat and get more involved!
If you’re looking for something to read, we’ve released a few blog posts this year. Angel Huang highlighted the benefits of experiential learning; Matthew Gerrits talked about how he got involved in student advocacy and how you can, too; and Nivi Sethumadhavan explained how you can use your phone to be a better advocate for causes you care about. Check out these posts and more here.
Otherwise, we’re getting ready for our Spring General Assembly at Western University, where OUSA delegates will discuss, critique, and ratify updated OUSA policies on Sexual Violence Prevention & Response, International Students and Education, and Rural & Northern Students.
Last but not least, OUSA is hiring a Summer Intern! This is a great opportunity if you’re interested in student issues and want to refine your research skills. Applications are due February 25th at 5pm, so don’t delay!